A Movement to Change One Billion Lives
#17Allin
2017 Round 1: Request for Proposals
National Coalition Funding Stream
Deadline: March 16, 2017
This Request for Proposals provides both instructions for submitting a proposal as well as an application form. Please read the instructions, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and Glossary of Terms before submitting your application.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About the Disability Rights Fund
About the National Coalition Funding Stream
Target Countries
Eligibility
Funding Amounts and Project Duration
Important Considerations for the RFP
Priority Areas
What We Do Not Fund
Assessment of Applications
Grant Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
Important Application Guidelines
Where to Send Your Application
Application Checklist
Grant Application
ABOUT THE DISABILITY RIGHTS FUND
Established in 2008, the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) supports Disabled Persons’ Organizations (DPOs)[1] in the developing world to use the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to advance the human rights and inclusion in development of all persons with disabilities.
DRF grants support the capacity of marginalized[2] and emergent groups of persons with disabilities to advocate for their rights and inclusion as well as the ongoing efforts of national, state, provincial, regional, and district level DPOs to advance CRPD and Sustainable Development Goals implementation.[3]
For more information about DRF, please visit our website at www.disabilityrightsfund.org[4]. For more information about DRAF, please visit the DRAF website at www.drafund.org.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL COALITION FUNDING STREAM
The National Coalition Funding Stream supports advancement of the CRPD at national levels through lobbying for legislative changes (including but not limited to CRPD/OP ratification), monitoring and reporting on implementation of the CRPD or other international human rights mechanisms, or following up on the recommendations made by UN human rights mechanisms to States in regard to implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs). In addition, this funding stream supports national-level coalitions advocating that national development programs, policies, legislation and frameworks (such as the Sustainable Development Goals[5]) are inclusive of persons with disabilities. This stream is intended for organizations that are prominent in the disability movement at the country level. Because of the importance of joint advocacy at this level, only coalitions of three or more organizations will be funded. Applicant organizations should be disabled persons organizations (DPOs), while partner organizations can be either DPOs or other civil society organizations active in the promotion of human rights.
TARGET COUNTRIES
National Coalitions from the following countries are invited to submit proposals:
· Haiti
· Malawi
· Myanmar
Selected Coalitions from the following countries have also been invited to submit proposals:
· Ghana
· Indonesia
ELIGIBILITY
National Coalitions of three or more organizations where the Coalition is conceived and led by a DPO[6] may submit applications.
Applications from National Coalitions must be submitted by one managing DPO with national scope on behalf of the Coalition. Applicant organizations will be responsible for coordinating the Coalition and managing the grant. National umbrella organizations or federations are considered one organization for the purposes of this application and therefore, must form a Coalition with other organizations to be eligible.
Note that the applicant organization and the application aim must have national scope.
FUNDING AMOUNTS AND PROJECT DURATION
Grant amounts will range from USD 30,000–50,000 per year (USD 60,000 to 100,000 over the course of two years).
Grants will support activities to be implemented over the course of two years, however grants are given one year at a time. A second year grant will be awarded only with satisfactory completion of the first year.
Projects will commence on September 1, 2017.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE RFP
For those applicants familiar with DRF’s funding, we want to highlight several developments which may impact your organizations:
1. Tracking Activities on Specific CRPD Articles: All applications should clearly indicate how the project will advance the CRPD. As relevant, applications should focus on concrete articles of the CRPD. DRF understands that in some cases, project activities will be related to numerous articles of the CRPD (such as when developing general disability rights legislation or advocating for inclusion in general budgets), but whenever possible, reference should be made to any specific CRPD articles that the project aims to advance (taking into consideration areas of expertise of Coalition members).
2. Tracking Activities on Specific SDGs: All applications should clearly indicate how the project will advance inclusion of persons with disabilities in implementation of the SDGs. As relevant, applications should focus on specific goal(s) of the SDGs. DRF understands that in some cases project activities may be related to numerous SDG goals (such as when contributing to national action planning or advocating for inclusion in development budgeting), but whenever possible, references should be made to any specific goals that the project aims to advance de (taking into consideration areas of expertise of Coalition members).
3. Political Activity and Lobbying: Applicants must identify proposed activities and funding that may be used to “influence legislation” (also known as “lobbying”). If selected to receive funding, grant recipients may receive an award from our sister organization, the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF), for the lobbying portion of their grant activities and a grant from the Disability Rights Fund for the non-lobbying portion of their grant activities. Please see DRF’s Political Activities and Lobbying Memo for additional information.
4. Child Protection Policy: To be eligible for DRF funding, applicants that actively work with or interact with children (under age of 18 years) – including national umbrella organizations, applicants seeking funding for inclusive education projects, and applicants working with parents of children with disabilities – must demonstrate that they currently have or are in the process of developing a Child Protection Policy, which will document organizational commitment to protecting children from abuse of all kinds. DRF can provide policy standards, informational resources and technical assistance to support your efforts to develop this policy. For more information on DRF’s Child Protection Policy, see link on DRF website. If selected to receive funding, affected organizations will be required to submit a Child Protection Policy Verification Form by December 1, 2017.
5. Impact of Climate Change on Persons with Disabilities: The issue of climate change is increasingly important. DRF recognizes that persons with disabilities are especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change and seeks to ensure that our grantmaking captures the efforts of our grantees to address this vulnerability. While addressing climate change is not a requirement to receive DRF funding, we are asking applicants to describe any measures they have taken or plan to take to address the effect of climate change on persons with disabilities. If no measures have been taken, applicants should indicate this. For more information about the impact of climate change on persons with disabilities, click here.
