Submit Applications for Judicial Reform in Uzbekistan Project Grants Program

Deadline: 31 May 2019

Tetra Tech DPK (Tt DPK) is currently inviting Uzbek non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to participate in a competitively-awarded small grants program.

Tetra Tech DPK (Tt DPK) is the implementing partner for USAID’s JUDICIAL REFORM IN UZBEKISTAN PROGRAM (JRUP) pursuant to the authority contained in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and in accordance with USAID Task Order No. 72011518F00005.

The overall objective of the JRUP Grants Program is to support legal reforms in Uzbekistan and increase access to justice for the most vulnerable populations. This objective can be achieved through developing and disseminating information on new laws, regulations and procedures relevant to civil society, support for free legal aid to citizens, trainings for legal professionals, and citizen oversight and public input mechanisms.

Eligible Activities

To achieve this objective JRUP will implement a grants program that is locally-led and uses grants to support Uzbek NGOs to embark on citizen engagement and awareness campaigns. The organization’s work may include strengthening oversight and monitoring of delivery of justice at the local level, including outside Tashkent. Tt DPK will give special attention under the grants program to organizations that provide gender equality and serve vulnerable populations, such as victims of violence, individuals with low income, persons with disabilities, migrants, orphans, among others.

Grants activities may include:

Providing legal aid, including mobile legal aid clinics to rural populations and legal support to victims of violence (including domestic violence), persons with disabilities, vulnerable groups and individuals;
Training journalists to improve reporting on legal reforms, court cases, preparing subjects on gender-sensitive materials aimed at overcoming stereotypes in the society;
Training programs for legal professionals that serve vulnerable populations;
Training programs aimed at improving the quality of legal assistance including alternate dispute resolution;
Public awareness campaigns on new laws and alternate dispute resolution;
Non-government organization oversight and monitoring of legal reforms;
Other innovative and cost-effective programs to address priority rule of law related challenges and to promote access to justice for vulnerable populations including gender equality; or
Technical capacity building programs to support new and emerging civil society organizations and community groups in the rule of law sectors, exclusively in connection with activities in the above categories that support the overall program goals.

Funding Information

All grant budgets should be expressed in UZS (Uzbek soms). Each grant budget may not exceed UZS 1,260,000,000 (approximately USD 150,000). Grant applicants must submit budgets within this limit.

Duration and Location of Grant Activities

Grants will fund activities throughout Uzbekistan. Grant applications may propose activities in more than one region within Uzbekistan. Grant applications may propose activities up to 12 months in duration.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for grant funding an NGO should have:
- Past experience of working effectively to improve the rule of law, access to justice or protection of citizens’ rights in Uzbekistan;
- A reputation for integrity, non-discrimination, and political independence; and
- Sound financial and administrative procedures, and a clear commitment to further organizational development.
Applying organizations should have at least 12 months experience. However, an exception may be made if the applicant can provide sufficient evidence that the organization’s Director(s) have adequate prior experience and the applicant organization is proposing to fill a gap or address legal needs of a community that has been underserved in the past.
Interested organizations must attach a copy of their current Uzbekistan registration to the Concept Paper.

How to Apply