Opportunity Information: Apply for DRL 11 MENAINITIATIVES RFP 060811
Apply for DRL 11 MENAINITIATIVES RFP 060811
- 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 "MENA INITIATIVES" 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 Jun 8, 2011 and posted on Jun 8, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 6, 2011. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The MENA INITIATIVES opportunity is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) under CFDA 19.345 (International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor). It invites proposals from eligible nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) for projects that advance democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across a set of Middle East and North Africa contexts. The geographic scope referenced in the announcement includes Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen, with some program areas adding or excluding specific places. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding range reflected in the listing is a floor of $500,000 and a ceiling up to $2,000,000 depending on the program area. The opportunity was posted June 8, 2011, with proposals due July 6, 2011 (archived August 5, 2011).
A major component is Transitional Justice and Reconciliation for the Middle East and North Africa, funded as a single award of up to approximately $1,200,000. This program is framed as a flexible, rapid-response style effort meant to adapt to shifting political conditions and to seize new openings or respond to deteriorations on the ground. The announcement highlights examples such as supporting the emergence of a tribunal or truth commission, or addressing periods of severe repression involving serious human rights abuses. Activities can span early-stage technical and organizational support for transitional justice mechanisms, evidence gathering and preservation, and systematic documentation of abuses so that accountability, justice processes, and longer-term development can be possible later. A key restriction is that this transitional justice project should not include programming for West Bank/Gaza.
Another large track focuses on Labor, with approximately $2,000,000 available for up to two grants. The goal here is to strengthen democratic practices inside worker organizations and expand their ability to respond to social and economic challenges, positioning workers and their representative bodies to engage more constructively in policy processes. The types of activities DRL is looking for are practical and institution-building: training and capacity building to improve internal governance and representativeness of unions and worker associations; intentional efforts to increase women and youth in leadership; support to develop policy positions and strategic plans; and improved linkages between labor organizations and other civil society groups working on related issues. The announcement also emphasizes labor rights awareness for workers and employers, raising workers economic, social, and legal literacy, and training labor leaders and activists to organize and recruit new members, especially among marginalized groups such as women, youth, and informal sector workers. It additionally encourages skills building around collective bargaining and conflict resolution that may include employers and/or government representatives, as well as regional learning through networks or other mechanisms for sharing good practices and building solidarity across borders. This labor track has explicit geographic requirements: proposals must include activities in Bahrain and Oman, and may also include Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, the West Bank/Gaza, or Yemen.
The opportunity also includes a regional Gender Based Violence (GBV) award of approximately $500,000, intended as one grant. This program area is specifically aimed at protecting women in countries undergoing transition or upheaval who have experienced or been threatened with sexual or gender-based violence due to their political engagement. DRL is looking to strengthen the capacity of local or regional organizations that work alongside womens organizations and advocacy groups, particularly those able to provide personal security training, facilitate networking, and expand access to survivor services. The services called out include medical, psychological, social, and legal support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. While DRL will consider GBV proposals targeting any of the listed MENA countries, it explicitly encourages proposals connected to Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, or Tunisia, signaling those as priority contexts for this track.
A final program area is Protection for Religious Freedoms, also funded at approximately $500,000 as a single initiative. Its purpose is to protect and promote religious tolerance, pluralism, and the fundamental right to freedom of religion, with particular emphasis on engaging youth and women. Unlike a traditional single-implementer model, this initiative is structured as a Small Grants Program to be administered by one selected grantee organization. That primary grantee would be responsible for disbursing and managing a portfolio of innovative subgrants that defend and/or support religious freedom and tolerance across the Middle East and North Africa, explicitly excluding Iran and Iraq. The announcement also sets coordination expectations: recipients of small grants are expected to work closely with the relevant U.S. embassy, DRL, and a UN mission when appropriate. Illustrative activities include education and training, public outreach and convenings (speaking tours, interfaith conferences, symposia bringing together citizens, faith leaders, and officials), publications, third-country exchanges, awareness campaigns (including mass media and grassroots messaging), legal training and legal support related to defending religious freedom, assistance with constitutional or other legal reforms, and building interfaith youth networks. It also mentions practical prevention-oriented ideas such as an interfaith early alert or community organization to help prevent attacks on religious minorities and their places of worship, including mechanisms like an anonymous tip line.
Overall, the MENA INITIATIVES RFP is organized around four distinct but related democracy and rights priorities: adaptable transitional justice support; strengthening independent and democratic labor organizing; protecting politically active women from GBV and expanding survivor support systems; and advancing freedom of religion through a managed small-grants platform. The point of contact listed for access issues is Benton Wisehart, Program Officer, at 202-632-2064.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): MENA INITIATIVES (DRL) Grant Opportunity
What is the MENA INITIATIVES grant opportunity?
MENA INITIATIVES is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), under CFDA 19.345 (International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor). It invites proposals for projects that advance democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across specified Middle East and North Africa contexts.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the overall funding range for awards under this opportunity?
The listing reflects a funding floor of $500,000 and a ceiling up to $2,000,000, depending on the program area.
When was the opportunity posted and when were proposals due?
The opportunity was posted on June 8, 2011. Proposals were due July 6, 2011. The opportunity was archived on August 5, 2011.
What countries and areas are included in the general geographic scope?
