Opportunity Information: Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 13 016
Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 13 016
- The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Full Proposals Global Internet Freedom, Secure Technologies for Human Rights Monitoring" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345 International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 30, 2013 and posted on Jan 30, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 27, 2013 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DRLA DRLAQM 13 016) seeks full proposals for projects that strengthen global internet freedom by building and improving secure technologies used for human rights monitoring. The central problem DRL is trying to address is that human rights organizations working under internet repression often face surveillance, device seizure, interception, and intimidation, which makes it dangerous to document abuses or communicate evidence. DRL wants to fund practical tools and improvements that help groups safely collect, transmit, analyze, store, and publish information about human rights violations, with a clear emphasis on solutions that make mobile phone evidence collection safer.
The program is focused on technology development and deployment rather than general advocacy. DRL is open to funding both new tools and upgrades to existing ones. Improvements can include stronger security (for example, better encryption, safer key management, stronger authentication, tamper resistance, secure deletion, or protections against common mobile threats), but the announcement also signals that usability matters just as much as technical strength. In many high-risk contexts, a tool fails not because the cryptography is weak but because it is hard to use, confusing in a crisis, or not adapted to local languages and workflows. For that reason, DRL highlights usability improvements and localization as competitive areas, alongside traditional security enhancements.
A competitive proposal is expected to go beyond writing code. DRL explicitly calls for a thorough implementation and outreach plan that shows how the technology will reach real human rights groups and be used in the field. That includes practical adoption support such as clear user documentation, training plans, and ongoing assistance (for example, help desk or user support channels). In other words, applicants need to show they understand the full lifecycle from development to real-world deployment, including how they will onboard partners, handle support requests, and sustain use in difficult operating environments.
DRL also expects that any software produced under this award can be made available for a confidential, external security audit. This signals that security claims should be verifiable and that the program is concerned about unintended vulnerabilities that could put users at risk. Open source approaches are described as highly competitive, suggesting DRL values transparency, peer review, and broader reuse by the human rights community, though the announcement does not say open source is strictly required.
The scope is global. DRL wants technologies that can apply across regions, and proposals should identify priority populations or regions and plan language coverage accordingly. Translation and localization are not optional add-ons in the spirit of this call; they are an objective. The announcement specifically mentions target languages such as Chinese, Farsi, Vietnamese, and Burmese, reflecting an interest in reaching users in environments where censorship and surveillance are common. Applicants can prioritize additional languages if they justify them based on intended impact.
The listed objectives are: (1) improve technology for secure documentation of human rights violations, particularly via mobile phones; (2) support development and deployment of technologies for secure data collection, secure transmission, and/or secure storage; (3) provide end users with strong support options such as documentation, training, and help desk support; and (4) translate technologies into a range of languages including examples like Chinese, Farsi, Vietnamese, and Burmese. Taken together, these objectives point to end-to-end security for the documentation workflow, from capture on a phone to safe handling, movement, and retention of sensitive data, while ensuring the tools are usable and supported by the communities who need them.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant under CFDA 19.345 (International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor). The posted date and creation date are January 30, 2013, with an original and current closing date of February 27, 2013, and an archive date of March 29, 2013. Funding amounts range from an award floor of $500,000 to an award ceiling of $2,300,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organization types: private and public institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. For applicants needing access help, the notice references the GrantSolutions Help Desk and provides email and phone contact information.
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at teams that can combine secure software engineering with real-world human rights deployment experience: building or strengthening mobile-friendly documentation and reporting tools, validating their security through auditing, localizing them for priority user communities, and backing them with training and support so they are actually adopted and safely used in high-risk environments. For the detailed submission requirements, DRL directs applicants to the attached full grant announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) discretionary grant opportunity to support projects that strengthen global internet freedom by building and improving secure technologies used for human rights monitoring. The Funding Opportunity Number is DRLA DRLAQM 13 016 (CFDA 19.345).
What problem is DRL trying to solve with this grant?
