Grants to promote Human Rights and Democracy in Myanmar

Deadline: 26-Feb-24

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in submitting Statements of Interest (SOI) for programs that promote human rights and democracy in Burma.

Grant Categories

• This solicitation includes three (3) categories under which applicants may submit SOIs.
  • Strengthening Cross-Border Engagement and Collaboration
    • External and internal displacement has further fractured Burmese society, exacerbating a pre-existing lack of trust, mutual understanding, empathy, and shared values resulting from longstanding discriminatory policies and propaganda perpetuated by successive governments in Burma.  Rohingya, one of over a hundred ethnic groups in Burma, have been the most marginalized population and continue to struggle to be included in pro-democracy efforts.
    • These physical and emotional fractures continue to impede the development of more inclusive, effective democratic processes and institutions. Strengthening the cultural linkages between ethnic and religious minority groups, including those displaced, to address shared challenges can foster trust, improve communication and public discourse, and prevent further marginalization of traditionally excluded groups, including Rohingya.
    • Applicants should submit project ideas to support human rights defenders and civil society organizations (CSOs) to improve the ability of diverse communities across borders to participate in public discourse and support their integration into a future inclusive, federal, democratic Burma. Project objectives include: 1) Cross-border linkages are created connecting displaced civil society and advocacy networks, including ethnic and religious minority groups, to foster collective action among diverse communities to address post-coup challenges, 2) CSOs and human rights defenders (HRDs) are empowered to identify, address, and/or advocate for solutions to community challenges and 3) CSOs and human rights defenders are able to address barriers that prevent a peaceful and unified pro-democracy movement by building trust and fostering habits of inclusion between decision-makers in ethnic and religious majority and minority populations.
    • Project ideas submitted under this category should be between $500,000 and $1,726,689.
    • Illustrative activities include:
      • Providing technical and financial support to initiate or revive relationships between displaced human rights defenders, community leaders, and CSOs and those who remain active in-country.
      • Developing platforms to support greater linkages and synergies between diverse and cross-border communities and foster a more conducive environment for a future inclusive, federal, democratic Burma.
  • Fostering Opportunties for Emerging Leaders
    • Applicants should submit project ideas to mobilize youth actors to meaningfully participate in the diversity of decision-making structures within the pro-democracy movement and use newfound leadership skills to promote a more inclusive movement. Project objectives include: 1) Youth and youth-led organizations have increased leadership skills and strengthened networks to engage more meaningfully in decision-making processes and the design and implementation of pro-democracy strategies that impact youth and their communities; and 2) Youth and youth-led organizations are empowered to advance and protect fundamental freedoms.
    • Applicants are highly encouraged to incorporate substantial subaward opportunities to youth and youth-led organizations within their SOIs. Project ideas submitted under this category should be between $500,000 and $1,480,000.
    • Illustrative activities of projects could include:
      • Educating youth on concepts of federalism, democracy, and human rights and strengthening their understanding of policy development, communications, advocacy, strategic planning, and building intersectional and inclusive movements and coalitions.
      • Enabling youth, especially young women, to be more meaningfully engaged in pro-democratic decision-making processes.
  • Promoting the Credibility of a Resilient and Diverse Pro-Democracy Movement
    • Applicants should submit project ideas to promote the credibility of a resilient and diverse pro-democracy movement in Burma by supporting a diverse coalition of pro-democracy movement actors in advocating to international, regional, and domestic decision-makers and leaders (this does not include members of the military regime) to view the pro-democracy movement as a viable governance alternative to the Burmese military. Project objectives include: 1) A collective of cross-sectoral actors more effectively showcases the credibility of the pro-democracy movement’s efforts toward a pluralist, inclusive, and democratic Burma; and 2) International, regional, and domestic support for the movement’s legitimacy is increased.
    • Project ideas submitted under this category should be no more than $740,000.
    • Illustrative activities of projects could include:
      • Supporting a cross-sectoral coalition of pro-democracy actors to develop unified platforms on the pro-democracy movement’s priorities and identify concrete goals for the movement’s international and regional advocacy efforts.
      • Facilitating a cross-sectoral advocacy study tour in select regional and neighboring countries including ASEAN member states, Bangladesh, and India. The study tour should showcase a diverse pro-democracy movement with unified goals and seek to garner international buy-in for the pro-democracy movement. Regional advocacy coalition participants could include members from the National Unity Government, National Unity Consultative Council, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, aligned ethnic organizations, civil society, the private sector, and leadership from local administrations under opposition-control.

Eligibility Criteria

• Organizations submitting SOIs must meet the following criteria:
  • Be a U.S.- or foreign-based non-profit/non-governmental organization (NGO), or a public international organization; or
  • Be a private, public, or state institution of higher education; or
  • Be a for-profit organization or business
  • Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders including private sector partner and NGOs; and,
  • Have demonstrable experience administering successful and preferably similar programs.  DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal awards.  These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
• Applicants may form consortia and submit a combined SOI.  However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant with the other members as sub-award partners.
• 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.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.