The announcement references Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen, with some program areas adding or excluding specific places.
What are the main program areas (tracks) included in the RFP?
The RFP is organized around four priorities: (1) Transitional Justice and Reconciliation for the Middle East and North Africa, (2) Labor, (3) Gender Based Violence (GBV), and (4) Protection for Religious Freedoms.
What is the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation program area?
This track is framed as a flexible, rapid-response style effort that can adapt to shifting political conditions, seize new openings, or respond to deteriorations on the ground. It supports transitional justice and reconciliation-related needs across the region.
How much funding is available for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation, and how many awards are expected?
This program is funded as a single award of up to approximately $1,200,000.
What kinds of activities are supported under Transitional Justice and Reconciliation?
Illustrative activities include early-stage technical and organizational support for transitional justice mechanisms (such as a tribunal or truth commission), evidence gathering and preservation, and systematic documentation of abuses to support future accountability and justice processes and enable longer-term development later.
Are there any geographic restrictions for the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation track?
Yes. The announcement states that the transitional justice project should not include programming for West Bank/Gaza.
What is the Labor program area trying to achieve?
The Labor track aims to strengthen democratic practices within worker organizations and expand their capacity to respond to social and economic challenges, positioning workers and their representative bodies to engage more constructively in policy processes.
How much funding is available for the Labor track, and how many awards are expected?
Approximately $2,000,000 is available for up to two grants under the Labor program area.
What kinds of labor-focused activities does DRL emphasize?
DRL emphasizes practical, institution-building activities, including training and capacity building to improve internal governance and representativeness of unions and worker associations; efforts to increase women and youth in leadership; support to develop policy positions and strategic plans; and building linkages between labor organizations and other civil society groups working on related issues.
Does the Labor track include worker education or rights awareness components?
Yes. The announcement emphasizes labor rights awareness for workers and employers, raising workers' economic, social, and legal literacy, and training labor leaders and activists to organize and recruit new members, especially among marginalized groups such as women, youth, and informal sector workers.
Does the Labor track support collective bargaining or dispute resolution skills?
Yes. The opportunity encourages skills building around collective bargaining and conflict resolution, which may include employers and/or government representatives.
Is regional learning or cross-border networking encouraged in the Labor track?
Yes. The announcement encourages regional learning through networks or other mechanisms to share good practices and build solidarity across borders.
What are the geographic requirements for the Labor track?
Labor proposals must include activities in Bahrain and Oman. They may also include Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, the West Bank/Gaza, or Yemen.
What is the Gender Based Violence (GBV) program area?
The GBV program is a regional award intended to protect women in countries undergoing transition or upheaval who have experienced or been threatened with sexual or gender-based violence due to their political engagement.
How much funding is available for the GBV program area, and how many awards are expected?
Approximately $500,000 is intended for one grant under the GBV program area.
What types of organizations or capacities does DRL want to strengthen through the GBV track?
DRL seeks to strengthen the capacity of local or regional organizations that work alongside women's organizations and advocacy groups, particularly those able to provide personal security training, facilitate networking, and expand access to survivor services.
What survivor services are specifically referenced for the GBV program?
The announcement calls out medical, psychological, social, and legal support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Are certain countries prioritized for GBV proposals?
DRL will consider GBV proposals targeting any of the listed MENA countries, but it explicitly encourages proposals connected to Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, or Tunisia as priority contexts for this track.
What is the Protection for Religious Freedoms program area?
This initiative is designed to protect and promote religious tolerance, pluralism, and the fundamental right to freedom of religion, with a particular emphasis on engaging youth and women.
How much funding is available for Protection for Religious Freedoms, and how many awards are expected?
Approximately $500,000 is provided for a single initiative under this program area.
How is the Protection for Religious Freedoms initiative structured?
It is structured as a Small Grants Program administered by one selected grantee organization. The primary grantee is responsible for disbursing and managing a portfolio of innovative subgrants that defend and/or support religious freedom and tolerance across the Middle East and North Africa.
Are any countries explicitly excluded from the Protection for Religious Freedoms initiative?
Yes. The initiative explicitly excludes Iran and Iraq.
Are there coordination expectations for recipients of religious freedom small grants?
Yes. Recipients of small grants are expected to work closely with the relevant U.S. embassy, DRL, and a UN mission when appropriate.
What kinds of activities are suggested under the Protection for Religious Freedoms program?
Illustrative activities include education and training; public outreach and convenings (such as speaking tours, interfaith conferences, and symposia with citizens, faith leaders, and officials); publications; third-country exchanges; awareness campaigns (including mass media and grassroots messaging); legal training and legal support to defend religious freedom; assistance with constitutional or other legal reforms; and building interfaith youth networks.
Does the religious freedom program mention any prevention-oriented community mechanisms?
Yes. It mentions ideas like an interfaith early alert or community organization to help prevent attacks on religious minorities and places of worship, including mechanisms such as an anonymous tip line.
Is West Bank/Gaza included anywhere in this opportunity?
West Bank/Gaza is included in the general geographic scope and is also listed as an optional geography for the Labor track. However, the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation track explicitly states it should not include programming for West Bank/Gaza.
Who is the point of contact for access issues?
The point of contact listed for access issues is Benton Wisehart, Program Officer, at 202-632-2064.
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