Opportunity Information: Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 14 056
Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 14 056
- The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the education employment, labor and training health income security and social services law, justice and legal services other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering Labor Violence in Guatemala and Honduras" 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 Jul 3, 2014 and posted on Jul 3, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 1, 2014 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 $700,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 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 Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- none
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Opportunity Summary:
The Countering Labor Violence in Guatemala and Honduras grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DRLA DRLAQM 14 056) was offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) to address a long-running crisis of threats, attacks, and killings targeting trade unionists in Guatemala and Honduras, alongside persistently low rates of investigation and conviction. The core idea behind the program is that reversing this pattern requires sustained coordination and pressure from multiple sides, particularly civil society, labor organizations, businesses, and government institutions. DRL sought proposals for a regional effort lasting roughly 30 to 36 months that would both strengthen protection for trade union leaders and members (including people attempting to form unions) and reduce impunity by improving how cases are documented, pursued, and prosecuted.
The program’s intended approach is practical and systems-focused rather than purely advocacy-based. It emphasizes building stronger local capacity to record threats and incidents, create credible reporting channels, and use that information for strategic advocacy with authorities and other stakeholders. A major component is strengthening trade union federations so they can consistently and safely track threats and violence affecting union leaders, members, and their families, as well as workers involved in union formation. Another central expectation is active engagement with governments through NGO partners and other stakeholders to press for progress in specific cases, including monitoring whether investigations and prosecutions move forward and whether obstacles such as lack of evidence collection, weak coordination, or institutional reluctance are being addressed.
DRL also highlighted learning and replication of what already works in the region. Proposals were encouraged to identify, study, and share promising practices for combating labor violence, including through regional exchanges that bring together civil society and NGO leaders across Guatemala and Honduras. The goal is to create cross-border learning and peer networks so organizations do not operate in isolation and can adapt proven strategies, such as coordinated incident documentation, protection referral pathways, case monitoring methodologies, and structured engagement with enforcement and justice-sector agencies.
A notable priority is inclusion of workers and communities that are often at higher risk or more excluded from formal protection systems. Strong proposals were expected to incorporate some combination of informal economy workers, women, indigenous persons, youth, persons with disabilities, and migrants. DRL also signaled that applicants should show they understand the existing landscape by demonstrating research into and/or experience with local civil society organizations that already address violence against vulnerable groups and that have a track record of working with enforcement agencies. In other words, the program is designed to build on credible local partners and existing efforts rather than creating parallel structures that disappear when funding ends.
Sustainability is treated as a required design feature, not an add-on. Applicants were asked to work with established local civil society organizations to develop systems that keep producing results after the grant period ends. This implies durable practices such as standardized data collection protocols, ongoing coordination mechanisms between unions and human rights defenders, institutionalized case-tracking tools, and locally owned strategies for continuing government engagement on investigations and prosecutions.
In terms of funding and administrative details, this was a discretionary grant under CFDA 19.345 (International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor). The award size was expected to fall between $500,000 (floor) and $700,000 (ceiling), with no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), among others listed in the announcement. The opportunity was posted on July 3, 2014, with an original and final closing date of August 1, 2014, and it was archived on August 31, 2014.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Countering Labor Violence in Guatemala and Honduras (DRLA DRLAQM 14 056)
What is the Countering Labor Violence in Guatemala and Honduras grant opportunity?
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DRLA DRLAQM 14 056) was offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). It focused on addressing threats, attacks, and killings targeting trade unionists in Guatemala and Honduras, and the persistently low rates of investigation and conviction associated with these crimes.
Which countries and region does the program focus on?
The program was designed as a regional effort focused on Guatemala and Honduras, with an emphasis on cross-border learning and coordination between actors in both countries.
What problem was the program trying to address?
The program aimed to respond to a long-running crisis of labor-related violence targeting trade unionists, alongside high levels of impunity. A central concern was that investigations and prosecutions were not consistently moving forward, contributing to ongoing risk for union leaders, members, and those attempting to form unions.
