DRL: Youth Engaged in Democratic Processes for Community-Driven Change in Maldives

Deadline: 28-Mar-22

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that empower young people to engage in democratic processes to ensure their voices and interests are represented.

DRL’s goal for the Maldives is to increase youth inclusion and participation in policy decisions at all levels of government by empowering youth to become agents of positive social change within their own communities.

Objectives
The program objectives are:

youth and youth-led organizations have increased leadership skills and strengthened networks to engage more 2 meaningfully in decision making processes and implementation of policies that impact youth and their communities; and
youth and youth-led organizations are empowered to advance and protect fundamental freedoms acting as catalysts to increase awareness of governance issues among young people and other community members.
Funding Information
Total Funding Floor: $500,000
Total Funding Ceiling: $500,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 1
Period of Performance: 12-24 months
Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 6-8 months
Eligible Activities
Program activities could include, but are not limited to:

strengthening youth-led networks and broader civil society coalitions across political groups and marginalized communities
increasing the capacity of youth to take on leadership roles within civil society structures, including mentorship opportunities;
enabling youth to be more meaningfully engaged in decision making processes in their communities, which could include constructive political engagement, social and economic issues, community-based problem solving around issues facing the country such as climate change, job creation and entrepreneurship;
skills-building opportunities such as media and journalistic skills, which could include strengthening critical analysis skills to counter the proliferation of mis- and disinformation; youth-led research leading to advocacy efforts;
physical and digital security trainings.
Eligibility Criteria
DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337534