Deadline: 28-Jun-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects to eradicate descent-based slavery and enslavement-based discrimination in Mali.
While the open and legal institution of slavery that existed in some West African societies for many centuries has been outlawed, descent-based, or hereditary, slavery persists across the Sahel region. Descent-based slavery refers to a situation in which people are born into slavery because their ancestors were allegedly enslaved. Victims of slavery by descent face severe exploitation, work without pay in abusive conditions, and are deprived of basic human rights and dignity. Some victims are treated as property and may be inherited, sold, or given away as gifts. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable.
Funding Information
- Total Funding Floor: $1,250,000
- Total Funding Ceiling: $1,250,000
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 1
- Period of Performance: 18-30 months
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 4 months
Outcomes
- Proposed projects should be designed to achieve the following outcomes:
- Victims of descent-based slavery and discrimination have access to economic empowerment opportunities and social services.
- The public and key stakeholders have knowledge of the needs and rights of communities of slave-descent, and the factors underlying the social exclusion and systemic discrimination these communities face.
- Victims of descent-based slavery and discrimination obtain identity documents and access their civil rights.
- Victims of descent-based slavery and discrimination have access to justice.
- Decent-based slavery cases are investigated and prosecuted.
- The public and key stakeholders are aware of the laws and policies needed to combat descent-based slavery and discrimination in line with internationally recognized standards.
- Programs should include documentation of identified cases of descent-based slavery and track the follow-up monitoring and legal actions taken for each case.
Eligible Activities
- DRL requires all programs to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for nondiscrimination of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, or veteran’s status.
- Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include:
- Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts;
- Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes;
- Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project, with adjustments made as necessary;
- Inclusion of vulnerable populations;
- Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities;
- Systematic follow up with beneficiaries at specific intervals after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.
Eligibility Criteria
- DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
- Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards.
For more information, visit Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).