Deadline: 14-Apr-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 that advance DRL’s policy objective of supporting independent investigations of human rights atrocities and justice and accountability for alleged atrocities committed by all sides in Ethiopia.
Programs should advance ongoing transitional justice efforts—formal and informal, retributive and restorative—in Ethiopia that are survivor-led, trauma-informed, and holistic, and that comprehensively address reported violations committed by all parties during the northern conflict. Given the long-term nature of justice and accountability processes, DRL seeks to expand the space for domestic actors to contribute effectively to the development and implementation of a locally-informed, credible, and sustainable transitional justice agenda in harmonization with, where appropriate, the Government of Ethiopia’s (GOE’s) country-wide transitional justice proposal, for which it is seeking civil society partnership and international assistance.
The program will support complementary and integrated, rather than parallel, efforts to achieve transitional justice goals as defined by Ethiopian citizens. Across all the below objectives, proposals should identify opportunities to coordinate with, complement, and feed into, where appropriate, credible GOE-led transitional justice efforts to implement a proposed framework, consultations, and subsequent processes, as these take shape and evolve, including ongoing consultations led by the GOE’s Transitional Justice Working Group.
Funding Information
- Funding Floor: $1,975,308
- Funding Ceiling: $1,975,308
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 1
- Period of Performance: 18-24 months
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: Up to 6 months
Outcomes
DRL seeks programs that accomplish the following outcomes:
- Civil society and other relevant actors lay the foundation for long term forensic efforts and investigations in conflict affected areas, including Tigray, to include a framework for coordination with any ongoing and credible official GOE efforts to pursue transitional justice and accountability. Forensic anthropology efforts may include, but are not limited to, exhuming mass graves, collecting and analyzing DNA samples, identifying victims’ remains, preserving evidence and documentation for a range of transitional justice objectives, and/or facilitating increased national, regional, and international awareness through coordination between victims’ family associations and the broader NGO human rights community.
- Increased capacity of local civil society to carry out credible, professional, independent, and trauma-informed investigation and documentation of human rights violations and abuses, including conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and gender-based violence (GBV), to identify and hold perpetrators accountable and pursue justice for survivors. This work should be pursued in a manner that meets international standards for justice processes and prioritizes the agency and needs of survivors.
- Increased and more widespread understanding among local stakeholders (communities, survivors, civil society organizations, and local and national authorities, where appropriate) of the range of holistic, comprehensive, context appropriate, and locally-driven transitional justice principles, practices, and options.
- Improved long term planning and coordination among civil society, survivors, and their families, and other actors for the development and implementation of comprehensive, holistic and survivor-centered transitional justice efforts (formal or informal) that actively integrate community and survivor voices. Civil society-led planning should be cognizant of, and coordinated with, any credible transitional justice planning processes.
Eligible Projects
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.
Ineligible Activities
Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:
- The provision of humanitarian assistance;
- English language instruction;
- Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware;
- Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;
- External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;
- Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;
- Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society;
- Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;
- Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.
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.
For more information, visit Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).