FEBRUARY 24, 2023
United States Department of State
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL)
Enabling Civil Society Efforts to Address the Misuse, Diversion, and Abuse of Arms Exports
Project Description
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 impunity for those who facilitate and perpetuate the misuse and diversion of arms exports.
DRL’s goal is to promote comprehensive end-use reporting to ensure that weapons do not fuel violations of human rights or International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and promote accountability when they do. DRL’s objective is that civil society can effectively report on the use of weapons and the conduct of forces employing them, including the use of U.S. weapons in violations of human rights and IHL, and other civilian harm. DRL seeks to support civil society in providing credible information about the misuse and diversion of arms exports, in publishing reports of such information, and engaging with the governments concerned to promote accountability for those responsible for misuse and diversion.
Responsive projects should be designed to achieve the following outcomes:
- Increased knowledge and capacity among civil society to promote human rights, IHL, and civilian harm considerations in conventional weapons transfers and use.
- Improved and increased end-use reporting of arms exports.
- Governments acknowledge, prevent, and address the misuse and diversion of arms exports.
Priority regions for this program are: Near East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eurasia, and Western Hemisphere. Countries included in these regions can be found here. Proposals that include work in other regions will not be deemed competitive. Applicants may propose to work in one or multiple countries within the regions noted above. Applicants may also propose to work in multiple regions. Geographic selections must be clearly identified in the proposal package, including on the cover page, and are subject to panel approval. Applicants must include a clear justification and rationale for the geographic selection.
DRL strongly encourages applicants to submit letters of commitment, with translations, if necessary, for any partners identified in the proposal, and encourages all applicants to either have a strong in-country presence and/or work closely with local civil society organizations. If the proposal will include offshore program activities, the applicant must justify this approach and demonstrate experience using this methodology.
All programs should aim to have impact that leads to reforms and should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRL’s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new and creative approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complementary way.
DRL is committed to advancing equity and support for underserved and underrepresented communities. DRL requires all programs to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for integration of individuals/organizations regardless of religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity.
Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:
- The provision of humanitarian assistance;
- English language instruction;
- Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware;
- Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;
- External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;
- Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;
- Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society;
- Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;
- Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.
All programs should aim to have impact that leads to reforms and have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRL’s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new and creative approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complementary way.
DRL is committed to advancing equity and support for underserved and underrepresented communities. In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, programs should implement strategies for integration and inclusion of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries that can bring perspectives based on their religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, political affiliation, or veteran’s status. Programs should be demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible.
DRL requires all programs to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for nondiscrimination of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, or veteran’s status.
Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include:
- Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts;
- Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes;
- Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project, with adjustments made as necessary;
- Inclusion of vulnerable populations;
- Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities;
- Systematic follow up with beneficiaries at specific intervals after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.
Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:
- The provision of humanitarian assistance;
- English language instruction;
- Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware;
- Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;
- External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;
- Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;
- Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society;
- Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;
- Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.
This notice is subject to availability of funding.
Full notice – US State Daprtment: Enabling Civil Society Efforts to Address the Misuse, Diversion, and Abuse of Arms Exports