DRL is addressing the risks faced by human rights organizations operating under internet repression, including surveillance, device seizure, interception, and intimidation. These threats can make it dangerous to document abuses or communicate evidence, especially when evidence is captured and handled on mobile phones.
What types of projects does DRL want to fund?
DRL is seeking full proposals for practical technology projects that help human rights groups safely collect, transmit, analyze, store, and publish information about human rights violations. The emphasis is on secure technologies for human rights monitoring, with a clear focus on making mobile phone evidence collection safer.
Is this grant focused on advocacy or technology?
The program is focused on technology development and deployment rather than general advocacy. Competitive proposals are expected to center on building or improving tools and ensuring they can be adopted and used in real-world, high-risk environments.
Are new tools required, or can existing tools be improved?
DRL is open to funding both new tools and upgrades to existing ones. Proposals can focus on building something new or strengthening an established solution, as long as the work aligns with the program objectives.
What kinds of security improvements are relevant?
The opportunity highlights improvements such as stronger encryption, safer key management, stronger authentication, tamper resistance, secure deletion, and protections against common mobile threats. The goal is end-to-end security for the documentation workflow, from capture on a phone to safe handling, movement, and retention of sensitive data.
How important is usability compared to technical security?
Usability is emphasized as being as important as technical strength. DRL notes that tools can fail in high-risk contexts because they are hard to use, confusing in a crisis, or not adapted to local languages and workflows. Usability improvements and localization are identified as competitive areas alongside traditional security enhancements.
What does DRL expect beyond building software?
Competitive proposals are expected to include a thorough implementation and outreach plan showing how the technology will reach real human rights groups and be used in the field. This includes adoption support such as clear user documentation, training plans, and ongoing assistance like help desk or user support channels.
What does "development and deployment" mean in the context of this program?
It means applicants should plan for the full lifecycle from development to real-world use. DRL is looking for evidence that applicants can onboard partners, support users, handle support requests, and sustain use in difficult operating environments, not just produce code.
Is a security audit required?
DRL expects that any software produced under the award can be made available for a confidential, external security audit. This indicates that security claims should be verifiable and that the program is concerned about unintended vulnerabilities that could put users at risk.
Is open source required?
The announcement describes open source approaches as highly competitive, suggesting DRL values transparency, peer review, and broader reuse. However, the information provided does not state that open source is strictly required.
What regions can projects focus on?
The scope is global. DRL wants technologies that can apply across regions, and proposals should identify priority populations or regions and plan language coverage accordingly.
How important is translation and localization?
Translation and localization are an objective of this call, not an optional add-on. DRL highlights localization and language adaptation as competitive areas and expects proposals to plan for language coverage based on intended impact.
Which languages are specifically mentioned?
The announcement gives examples of target languages such as Chinese, Farsi, Vietnamese, and Burmese. Applicants may prioritize additional languages if they justify them based on intended impact.
What are the stated objectives of the opportunity?
The listed objectives are: (1) improve technology for secure documentation of human rights violations, particularly via mobile phones; (2) support development and deployment of technologies for secure data collection, secure transmission, and/or secure storage; (3) provide end users with strong support options such as documentation, training, and help desk support; and (4) translate technologies into a range of languages including examples like Chinese, Farsi, Vietnamese, and Burmese.
What is the funding range for awards?
The award floor is $500,000 and the award ceiling is $2,300,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include private and public institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA is 19.345 (International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor).
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The posted date and creation date are January 30, 2013. The original and current closing date is February 27, 2013. The archive date is March 29, 2013.
Where can applicants find the detailed submission requirements?
DRL directs applicants to the attached full grant announcement for detailed submission requirements.
What support is available for applicants who need help accessing the application system?
The notice references the GrantSolutions Help Desk and provides email and phone contact information for applicants needing access help.
What kind of team or experience is DRL looking for?
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at teams that can combine secure software engineering with real-world human rights deployment experience, including building or strengthening mobile-friendly documentation and reporting tools, validating security through auditing, localizing tools for priority communities, and backing them with training and support so they are adopted and safely used in high-risk environments.
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