DRL Grant: Advancing Democracy and Human Rights through Civil Society Engagement in East Asia and the Pacific

DRL’s objective is to increase the organizational capacities of disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs) to broaden civil society participation in, and support to, government efforts to implement the CRPD. DRL seeks proposals to increase the ability of DPOs to play a greater role in advocating for their rights.

Proposals will be viewed favorably if program outcomes include: increased organizational capacity of DPOs in countries of Southeast Asia; increased advocacy by community and labor organizations on behalf of disability rights issues; greater civil and political participation by individuals with disabilities; and increased government action to implement the CRPD as a result of DPO advocacy and support in target countries. Competitive proposals will include a detailed description of how DPO capacity to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities will be increased, and how the program and DPOs will influence government implementation of the CRPD.

DRL seeks to fund a multi-country regional program and proposals should include a minimum of two countries in Southeast Asia. DRL prefers proposals that include Laos, Thailand, and/or Cambodia.

Vietnam:
Improving Civil Society Influence at the National Assembly
(approximately $400,000 available).
DRL’s objective is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to effect policy decisions of the National Assembly in Vietnam. DRL seeks proposals to train civil society organizations and NGOs how to build relationships and advocate on community issues with members of the National Assembly.

Proposals should include working with organizations operating across the country and covering a wide range of civil society issues. Proposals will be viewed favorably if program outcomes include: a defined target population(s); improved capacity of the National Assembly to represent constituents through grassroots democracy; improved capacity of civil society to conduct information and outreach campaigns that target the National Assembly; and improved capacity of civil society to press for specific policy reforms.

Supporting Implementation of Convention Against Torture (CAT)
(approximately $250,000 available).
To support Vietnam’s accession to the CAT, DRL’s objective is to productively engage members of the Government of Vietnam on human rights and the Convention Against Torture. DRL seeks proposals to work with individuals and departments across government ministries on how to proactively fulfill Vietnam’s obligations under the CAT. This could include training of judges and ministry officials. DRL would look favorably on proposals that support the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to support adherence by stakeholders, include measurable outcomes, and include relevant government ministries. Creative approaches are welcome; DRL is less interested in funding conferences and study tours.

Cambodia:
Supporting Civil Society in Cambodia
(approximately $350,000 available).
DRL’s objective is to assist Cambodia’s civil society to successfully operate and advocate in a changing environment. DRL seeks proposals that support public-interest legal assistance and the use of the judicial process to challenge laws that may hinder the country’s ability to advance as a democratic society. DRL also seeks proposals to improve the capacity of civil society organizations, including labor unions, disabled persons organizations, and women’s rights groups, to form issue-based coalitions in support of democracy and human rights. In a limited manner, proposals could provide assistance to community-based organizations and small non-governmental organizations attempting to register, helping them navigate ambiguities found in the laws and supporting their efforts to overcome anticipated burdens of registration.

Indonesia:
Strengthening civil society’s role in security service reform
(approximately $500,000 available). DRL’s objective is to stem human rights abuses by Indonesian military and police personnel.DRL seeks proposals that will enhance the ability, and expand the reach, of NGOs working to stem human rights abuses by Indonesian military and police personnel. Proposals that seek to strengthen engagement between civil society and8 the security apparatus, including NGO training of security service leaders, and that seek to increase civilian leaders’ awareness of more effective ways to address abuses by uniformed and civilian subordinates and root out human rights abuses will be positively evaluated.

Other outcomes sought by DRL include: 1) Strengthened ability of NGOs and civil society to network and share best practices; 2) Greatly enhanced ability of NGOs focused on security sector abuse to engage in the policy making process; 3) Enhanced understanding by civilian leaders of police and security institutions of how abuse occurs, why it matters, how it should be punished, and how it can be prevented.

Community Participation to Improve Government Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (approximately $300,000 available).
DRL?s objective is to increase the organizational capacities of disabled persons? organizations (DPOs) to broaden civil society participation in, and support to, government efforts to implement the CRPD.

DRL seeks proposals to increase the ability of DPOs to play a greater role in advocating for their rights. Proposals will be viewed favorably if program outcomes include: increased organizational capacity of DPOs in countries of Southeast Asia; increased advocacy by community and labor organizations on behalf of disability rights issues; greater civil and political participation by individuals with disabilities; and increased government action to implement the CRPD as a result of DPO advocacy and support in target countries. Competitive proposals will include a detailed description of how DPO capacity to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities will be increased, and how the program and DPOs will influence government implementation of the CRPD.

DRL seeks to fund a multi-country regional program and proposals should include a minimum of two countries in Southeast Asia. DRL prefers proposals that include Laos, Thailand, and/or Cambodia.

Vietnam:

Improving Civil Society Influence at the National Assembly (approximately $400,000 available). DRL?s objective is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to effect policy decisions of the National Assembly in Vietnam.

DRL seeks proposals to train civil society organizations and NGOs how to build relationships and advocate on community issues with members of the National Assembly. Proposals should include working with organizations operating across the country and covering a wide range of civil society issues. Proposals will be viewed favorably if program outcomes include: a defined target population(s); improved capacity of the National Assembly to represent constituents through grassroots democracy; improved capacity of civil society to conduct information and outreach campaigns that target the National Assembly; and improved capacity of civil society to press for specific policy reforms.

Supporting Implementation of Convention Against Torture (CAT) (approximately $250,000 available). To support Vietnam?s accession to the CAT, DRL?s objective is to productively engage members of the Government of Vietnam on human rights and the Convention Against Torture.

DRL seeks proposals to work with individuals and departments across government ministries on how to proactively fulfill Vietnam?s obligations under the CAT. This could include training of judges and ministry officials. DRL would look favorably on proposals that support the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to support adherence by stakeholders, include measurable outcomes, and include relevant government ministries. Creative approaches are welcome; DRL is less interested in funding conferences and study tours.

Cambodia:

Supporting Civil Society in Cambodia (approximately $350,000 available).
DRL?s objective is to assist Cambodia?s civil society to successfully operate and advocate in a changing environment.

DRL seeks proposals that support public-interest legal assistance and the use of the judicial process to challenge laws that may hinder the country?s ability to advance as a democratic society. DRL also seeks proposals to improve the capacity of civil society organizations, including labor unions, disabled persons organizations, and women’s rights groups, to form issue-based coalitions in support of democracy and human rights. In a limited manner, proposals could provide assistance to community-based organizations and small non-governmental organizations attempting to register, helping them navigate ambiguities found in the laws and supporting their efforts to overcome anticipated burdens of registration.

Indonesia:

Strengthening civil society?s role in security service reform (approximately $500,000 available).
DRL?s objective is to stem human rights abuses by Indonesian military and police personnel.

DRL seeks proposals that will enhance the ability, and expand the reach, of NGOs working to stem human rights abuses by Indonesian military and police personnel. Proposals that seek to strengthen engagement between civil society and the security apparatus, including NGO training of security service leaders, and that seek to increase civilian leaders? awareness of more effective ways to address abuses by uniformed and civilian subordinates and root out human rights abuses will be positively evaluated.

Other outcomes sought by DRL include: 1) Strengthened ability of NGOs and civil society to network and share best practices; 2) Greatly enhanced ability of NGOs focused on security sector abuse to engage in the policy making process; 3) Enhanced understanding by civilian leaders of police and security institutions of how abuse occurs, why it matters, how it should be punished, and how it can be prevented.