[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48984-48985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20936]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4444]


Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Grant 
Proposals: Human Rights and Democratization Initiatives in Sub-Saharan 
Africa

SUMMARY: The Office for the Promotion of Human Rights and Democracy of 
the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL/PHD) announces an 
open competition for assistance awards. Organizations may submit grant 
proposals that address programs and activities that foster democracy, 
human rights, press freedoms, and the rule of law in Sub-Saharan 
Africa.
    Awards are contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2003 
funds. The Bureau anticipates awarding between 2-4 grants in amounts of 
$250,000-$500,000.
    Background: The Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF) supports 
innovative, cutting-edge programs which uphold democratic principles, 
support and strengthen democratic institutions, promote human rights, 
and build civil society in countries and regions of the world that are 
geo-strategically important to the U.S. HRDF funds projects that have 
an immediate impact but that have potential for continued funding 
beyond HRDF resources. HRDF projects must not duplicate or simply add 
to efforts by other entities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and 
Labor has identified the following issues and countries as priorities.
    1. Support independent media and access to information. Inform 
population of legal rights and responsibilities. Enhance public 
awareness of human rights, democratic processes, through print, radio, 
television and the Internet. Support and advocate freedom of the press, 
encourage greater social responsibility in reporting, and protect 
journalists. (Countries: Angola, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial 
Guinea, Eritrea, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, and 
Zimbabwe)
    2. Judicial reform to strengthen rule of law and reinforce 
mechanisms to ensure accountability for human rights abuses. 
(Countries: Angola, Cameroon,

[[Page 48985]]

Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda 
and Zimbabwe)
    3. Develop and implement long and short-term strategies for 
ensuring free and fair elections; strengthen political parties, 
establish and support the work of independent electoral commissions and 
develop campaign training and overall support for political pluralism. 
(Countries: Angola, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, 
Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda)
    4. Support, strengthen and enhance civil society's capacity to 
advocate, monitor, develop or support human rights rule of law, and the 
democratic process, good governance or conflict resolution through 
innovative campaigns (Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, 
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, 
Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda)
    5. Increase national reconciliation in post-war countries through 
strengthened civil society and political institutions. (Angola, 
Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Sudan)
    6. Sensitize men and women to the destructive and debilitating 
nature of female genital mutilation. (West Africa)
    Project Criteria:
    [sbull] Project implementation should begin no earlier than March 
2004.
    [sbull] Projects should not exceed two years in duration. Shorter 
projects with more immediate outcomes may receive preference.
    [sbull] Project activity should take place in Sub-Saharan Africa. 
U.S-based or exchange projects are strongly discouraged.
    [sbull] Projects that have a strong academic or research focus will 
not be highly considered. DRL will not fund health, technology, 
environmental, or scientific projects unless they have an explicit 
democracy, human rights, or rule of law component. Conferences likewise 
will not be highly considered.
    [sbull] Projects should include a follow-on plan that extends 
beyond the grant period ensuring that Bureau-supported programs are not 
isolated events.
    In order to avoid the duplication of activities and programs, 
proposals should also indicate knowledge of similar projects being 
conducted in the region and how the submitted proposal will complement 
them.
    Applicant/Organization Criteria: Organizations applying for a grant 
should meet the following criteria:
    [sbull] Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the provisions 
described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3). 
Applicants must submit proof of its non-profit status in the 
application at the time of submission.
    [sbull] Have demonstrated experience administering successful 
projects in the region in which it is proposing to administer a 
project.
    [sbull] Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active 
partnerships with in-country organization(s).

    Note: Organizations are welcome to submit more than one 
proposal, but should know that DRL wishes to reach out to as many 
different organizations as possible with its limited funds.


    Budget Guidelines: Please refer to the Proposal Submission 
Instructions (PSI) for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    Deadline for Proposals: All proposals must be received at the 
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard 
Time (EST) on Tuesday, September 16, 2003. Please refer to the PSI for 
specific delivery instructions.

Review Process

    The Bureau will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will 
review them for eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if 
they do not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein and in the 
PSI. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance with Federal and 
Bureau regulations and guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels 
for advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of 
the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements.

Review Criteria

    Eligible applications will be competitively reviewed according to 
the criteria stated below. Further explanation of these criteria is 
included in the PSI. These criteria are not rank-ordered and all carry 
equal weight in the proposal evaluation: quality of the program idea; 
program planning and ability to achieve program objectives; multiplier 
effect/impact; institution's record/ability/capacity; cost-
effectiveness.
    Some grants may be awarded under the aegis of the Father John 
Kaiser Memorial Fund which endeavors to advance the work and values of 
Father John Kaiser with respect to solving ethnic conflict and 
promoting government accountability and respect for human rights.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office for the Promotion of Human 
Rights and Democracy of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor 
(DRL/PHD). Please specify Karen Gilbride 202-647-1458 on all inquiries 
and correspondence.
    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.
    To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet: The Solicitation 
Package includes this RFP plus the Proposal Submission Instructions 
(PSI) which contains detailed award criteria, specific budget 
instructions, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. The 
entire RFP and PSI may be downloaded from the HRDF section on the 
Bureau's Web site at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, 
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of 
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject 
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements. Final technical 
authority for assistance awards resides with the Office of Acquisition 
Management's Grants Officer.

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.

    Dated: August 5, 2003.
E. Michael Southwick,
Assistant Secretary for Democracy (Acting), Human Rights Labor, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 03-20936 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
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