Deadline: 31 May 2017
U.S. Embassy in Cameroon is seeking applications for its Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) to strengthen democratic institutions, improve governance, and promote respect for human rights in Cameroon.
The DHRF provides assistance to Cameroonian organizations that seek to implement short-term, highly targeted activities designed to show measurable results. For more than twenty years, DHRF funding has supported organizations in all ten regions of Cameroon.
The U.S. Embassy will give priority to proposals that are creative and innovative and that utilize technology and modern media to reach a wide audience. In comparison, programs that are not activity-based, such as workshops, will be less competitive.
Funding Information
Typical DHRF grants are approximately USD 10,000 (or about 5 million francs FCFA); they may not exceed USD 25,000 (or about 12.5 million francs FCFA).
Project Categories and Acceptable Activities and Items
- Human Rights: Advances protection of international human rights by supporting governmental and nongovernmental organizations efforts to protect, promote, and enforce human rights. Projects under this category could include but are not limited to:
- Protection and Human Rights Systems and Policies Support systems to prevent and address human rights violations through early warning, monitoring, investigating, and reporting. Promote respect for human rights and support human rights defenders through utilization of national, regional, and international legal systems for human rights protection and enforcement. Harmonize domestic laws and policies with international human rights standards; promote the adoption and implementation of human rights and labor standards; and sponsor legal aid and other assistance for victims of human rights violations. Support the work of National Human Rights Commission[s]. Integrate human rights into training for security sector actors, teachers, civil society leaders, journalists, religious leaders, and government officials.
- Human Rights Education and Training
- Human Rights Advocacy
- Elections and Political Processes: Provide assistance that enables citizens to select and replace their leaders through periodic, inclusive, accountable and free and fair elections. This includes:
- Support for Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
- Open and Effective Election Administration
- Broad public participation and civic awareness
- Societal oversight of electoral processes, and
- Accountable procedures for election-related grievances and appeals
- Civic Participation: Strengthens the legal, regulatory, institutional, and information environment which protects and enables the growth in associational life and the development of independent and sustainable civil society organizations. Builds the capacity of civil society organizations to act as agents for reform and support their participation in democratic decision-making through engaging in service delivery, and advocating for issues which become part of the public agenda and are reflected in public policies. Encourages the strengthening of a civic culture which supports democratic institutions and processes, active participation in political and civic life, and the civic virtues of tolerance, pluralism, compromise, trust, and respect for individual rights, including gender equality. Projects under this category could include but are not limited to:
- Civil Society Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
- Civil Society Capacity for Democratic Processes
- Citizen Participation and Oversight, and
- Civic Education and Democratic Culture
Basic Project Requirements
The U.S. Embassy will consider funding only those projects that:
- are initiated by Cameroonian organizations (excluding the executive branch of the Cameroonian Government);
- promote political pluralism and respect for human and civil rights;
- benefit a large number of people;
- include activities, expenditures and timelines that are consistent, reasonable, and within the ability of the organization to implement;
- can be completed within one year, without requiring further DHRF assistance; and
- respect environmental norms.
How to Apply
Complete and send the application form to the U.S. Embassy at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit U.S. Embassy in Cameroon.