USAID/Bangladesh Grant: Improving Respect for Human Rights by Security Services

This announcement is a RFI, issued solely for information and planning purposes, and does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Applications (RFA). Responses to this RFI are not proposals or applications and will in no way be deemed to form any binding agreement with the RFI issuing authority. This RFI will not be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government to issue any solicitation, award any grant, or pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. Respondents are solely responsible for bearing all expenses associated with preparation and submission of the response to this RFI.
It is the potential applicant’s responsibility to monitor the site for the release of any further information. Responding to this RFI will not give an advantage to any organization in a subsequent procurement. USAID/Bangladesh will not provide answers to any questions submitted in response to this RFI.
Background:
USAID is committed to improving livelihoods, helping in times of disaster, and promoting free, democratic systems and economic growth in Bangladesh. Through its democracy, human rights and governance programs, USAID remains committed to protecting and advancing democratic freedoms and human rights in order to ensure peace, prosperity, and stability. By helping societies protect basic rights, we enable citizens to participate, prevent conflict, spur economic growth and thus reach their full potential.

Human rights reporting by international and local NGOs has highlighted numerous concerns relating to humans rights abuses committed by Bangladesh’s security forces including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. The U.S. State Department’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2016 highlighted that some of the “most significant human rights problems were extrajudicial killings, arbitrary or unlawful detentions, and forced disappearances by government security forces” as well as “torture and abuse by security forces; arbitrary arrests.” The State Department also found that “politically motivated killings are not as numerous or widespread as 2015, but continued by members of both the ruling and opposition parties.” Transparency International reports that major political forces use the police for political gain and in exchange, they “enjoy political patronage and impunity and are therefore failing to uphold the rule of law,” (Transparency International Corruption Risks in Bangladesh).

Human rights monitors note that attempts to safeguard public safety in an era of increasing terrorist incidents have resulted in excessive measures and incidentally human rights violations.
Amnesty International’s 2016/2017 Annual Report noted, “the government’s response (to increasing attacks) was marked by human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment.” For example, “in June 2016, security forces arrested nearly 15,000 people, mostly young men, in connection with a series of attacks targeting writers, minority religious leaders, and activists,” as reported by Human Rights Watch in their World Report 2017.

Reporting by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch portray human rights violations by state actors as common and pervasive while being inconsistent with the values espoused by the Foreign Minister at the 28th Session of the Human Rights Commission. The Honorable Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali stated the Government of Bangladesh “is committed to end culture of impunity against grievous crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity. We believe it is essential for ensuring justice and upholding rule of law” (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, March 4, 2015). The Government of Bangladesh’s Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2010-2021: Making Vision 2021 a Reality envisions a “ political environment [that] will be based on democratic principles with emphasis on human rights, freedom of expression, rule of law, equality of citizens irrespective of race, religion and creed, and equality of opportunities….” USAID seeks to partner with Bangladesh to meet this commitment to justice, human rights and rule of law while also countering violent extremism.

Request for Information:
This Request for Information (RFI) asks interested parties to address the below item:

Suggest to USAID Bangladesh any evidence-based activities or interventions and strategic approaches by civil society organizations that the respondent believes will be effective and feasible in improving professionalism and respect for rule of law by security forces and minimizing human rights abuses. Organizations based in Bangladesh are encouraged to respond. Submissions should summarize recommendations for interventions with security forces that have proven effective in comparable contexts in reducing human rights violations.

In addition, USAID welcomes reports or information from your organization that addresses any or all of the following questions:
1. What successful strategies and activities implemented by civil society organizations to partner with security forces have successfully led to an improvement in human rights as measured by one or more of the following indicators:
a. Improved citizen trust and coordination with Police Forces
b. Improved knowledge and adherence to human rights standards among security forces
c. Reduction in other human rights violations by security forces, as reported by civilians/civil society
d. Improved transparency and accountability within security forces
e. Improved rule of law and reduction in extra-judicial killings
*2. What are the most appropriate approaches for USAID to improve respect for human rights when engaging security forces that also engage at-risk communities, such as the ultra-poor, the politically or geographically marginalized communities, LGBT individuals, and religious minorities?
3. What are the driving forces that result in security forces infringing upon human rights? How do they differ across contexts such as but not limited to neighborhoods, targeted groups, various law enforcement categories, gender, ethnic and religious minorities?
4. What incentive mechanisms have been successful in encouraging security forces to respect human rights?
5. What accountability mechanisms have been successful for ensuring an improved human rights record of security forces?
6. To what extent are gender dynamics relevant to making effective changes in operations that could improve respect for human rights by security forces? Are there specific interventions such as improving the gender balance of security force personnel, gender-specific outreach and public information campaigns, or different operating procedures to accommodate gender-specific concerns in the population and/or targeted communities?
7. Given the current human rights context in Bangladesh, what is the feasibility of a successful activity to promote respect for human rights by security forces?
* (Note: For purposes of responding to the above questions, any engagement of security forces by USAID programmatically would rely on the proper legal authorities notwithstanding Section 660 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

RFI Submission:
All types of eligible organizations and firms are strongly encouraged to submit information/comments by June 30, 2017, no later than 4:30 p.m. Bangladesh time. Submission via email is required; phone calls or hard copy delivery will not be accepted. E-mail submission shall be sent to: dhakaoaapreaward@usaid.gov.

The total length of the RFI submission should not be longer than 2,000 words. If the respondent has produced relevant reports, those reports may be included, preferably as embedded links. If the reports are not online, they may be submitted as attached documents. The submission must be in English; however, reference documents or links may be in Bangla.

Please do not submit any additional applications, proposals, or resumes as they will be discarded. Responses will be held confidential. Proprietary information should not be sent. Submissions will not be acknowledged nor will responses be sent. USAID may use any information provided without incurring any obligation.

USAID/Bangladesh is not requesting proposals or applications at this time. USAID/Bangladesh reserves the right to or not to incorporate any and all comments into an RFP or RFA or to issue an RFP or RFA. This RFI is not in relationship to the Mission’s solicitation for the Obirodh CVE Activity that was publicized in the Agency’s Business forecast.