What was the core idea or theory behind the program?
DRL framed the solution as requiring sustained coordination and pressure from multiple sides, particularly civil society, labor organizations, businesses, and government institutions. The premise was that reversing the pattern of violence and impunity would require practical, systems-oriented work rather than isolated or purely advocacy-based efforts.
How long was the project expected to last?
DRL sought proposals for an effort lasting roughly 30 to 36 months.
What were the main objectives of the grant?
The opportunity emphasized two primary objectives: (1) strengthen protection for trade union leaders and members, including people attempting to form unions; and (2) reduce impunity by improving how cases are documented, pursued, and prosecuted.
Was the program intended to be advocacy-focused or operational?
The intended approach was practical and systems-focused rather than purely advocacy-based. It emphasized building local capacity to record threats and incidents, create credible reporting channels, and use that information for strategic engagement with authorities and other stakeholders.
What kinds of activities were emphasized for improving documentation and reporting?
DRL highlighted strengthening local capacity to record threats and incidents, developing credible channels for reporting, and using the resulting information in a strategic way. This included consistent and safe tracking of threats and violence affecting union leaders, members, and their families, as well as workers involved in union formation.
What role were trade union federations expected to play?
A major component was strengthening trade union federations so they can reliably and safely track threats and violence affecting union leaders, members, their families, and workers attempting to form unions.
How did DRL expect applicants to engage with governments?
DRL expected active engagement with governments through NGO partners and other stakeholders to press for progress in specific cases. This included monitoring whether investigations and prosecutions move forward and whether obstacles (such as lack of evidence collection, weak coordination, or institutional reluctance) are being addressed.
What does the program mean by reducing impunity?
Based on the opportunity description, reducing impunity referred to strengthening the ability to document cases and ensuring cases are pursued and prosecuted more effectively, including attention to bottlenecks such as inadequate evidence collection, poor inter-institutional coordination, or reluctance within institutions to act.
Were proposals encouraged to build on existing efforts in the region?
Yes. DRL highlighted learning and replication of what already works in the region and encouraged proposals to identify, study, and share promising practices for combating labor violence.
What kinds of regional learning or exchanges were encouraged?
Proposals were encouraged to include regional exchanges that bring together civil society and NGO leaders across Guatemala and Honduras. The intent was to create cross-border learning and peer networks so organizations can adapt proven strategies rather than operating in isolation.
What are examples of "promising practices" mentioned in the opportunity?
The opportunity referenced approaches such as coordinated incident documentation, protection referral pathways, case monitoring methodologies, and structured engagement with enforcement and justice-sector agencies.
Did the program prioritize inclusion of specific groups of workers or communities?
Yes. Strong proposals were expected to incorporate some combination of groups often at higher risk or more excluded from formal protection systems, including informal economy workers, women, indigenous persons, youth, persons with disabilities, and migrants.
What did DRL expect regarding local partners and knowledge of the local landscape?
DRL signaled that applicants should demonstrate research into and/or experience with local civil society organizations already addressing violence against vulnerable groups, particularly those with a track record of working with enforcement agencies. The program was intended to build on credible local partners and existing efforts rather than create parallel structures.
What did sustainability mean for this grant?
Sustainability was treated as a required design feature. Applicants were asked to work with established local civil society organizations to develop systems that keep producing results after the grant ends, such as standardized data collection protocols, ongoing coordination mechanisms, institutionalized case-tracking tools, and locally owned strategies to continue engagement with government on investigations and prosecutions.
What is the CFDA number associated with this award?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 19.345 (International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor).
What type of funding instrument was this?
This was described as a discretionary grant.
How much funding was available per award?
The expected award size ranged from $500,000 (floor) to $700,000 (ceiling).
Was cost-sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was stated for this opportunity.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), among other categories listed in the announcement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on July 3, 2014. The original and final closing date was August 1, 2014.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on August 31, 2014.
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