NOFO: DRL Capacity Strengthening for Regional and Grassroots LGBTQI+ Civil Society

Deadline: 27-Mar-24

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 programs that strengthen the organizational capacity of regional and/or grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) advancing respect for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons in East Asia and/or the Pacific.

DRL prioritizes inclusive and integrated program models that assess and address the barriers to access for individuals and groups based on their race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Applicants should describe how programming will impact all beneficiaries, including support for underserved and underrepresented communities, and overcome barriers to equal participation.

Objectives

• Proposed programs should address either one or both of the following objectives:
  • Objective 1 – Strengthen the internal capacity of regional LGBTQI+ organizations in East Asia and the Pacific to address financial, administrative, staff, grants management, and other internal organizational gaps in order to advance movement sustainability and effective administration and implementation of regional human rights programming. The program implementer will work with DRL under a cooperative agreement to identify a cohort of LGBTQI+ CSOs operating regionally to participate in this program. Proposed programs should outline plans for evaluating the baseline financial, administrative, staff, and grant management capacity of the selected partners and for developing tailored assistance plans to strengthen organizations’ capacities in these areas.
    • Examples of possible activities under assistance plans include:
      • Organizing leadership trainings for management and leadership staff;
      • Providing targeted training on financial and grants management;
      • Facilitating peer-to-peer learning and exchanges among cohort CSOs;
      • Facilitating the development of organizational strategic plans;
      • Organizing opportunities for staff or leaders of regional organizations to regularly convene to address pressing organizational challenges.
  • Objective 2 – Address limitations and gaps in institutional capacity, as well as capability to conduct project-based programming, of grassroots organizations and associations based in Pacific Island Countries working to advance the human rights of persons who identify as LGBTQI+ or with other diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) specific to communities in the Pacific in order to advance communities’ human rights-related priorities. Proposed programs should include substantial subgrant funding to grassroots LGBTQI+ organizations and associations to advance key capacity strengthening priorities identified collaboratively with program partners.
    • Examples of possible capacity strengthening activities include:
      • Facilitating the development of organizational strategic plans;
      • Supporting and coordinating knowledge of resources to sustainably address the well-being needs of organizations’ staff;
      • Delivering trainings on fundraising, financial and grants management;
      • Reviewing and providing expert recommendations on developing or improving internal policies and procedures;
      • Providing expert organizational development support and technical assistance.

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.

Funding Information

• Total Funding Floor: $750,000
• Total Funding Ceiling: $2,000,000
• Anticipated Number of Awards: 1-3
• Period of Performance: 24-36 months
• Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 8 months

Eligible Countries

• The U.S. Department of State identifies countries and areas of East Asia and the Pacific to include: Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, North Korea, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. Under objective 1 proposed programs, LGBTQI+ regional organizations in East Asia and the Pacific should include those that are based in this region and work to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in multiple countries in the region. Under objective 2 proposed programs, grassroots LGBTQI+ organizations and associations may include those based in and supporting communities in Pacific Islands Countries, but are not to include Australia, New Zealand, or diaspora communities.

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 DRL.