Deadline: 29 April 2019
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 projects focusing on the development of applied research tools to assess the health of social movements.
Objectives
Assessing the Health of Social Movements: building an understanding of the operational health of social movements to support the broader democracy and human rights community.
For this second round of this fiscal year’s Evaluation Innovation Fund, projects may focus on one or more areas including, but not limited to:
- Developing toolkits and manuals illustrating approaches and methods that funders and implementing partners can use to assess the health of social movements, in order to inform program strategies and investment.
- Organization of peer learning or exchanges to share and validate approaches to assessing the health of social movements. Activities may include, but are not limited, to: workshopsor conferences to support interaction among democracy and human rights practitioners; developing or improving in-person or virtual communities of practice.
- Awareness raising or information dissemination highlighting how organizations can use the tool to better assess the health of social movements, in order to inform discussions on their efficiency and effectiveness. Activities may include, but are not limited to, researching literature on social movement operations; documenting effective methods to assess social movement health and disseminating these findings through in-person or virtual meetings, conferences or briefings, and/or publications.
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 (3 months, 6 months, etc.) after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.
Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:
- The provision of humanitarian assistance;
- English language instruction;
- Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;
- Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;
- Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $450,000
- Award Floor: $150,000
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.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=313281