DRL seeks Proposals under Democracy and Human Rights in the East Asia and Pacific Region

The State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) has issued a request for proposals from eligible organizations outlining the program concepts and capacity to manage projects targeting the issues related to regional and country specific Democracy and Human Rights in the East Asia and Pacific region.

Regional and Country Specific Objectives

Regional:

Community Participation to Improve Government Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (approximately $300,000 available).

DRL seeks to fund a multi-country regional program and proposals should include a minimum of two countries in Southeast Asia. DRL prefers proposals that include Laos, Thailand, and/or Cambodia.

Vietnam:

Improving Civil Society Influence at the National Assembly (approximately $400,000 available). DRL’s objective is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to effect policy decisions of the National Assembly in Vietnam.

DRL seeks proposals to train civil society organizations and NGOs how to build relationships and advocate on community issues with members of the National Assembly. Proposals should include working with organizations operating across the country and covering a wide range of civil society issues.

Supporting Implementation of Convention Against Torture (CAT) (approximately $250,000 available). DRL seeks proposals to work with individuals and departments across government ministries on how to proactively fulfil Vietnam’s obligations under the CAT. This could include training of judges and ministry officials.

Cambodia:

Supporting Civil Society in Cambodia (approximately $350,000 available).

DRL’s objective is to assist Cambodia’s civil society to successfully operate and advocate in a changing environment. DRL seeks proposals that support public-interest legal assistance and the use of the judicial process to challenge laws that may hinder the country’s ability  to advance as a democratic society.

Indonesia:

Strengthening civil society’s role in security service reform (approximately $500,000 available): DRL’s objective is to stem human rights abuses by Indonesial military and police personnel. DRL seeks proposals that will enhance the ability, and expand the reach, of NGOs working to stem human rights abuses by Indonesian military and police personnel. Proposals that seek to strengthen engagement between civil society and the security apparatus, including NGO training of security service leaders, and that seek to increase civilian leaders, and that seek to increase civilian leaders’ awareness of more effective ways to address abuses by uniformed and civilian subordinates and root out human rights abuses will be positively evaluated.

Last date for submission of proposals is December 13, 2011.

For more information, visit this link and search by the Funding Opportunity Number DRLA-DRLAQM-11-006.