Deadline: 30-Jun-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announce an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for: Justice and Universal Disability Youth Inclusion (JUDY Initiative) through protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and/or Central Asia.
The objectives of this program are to:
- Promote the inclusion of youth with disabilities in Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs);
- Strengthen advocacy capabilities of OPDs and other civil society groups to hold governments in the region accountable for the implementation and enforcement of disability laws and policies; and
- Increase access to resources and protections provided under law for persons with disabilities.
Projects should address needs and gaps in implementation practices of countries in the region that have signed or ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and prioritize countries with significant recommendations from the UN CRPD review committee. Projects must work directly with OPDs and consider disability-specific and mainstreaming approaches that address gaps in legislation and implementation of universal standards and UN treaty commitments. Applicants should identify two or more countries from Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and/or Central Asia for programming purposes and include analysis of the disability rights landscape and specific areas of focus and opportunity for progress regarding identified countries.
Cross-Cutting Values
- Additionally, strong proposals should be guided by the following cross-cutting values:
- Collective Action: Work with local OPDs should not be focused exclusively on one or a few types of disabilities. Every effort should be made in program design to bring separate disability groups together for collective action. Advocacy efforts should be designed to encourage civil society to take collective action around shared concerns for the protection of human rights and the dignity of all people. While proposals should not focus primarily on preventing and responding to violence, safety and security should be integrated throughout all activities in the project.
- Locally-led: “Nothing about us without us.” Projects should be led by or have strong design and participation by local organizations and communities. They should focus on activities at the local and community level and regrant funding to local organizations where possible. Proposals should include sub-granting mechanisms to organizations led by and for persons with disabilities in the target countries for a minimum of 33% of the total proposed budget. Budgets must also include a line item with a minimum of 3% of total funding for accommodations to program staff and/or participants.
Funding Information
- Total Funding Floor: $400,000
- Total Funding Ceiling: $1,000,000
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 2-3
- Period of Performance: 18-48 months
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. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration.
- Applicants should have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders, including private sector partners and NGOs, and have demonstrable experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects. DRL encourages applications from foreign-based NGOs headquartered in the geographic regions/countries relevant to this NOFO. Applicants may form consortia in order to bring together organizations with varied expertise to propose a comprehensive program in one proposal. However, one organization should be designated in the proposal as the lead applicant, with the other members designated as sub-award partners. DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
For more information, visit DRL.