6. Workplace Safety Policies and Procedures: DRF believes in promoting safe and healthy work environments, both within our own organization and the organizations we fund. This is especially true in some parts of the world where conflict, workplace violence, and violence against certain populations exist. While not a requirement to receive DRF funding, we strongly encourage applicants to develop security policies and protocols that document organizational commitment to protecting board and personnel, office facilities, and project data. DRF can provide informational resources and technical assistance to support your efforts to develop security policies.
PRIORITY AREAS
DRF will consider applications from target countries named above in one of the following five areas. Please note that all proposed legislative activities within project descriptions must be in accordance with the CRPD.
Development of a national platform to work on:
1. Ratification of the Optional Protocol (OP) to the CRPD (where not ratified)
Ratification is an important step towards institution of human rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) at national levels. DPOs and other civil society organizations can play an integral role in advocating for OP adoption.
Examples of possible grant proposals on this topic include, but are not limited to:
· A coalition of cross-disability DPOs lobbying at national governmental levels for OP ratification
· A petition drive led by a coalition of DPOs to gather signatures of supporters to pressure government to ratify the OP to the CRPD
· A coalition working with National Parliament to lobby for OP ratification.
2. Passage of specific national legislation[7] to accord with the CRPD
Some countries attempt to accord all national legislation prior to ratification; others harmonize laws after adoption. In either case, DPOs and other civil society organizations can play an important role in advocating for legislative reform, including through legal advocacy.
Examples of possible grant proposals on this topic include but are not limited to:
· A coalition of DPOs working with legislators to review and revise national legislation in preparation for CRPD ratification
· A coalition working to ensure creation of national monitoring mechanisms in law, in accordance with Article 33
· A coalition of DPOs working towards a disability-inclusive approach in all relevant legislation, such as General Education or Labor Acts
· A coalition of DPOs and legal aid organizations, working on strategic litigation to advance changes in legislation and/or the practice of law to ensure accordance with the CRPD
· A coalition of organizations conducting research on how existing national legislation relating to disability is in line (or not in line) with the CRPD
3. Production of and/or follow up to Alternative Reports to the CRPD Committee and other human rights treaty bodies or reports to the Human Rights Council for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
Two years after entry into force of the CRPD within a ratifying State, the State must present its first national report, using established reporting guidelines[8], on the baseline situation for PWDs and any advancements in CRPD implementation to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities[9]. Subsequent reports are due four years after submission of the baseline report. At the same time, DPOs and other civil society organizations may present “alternative” reports, which give a non-governmental perspective on the realities for PWDs. Once Concluding Observations are published by the Committee, DPOs and other civil society organizations can ensure that there is follow-up by government.
Examples of possible grant proposals on this topic include but are not limited to:
· A DPO-led coalition coming together to prepare a parallel or alternative report and other submissions to the CRPD Committee
· A coalition of DPOs advocating for a government to present their State report to the CRPD Committee and ensuring that representative organizations of PWDs are included in consultation about that report
· A coalition of DPOs and other civil society organizations pursuing follow up during the Committee review process through additional submissions to the Committee[10]
· A coalition of DPOs and other human rights organizations coming together to advocate for State compliance with CRPD Committee concluding observations and recommendations, and to broadly advocate for changes to eradicate rights violations identified in the reports
4. DPO engagement with the national government SDG focal point and/or civil society SDG platforms to ensure national action plans, programs and monitoring frameworks aimed for implementing the SDGs are inclusive of persons with disabilities and use the CRPD as a guiding document
In the context of the SDGs, it is critical that persons with disabilities are considered and counted as a target group and are involved at all levels of national action planning, implementation, monitoring and follow-up. The CRPD – often referred to as both a human rights and a social development treaty because of its expected impact in both areas – should be used to advocate for and guide this inclusion.
Examples of possible grant proposals on this topic include but are not limited to:
· A coalition of DPOs working together to advocate for the right of persons with disabilities to participate in the SDG implementation process at national level
· A coalition of DPOs coming together with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to advocate for civil society participation in the SDG implementation process
· A coalition of DPOs advocating to international development agencies, including bilateral agencies, working at national level to include DPO representatives in their planning and monitoring processes related to the implementation of the SDGs
· A coalition of DPOs advocating that national indicators that are intended to measure the implementation of the SDGs are disability-inclusive
· A coalition of DPOs coming together with other NGOs[11] to carry out advocacy for disability inclusive budgets to implement national action plans
(DRM) policies in line with
Proposals addressing this priority area should explicitly reference which development policies or processes the Coalition will address.
5. Advocacy to ensure formal inclusion of DPO representatives in national governmental implementation and/or monitoring of the CRPD
Once the CRPD is ratified, as mandated in Article 33, countries should establish national implementation and monitoring mechanisms, including focal points[12] and coordination mechanisms. As outlined in Article 33(3), countries also need to include representative organizations of PWDs in these mechanisms. To ensure that this happens, DPOs and other civil society organizations need to advocate for inclusion.
Examples of possible grant proposals on this topic include but are not limited to:
· A coalition of DPOs advocating to government for a formal role in development of the State report to the CRPD Committee
· A coalition of DPOs advocating for a CRPD focal point or points that include representation from the DPO community
· A coalition of DPOs advocating for the government to establish national CRPD implementation mechanisms
All proposals should explicitly reference and promote the CRPD, as well as the SDGs. National coalitions that work across disability sectors and with marginalized sectors of the disability community such as persons with intellectual disabilities, persons with psychosocial disabilities, Deafblind persons, women and girls with disabilities, etcetera are highly encouraged.
WHAT WE DO NOT FUND
DRF does not support the following activities:
· Organizations that work for people with disabilities, but do not have people with disabilities well-represented at governance, management, and staff levels
· Assistive devices or rehabilitation services
· Income-generation or service-provision
· Acquisition of land or buildings
· Reconstruction or renovation of physical spaces (offices, etc.)
· Individuals and scholarships