Deadline: 25-Mar-22
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) has announced an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a research project that helps develop better, evidenced-based methods to assess the use and application of contact theory in DRL projects and within the Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) sector.
Goal: DRL’s goal is to contribute to building a portfolio of evidence to further identify democracy and rights program strategies that are effective. In doing so, DRL seeks to promote the use of sound evidence, and generate findings on what works, for whom, and why in democracy and human rights programming abroad.
Projects should support the following objective: DRG programming, regarding contact theory, is improved through the utilization and sharing of empirical evidence and tested methods.
Objectives
DRL seeks to achieve these objectives through the following key research questions:
Have current strategies for convening individuals from distinct and diverse backgrounds been effective in promoting intended project goals in communities?
- In what ways can funders’ interventions better meet the factors and conditions identified in contact theory literature to promote inclusion and mutual respect among individuals and communities of distinct and diverse backgrounds?
- What factors and conditions help ensure that contact between members of diverse groups can promote broader social inclusion in whole communities?
- Have funders and practitioners considered these factors and conditions in the design and implementation of their interventions?
- Do efforts to convene individuals have a positive multiplier effect beyond those who attend convenings and have direct contact with one another?
- In what ways, if any, have efforts to convene individuals of distinct and/or conflicting (e.g., racial, ethnic, faith/belief) backgrounds led to improved social inclusion, mutual respect, tolerance, and inclusion?
- In what ways have activities improved tolerance, improved respect, or led to collective action between peoples from distinct and/or conflicting backgrounds?
Funding Information
- Funding Floor: $150,000
- Funding Ceiling: $500,000
- Period of Performance: 24-36 months
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 3-6 months
Eligibility Criteria
- DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment 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, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337791
