MENA INITIATIVES

The summary for the MENA INITIATIVES Federal Grant is detailed below. It contains information such as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number, who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, important deadlines, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed in the Grant Announcement Contact section. If these sections are incomplete, please visit the website of the government agency that is offering this grant.


	Federal Grant Title:	MENA INITIATIVES
	CFDA Number:	19.345
	CFDA Description:	International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
	Federal Agency Name:	Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
	Category of Funding Activity:	Other
	Category Explanation:	Human Rights & Democracy
	Opportunity Category:	Discretionary
	Funding Opportunity Number:	DRL-11-MENAINITIATIVES-RFP-060811
	Document Type:	Grants Notice
	Funding Instrument Type:	Grant
	Posted Date:	Jun 08, 2011
	Creation Date:	Jun 08, 2011
	Original Closing Date for Applications:	Jul 06, 2011
	Current Closing Date for Applications:	Jul 06, 2011
	Archive Date:	Aug 05, 2011
	Expected Number of Awards:	Information not provided
	Estimated Total Program Funding:	Information not provided
	Federal Grant Award Ceiling:	2,000,000
	Federal Grant Award Floor:	500,000
	Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:	No

Applicants Eligible for this Grant: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Additional Information on Eligibility: Information not provided
Grant Description: The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Proposals from organizations interested in submitting proposals for projects that promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the following regions and countries (unless otherwise noted): Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen. Transitional Justice and Reconciliation for the Middle East and North Africa (approximately $1,200,000): DRL will fund one program for up to $1,200,000 which will respond to transitional justice and reconciliation issues as they arise in the broader Middle East region. This program will provide the flexibility to respond to changes on the ground that offers new opportunities (such as the creation of tribunal or truth commission) or challenges (such as a severe crackdown that involves egregious human rights abuses). Program activities under this grant could range from supporting the initial creation of a tribunal, to gathering and preserving evidence, to documenting human rights abuses to allow for justice and development in the future. (This project should not include programming for West Bank/Gaza). Labor (approximately $2,000,000): DRL will fund up to two grants to support activities that promote democratic practices within worker organizations and build their capacity to respond to social and economic challenges. Activities may include: training and capacity building to strengthen democratic practices in workers organizations, make unions and worker associations more representative of members, and to increase the presence of women and youth in leadership positions; assistance in developing policy positions and strategic plans for worker organizations, as well as efforts to connect workers and their organizations more effectively with other civil society organizations advocating on related issues; raising awareness of labor rights among workers and employers and improving the economic, social, and legal literacy of workers; training for labor leaders and activists to organize and recruit new members, particularly marginalized workers, such as women, youth, and/or informal sector workers; skills-building related to collective bargaining and conflict resolution for workers, employers, and/or government representatives; development of a network of activists and/or a mechanism for sharing good practices among workers and independent worker organizations to promote learning and solidarity across the region. DRL plans to strengthen labor organizations and to enable workers to play a constructive role in the policy process in a number of Middle Eastern countries. 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. Gender Based Violence (approximately $500,000): DRL will fund one regional grant to support activities that work to protect women in countries undergoing transition or upheaval who have suffered from, or been threatened by, gender-based violence because of their political engagement. DRL would like to build the capacity of local or regional organizations who work with womens organizations or advocacy groups who can provide women with personal security training, networking as well as increased access to medical, psychological, social, and legal, services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. DRL will accept proposals for targeted GBV programming in any of the countries listed in the Summary above, but proposals are encouraged for activities in or related to Bahrain, Egypt, Libya or Tunisia. Protection for Religious Freedoms (approximately $500,000): DRL will fund one initiative to support programming to protect and promote religious tolerance, pluralism, and the fundamental human right of freedom of religion. Special emphasis will be placed on engaging youth and women. These funds will be used to respond to Religious Freedoms issues as they arise in the Middle East and North Africa, excluding Iran and Iraq. This initiative is designed as a Small Grants Program, to be administered by one Grantee Organization. The Grantee Organization will disburse and manage innovative small grants that defend and/or support religious freedom and tolerance. The selected Grantee Organization will ensure that all organizations receiving small grants work closely with the U.S. embassy in country, DRL, and UN mission (as appropriate). Initiatives can include, but are not limited to: education, training, and public outreach such as speaking tours, interfaith conferences, participation in multilateral fora, symposia (e.g., to bring together citizens, faith leaders, and government officials), publications, third-country exchanges, awareness campaigns (e.g. billboards, grassroots social marketing, public service announcements), and legal training for defense of religious freedom; legal support for constitutional and other reforms; development of an interfaith network of youth to encourage respect for religious diversity; and creation of an interfaith early alert/community organization that would help prevent attacks on religious minorities and their places (e.g., an anonymous tip line).
Link to Full Grant Announcement: Information not provided
Grant Announcement Contact: Benton Wisehart Program Officer Phone 2026322064

Work [WisehartBP@state.gov]
Similar Government Grants: • Request for Statements of Interest - China; • Cuba Programs; • Justice and Dignity Initiative in the Middle East and North Africa; • Democracy and Human Rights Programs in Kyrgyzstan; • Fundamental Freedoms Fund; • Opportunity DRL-10-RSOI-01-CHINA-100402; • FY 2009 Request for Proposals: Muslim World outside the Middle East; • Iraq Human Rights Request for Proposals; • Opportunity DRL-10-IRAQDG-PROP-051910; • FY 2009/2010 Forensic Assistance Programs in EAP and WHA