Deadline: 24 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 that support the expansion of civil society in Vietnam.
DRL’s objective is to foster an independent civil society in Vietnam capable of promoting human rights and transparent and responsible government. Projects should support activities that enhance the capacity of civil society organizations and actors to promote the protection of human rights and freedoms guaranteed under Vietnam’s Constitution and international treaty obligations and commitments, including by making use of laws and regulations to protect individual rights and promote accountable government, as well as utilizing openings online and in the legislative process to foster advocacy for legal and policy reform. Project approaches should support civil society organizations and actors to undertake monitoring, documentation, awareness-raising activities, legal action, and/or target advocacy in support of legal and policy reforms that strengthen protections for individual rights, increase transparency and oversight of government decision-making and performance, address laws restricting civic space and fundamental freedoms, and/or enhance public participation in the formation of public policy and local and national legislation.
Illustrative Activities
DRL seeks projects that include, but are not limited to, the following illustrative activities:
- Provision of support and capacity-building opportunities to civil society organizations and actors to conduct evidence-based advocacy and develop effective and sustainable strategies for engaging with local communities and government entities on policy and legal reforms;
- Raise awareness among elites and youth about civil and political rights guaranteed in Vietnam’s Constitution and international treaty obligations and commitments, and increase awareness of where laws, regulations, and policies that fall short of those rights;
- Provision of technical assistance and support to civil society organizations and actors to produce and disseminate high-quality, actionable policy research on rights-focused issues of broad concern to the Vietnamese public as a foundation for influencing the development of public policy and the legislative process;
- Foster locally-led advocacy efforts to cultivate support for legal reforms that repeal, amend, or decriminalize legal provisions used to discriminate against minority groups and/or criminalize the exercise of free expression, association, and assembly;
- Promote dialogue and joint action among civil society organizations, legal professionals, and other relevant stakeholders to foster legal and policy reform, including on current laws governing civic space to promote a more enabling environment for civil society;
- Empower civil society organizations, legal professionals, and other relevant stakeholders with the legal analysis and advocacy skill sets to enhance participation in political decision-making and the legislative process, including through commenting on draft laws and policies, as well as utilize existing laws to advance individual rights and transparent government;
- Provide opportunities for partnerships and linkages between local civil society organizations and relevant regional/international networks to exchange best practices and strategies for working on critical human rights issues
Award Information
- Award Ceiling: $750,000
- Award Floor: $500,000
Eligible Applicants
- 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
Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials on the given website.
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=313505