[February 2023]
DRL Request for Proposals from CSOs to support Women from Marginalized Communities
Deadline: 22-Mar-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that protect and defend the universal human rights, fundamental freedoms, and dignity of all individuals, including those who experience violence, discrimination, and marginalization based on religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or migrant status.
DRL supports the mandates of the Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice; the Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Persons; the Special Advisor on International Disability Rights; Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, with the rank of Ambassador; the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom; and the Ambassador-At-Large for Global Women’s Issues.
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DRL FY22: Global Equality Fund LGBTQI+ Programs
Deadline: 1-Mar-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that have the goal to provide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) communities.
Program proposals may address communities globally or may be focused on communities in individual countries, across multiple countries, within regions, or across multiple regions. They intend for projects to be led by, or have strong support from and participation by, LGBTQI+ organizations and communities.
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Grants to Promote and Protect Freedom of Expression for Vulnerable or Marginalized Populations
Deadline: 5-Apr-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) invites civil society organizations (CSOs) to submit applications for projects that have the goal to promote and protect Freedom of Expression (FoE) for vulnerable or marginalized populations.
The focus should include women and girls in all their diversity; LGBTQI+ persons, transgender or gender-diverse persons in particular; migrants; members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and Indigenous communities, religious minority group members; and others targeted by anti-rights actors. These actors deploy targeted threats and instrumentalized stigma against such groups in order to chill freedom of speech and limit democratic participation, leading to the erosion of democratic institutions, rule of law, access to justice, and fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, and association (e.g. creating and disseminating disinformation in order to pass legislation that is discriminatory in intent or impact; repeatedly targeting civil society organizations working for the human rights of vulnerable populations with strategic lawsuits against public participation, etc.).
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FY23 Internet Freedom Annual Program Statement (Round 1): Grants ranging $500,000 to $3,000,000
Deadline: 25-May-23
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in submitting Statements of Interest (SOI) for programs that support Internet Freedom.
DRL’s goal is to protect the open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet by promoting fundamental freedoms, human rights, and the free flow of information online through integrated support to civil society for technology, digital safety, policy and advocacy, and applied research programs. DRL invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal.
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NOFO: Empowering Marginalized Racial and Ethnic Communities in Europe
Deadline: 29-Mar-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for proposals from organizations that will empower marginalized racial and ethnic communities in Europe, including but not limited to people of African descent and/or Roma.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) recognizes that members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and Indigenous communities around the world, including people of African descent and Roma, often are disproportionately discriminated against, forced to endure high levels of violence and excruciating labor conditions in migration, are systematically denied access to justice, and continually bear the brunt of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and violence in society. DRL continues to invest in efforts to address the negative human rights impacts of economic inequality, climate change, rising authoritarianism, migration, food insecurity, and other global challenges disproportionately impacting marginalized racial and ethnic communities.
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Bureau of DRL: Enabling Civil Society Efforts to Combat Climate Change and Protect the Environment
Deadline: 27-Mar-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for projects that address the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on democracy and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental 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.
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Funding Opportunity: DRL Workers’ Rights in Africa – Mining, Manufacturing & Construction
Deadline: 28-Mar-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in promoting internationally recognized labor standards for workers in mining, manufacturing, and/or construction in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Human rights abuses are alleged in the mining, manufacturing, and construction sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa. Concerns about these often foreign-owned and operated industries include lack of transparency and disclosure of impact assessments and due diligence processes, land rights violations, loss of livelihoods, health threats, and labor rights abuses.
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DRL Notice of Funding Opportunity: Advancing Environmental Journalism
Deadline: 3-Apr-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that advance freedom of the press and transparency around infrastructure development in Southeast Asia through support for in-depth environmental journalism.
Freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and independent journalism have faced significant challenges in Southeast Asia that have been exacerbated due to closing civic space in Asia, including during COVID-19. Nearly all ASEAN Member States rank in the bottom third of the World Press Freedom Index. Journalists who cover environmental issues are under particular threat. They play a critical role in increasing transparency and accountability on environmental issues, often surrounding large infrastructure development projects, pitting them against the interests of powerful political and business elites within their own countries, as well as regional actors.
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DRL Funding Opportunity to Advance Women’s Leadership in the Promotion of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Deadline: 3-Apr-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for programs that bolster women civil society activists and human rights defenders, in all their diversity, as leaders in the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region.
DRL seeks to support a program that advances women HRDs and civil society activists’ full, equal, effective, and meaningful participation and leadership in safeguarding and advancing democratic governance, transparency, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region. The program should seek to actively address gender norms, dynamics, and inequalities to achieve project outcomes.
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FY 2022 Grants to Support Dalit Rights in Nepal and Bangladesh
Deadline: 20-Feb-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support religious freedom in Nepal and Bangladesh.
DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental 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.
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Funding Opportunity: DRL Advancing Freedom of Expression in Tanzania
Deadline: 24-Mar-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that encourage the Government of Tanzania to reduce restrictions on freedom of expression for the public and the media.
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.
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Notice of Funding Opportunity: Promoting Inclusive Societies in Mongolia
Deadline: 07-Mar-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support Religious Freedom in Mongolia.
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) goal is to support equitable implementation of existing laws on religious registration, ensuring that laws and regulations relating to religion are in line with international laws and norms regarding freedom of religion or belief.
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NOFO: DRL Combatting Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nepal
Deadline: 27-Mar-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a project that expands women’s ability to freely and safely participate in public life in Nepal.
DRL’s goal is to improve civil society-led efforts to reduce SGBV in Nepal so that women from all backgrounds may more fully, equitably, and safely participate in all aspects of public life.
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