Democracy & Human Rights Fund

UNITED STATES EMBASSY
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FUND GUIDELINES

The United States Embassy’s Democracy and Human Rights Fund provides grants to finance short-term, high-impact activities that build democratic institutions, support the rule of law and respect for international and domestic civil and human rights. This includes projects encouraging reconciliation and peaceful conflict resolution.
Applications are accepted throughout the year but you must submit your application by the end of April to be considered for funding in the same calendar year. Grants are awarded once per year, usually in June or July. The maximum funding for individual projects will normally not exceed $20,000. 
Any registered organization can apply for funding. Consideration will be given in the selection process to your organization’s previous activities and in particular a demonstrated ability to manage funds.

Thinking about impact:

• Priority will be given to activities that result in change over awareness-raising ones. While you are elaborating your project, ask yourself: How will the human-rights situation in Rwanda be different after this project? What impact will it have six months or one year after the project has finished?
• Avoid activities such as “awareness-raising” seminars without follow-up.
• A single session of “training” does not qualify someone to train other people.

Some of the things that cannot be supported with DHRF funds include:

• influencing the outcome of elections;
• training for military, police or LDF (including direct civic and human rights education);
• long-term recurring administrative costs such as building or equipment maintenance, rent, office supplies or salaries;
• travel outside the immediate region;
• conferences or workshops that lack a specific and clearly articulated goal;
• research projects without a results-oriented component;
• labor unions (unless human-rights related) or projects in support of economic empowerment;
• humanitarian or refugee assistance;
• projects that duplicate USAID or other American-funded democracy programs in Rwanda.

Proposal format:

1.  Details about your organization:
a. Name, postal address, telephone numbers, fax number, e-mail address.
b. Name and Title of person responsible for the activity:

2.  Description of the Organization.

Please provide a description of the organization including information on how long the organization has existed, where it is based, size, funding sources with estimated amounts, other activities undertaken, and prior management experience conducting similar activities.

3.  Background Information of the Activity.

a.  Please give a brief description of the context in which the activity is set, and the rationale and purpose for the activity.  Include a clear statement of how such activities promote human rights or support political pluralism and creation of more open, democratic societies.
 
b.  Indicate how the activity addresses issues of democracy and human rights, and who will benefit from the activity.  Also, state how many individuals will be directly impacted by the activity. 
 
4. Description of the Activity and its Intended Impact. 
a.  Fully describe the activity. If you are planning a seminar or training, who will carry it out and what qualifications do they have? What topics will be covereds?
b.  Explain how and who will manage and implement the activity.
c.  Identify any potential implementation problems and how they will be addressed and overcome.
d.  Specify how long you expect to need to implement the activity.  
e.  Indicate if the impact of the activity is to effect change, and if so how, or is it to bring about awareness of issues of democracy, civil society, human rights, free speech, open and free elections, governance or other related issues. 
 
5. Budget:
a. Provide a budget in Rwandan francs that clearly links budget items to activities described in the proposal. Clearly show what items are to be covered by the requested assistance and what items will be paid for by the implementing organization.
b. Provide a clear explanation of the budget, showing on what basis the individual items were calculated, e.g. how many people for how many days or months.
        
Submitting your project:

Make sure the project is signed by at least two members of the organization. Please include a copy of your organization’s registration and a list of members of the executive committee or relevant governing body. Any recommendations or indications of support by local government is voluntary. Keep one copy for your records and submit one copy to the following address:

Coordinator, Democracy and Human Rights Fund
U.S. Embassy Kigali
2756 Avenue de la Gendarmerie
Kacyiru, Gasabo
B.P. 28
Kigali, Rwanda

For more information contact:
Coordinator, Democracy and Human Rights Fund
Tel: 0252 596 504