Deadline: 20-Jun-23
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to reduce impunity and spur concrete progress in trials for those accused of murdering environmental and indigenous defenders by conducting trial observation and issuing regular public legal reports on their milestones, challenges, and outcomes, accompanied by press and community outreach.
Project Vision: This project seeks to combat impunity for environmental defender murders, injury and/or intimidation, while simultaneously observing the Peruvian justice sector’s response to environmental defender murders to learn from those incidents. Since many environmental defenders come from indigenous communities, this project seeks to identify how these vulnerable populations access justice and any obstacles and challenges they face. This project seeks to provide a legal perspective on the status of these cases at a national level, while also increasing their visibility as the headlines fade. This is in line with U.S. Embassy Lima’s Integrated Country Strategy objective to promote protection for environmental defenders.
Project Goal(s) and Objectives
- Goal: To obtain objective and accurate legal information on trials involving the murder, injury, or intimidation of environmental defenders.
- Contract legal experts in Peru who can observe trials and gather case information from relevant justice sector authorities.
- Legal experts conduct a comprehensive survey of the 29 murdered environmental defender cases and other well-known cases of injury and/or intimidation.
- Legal experts, in consultation with the families and/or communities of the victims, choose at least 10 cases to follow during the term of the project.
- Objective Legal experts attend hearings in person (or virtually if the hearing itself is virtual) and report on the status.
- Legal experts report on findings and make observations on the case processes.
- Goal 2: Bring nationwide attention to the reports and greater awareness among key stakeholders of the cases observed, with the end desired result of creating a more efficient and comprehensive response in the justice sector towards these vulnerable populations.
- Issue semiannual reports, accompanied by press releases and engagement, generating at least 3-4 articles in well-respected press outlets per report.
- Establish a social media presence and generate regular content focusing on the impact of social defender violence and environmental crime has on Peruvian society.
- Engage with the Peruvian media and key decision makersthrough report launch events.
- At the end of the project, generate 10 recommendations for an improved justice sector response to these cases in the future. Hold meeting with key decision makers to promote the adoption of these recommendations.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $200,000
- Award Ceiling: $200,000
- Award Floor: $175,000
- Initial Project Implementation Length: 36 months
Priority Region/Countries: Peru
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
- U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code;
- Foreign-based non-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
- Foreign-based educational institutions.
- Applicants must also meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply to this NOFO:
- Applicants must have demonstrated experience working on legal issues in Peru.
- Applicants from the United States must demonstrate they either have offices in Peru, or can partner with a Peruvian organization to provide expertise and physical presence in country.
- Applicants must agree to allow INL to review all staff working on the agreement and abide by INL recommendations.
Other Eligibility Requirements
- In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (also known as UEI), as well as a valid registration.
- Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal, however one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other organization(s) listed as sub-recipient partner(s).
- To be eligible to receive a federal assistance award, organizations must have a commitment to non-discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. INL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. INL welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.
- Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in any sub-awards issued under this grant award.
- Note: Public International Organizations (PIOs) and For-Profit Organizations are excluded from applying to this grant announcement.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.