[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 48 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11695-11696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5503]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4650]


Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Grant 
Proposals: Human Rights and Democratization Initiatives in Countries 
With Significant Muslim Populations

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 focus on promotion of human rights, political 
participation, press freedom, rule of law, women's rights and civil 
society in countries with significant Muslim populations. The Bureau is 
particularly interested in proposals that focus on these issues in 
Pakistan, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa or Southeast 
Asia; however, DRL will consider proposals for projects in other 
countries/regions with significant Muslim populations.
    Awards are contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2004 
funds. Up to $9,000,000 may be available under the Economic Support 
Fund for projects that address Bureau objectives in countries in the 
Muslim World. The Bureau anticipates awarding between 10-20 grants in 
amounts of $500,000-$1,000,000.

Pakistan

    The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor is interested in 
supporting projects in Pakistan which focus on the following 
activities:
    1. Train and strengthen political parties;
    2. Support Pakistan's judiciary, overall legal system and 
government institutions, including programs that promote efficiency, 
transparency and rule of law;
    3. Promote press freedoms and train journalists in standards of 
fair and balanced reporting; build the capacity of media organizations 
to operate independently;
    4. Strengthen institutions to promote the rule of law;
    5. Build the capacity of civil society organizations, such as NGOs 
and professional associations;
    6. Promote overall respect for human rights by both the government 
and civil society;
    7. Encourage good governance, transparency and accountability.
    Up to $4,000,000 of the overall $9,000,000 referred to in this 
solicitation may be available for projects in Pakistan. The Bureau 
anticipates awarding between 4-8 grants in amounts of $500,000-
$1,000,000.

Central Asia

    The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor is interested in 
supporting projects in Central Asia (including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, 
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) which focus on the following 
activities:
    1. Promote free and fair elections, with emphasis on support for 
democratically-oriented political parties as well as improvement of 
electoral processes and legislation;
    2. Promote respect for human rights, especially advocacy training, 
monitoring and reporting on law enforcement abuses and combating law 
enforcement abuses;
    3. Promote rule of law, with an emphasis on support for an 
independent judiciary, legal defense assistance and defense lawyers;
    4. Strengthen press freedoms and build capacity of independent 
media;
    5. Build the capacity of civil society organizations.

The Middle East, North Africa and Iran

    The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor is interested in 
supporting projects in the Middle East, North Africa and Iran, which 
focus on the following activities:
    1. Support civil society, with emphasis on political actors and 
advocacy groups that involve women;
    2. Increase access to information through freedom of the press, 
freedom of speech, and enhanced public awareness of human rights and 
democracy issues;
    3. Promote democratic elections by strengthening institutional 
capacity, training political parties, NGOs and newly elected officials, 
and raising civic awareness;
    4. Promote rule of law with an emphasis on civil liberties, 
government accountability, and administration of justice;

Southeast Asia

    The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor is interested in 
supporting projects in countries in Southeast Asia with significant 
Muslim populations which focus on the following activities:
    1. Empower Muslim women, including projects that promote capacity 
building and/or networks of women or women's organizations, especially 
as they relate to human rights;
    2. Address the problem of disenfranchised youth and the need to 
reach out to this group to prevent growth of extremism;
    3. Promote political reform programs that would entail support for 
conducting free and fair elections, issues of good governance and 
corruption;
    4. Promote independent media and access to a diversity of sources 
of information;
    5. Promote the compatibility of democracy with Islam and increased 
political engagement with moderate Muslims;
    6. Promote ethnic and religious tolerance initiatives to resolve 
conflict and disputes.

Background

    DRL/PHD supports innovative, cutting-edge programs which uphold 
democratic principles, support and strengthen democratic institutions, 
promote human rights, and build civil

[[Page 11696]]

society in countries and regions of the world that are geo-
strategically important to the U.S. DRL/PHD funds projects that have an 
immediate impact but that also have potential for continued funding 
beyond DRL/PHD resources. Projects must not duplicate or simply add to 
efforts by other entities.

Project Criteria

     Project implementation should begin no earlier 
than September 30, 2004.
     Projects should not exceed two years in 
duration. Shorter projects with more immediate outcomes may receive 
preference.
     Project activity should take place abroad. U.S.-
based or exchange projects are strongly discouraged.
     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.
     Projects should include detailed plans for 
evaluation and assessment of impact; plans may utilize qualitative and/
or quantitative methods and should address both project outputs and 
outcomes.
     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 regions and how the submitted proposal will complement 
them.

Applicant/Organization Criteria

    Organizations applying for a grant should meet the following 
criteria:
     Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the 
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 
501(c)(3).
     Have demonstrated experience administering 
successful projects in the country/region in which it is proposing to 
administer a project.
     Have existing, or the capacity to develop, 
active partnerships with in-country organization(s).
     Organizations that have not previously received 
and successfully administered U.S. government grant funds will be 
subject to additional scrutiny before an award can be granted.

    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 (e.s.t.) on Wednesday, 
March 31, 2004. 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; program evaluation plan; institution's record/ability/
capacity; cost-effectiveness.

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 or http://www.fedgrants.gov 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 consists of this RFP plus the Proposal 
Submission Instructions (PSI). The PSI contains detailed award 
criteria, specific budget instructions, and standard guidelines for 
proposal preparation. The 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: March 5, 2004.
Lorne W. Craner,
Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department 
of State.
[FR Doc. 04-5503 Filed 3-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-18-P