A Movement to Change One Billion Lives

#17ALLin

2017 Round 1: Letter of Interest for Indonesia

Deadline: January 26, 2017

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 of all persons with disabilities.

DRF grants support both capacity of marginalized[2] and emergent groups of persons with disabilities (PWDs) to advocate for rights and inclusion and 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.

NEW IN 2017

Beginning in 2017, a Letter of Interest (LoI) should only be completed if you are a new applicant to DRF/DRAF, OR if you did not receive a DRF/DRAF grant in 2016. If you received funding in 2016, you will only be required to submit a full proposal in our RFP process. The RFP will be advertised February 9, 2017. Please visit www.disabilityrightsfund.org for information and funding application materials.

ABOUT DRF FUNDING

DRF currently administers three open funding streams: Small Grants, Mid-Level Coalition Grants, and National Coalition Grants:

SMALL GRANTS

The Small Grants funding stream supports growth of a broader and more diverse disability movement to advance the CRPD at state and local levels. Organizations can use funds from DRF to strengthen the capacity of PWDs to participate more actively in decision-making processes in CRPD implementation and monitoring or to advocate for the advancement of rights defined in specific articles of the CRPD. In addition, this funding stream supports DPOs to participate in and influence decision-making processes related to implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure development efforts include all persons with disabilities.

While DRF welcomes applications from any disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs), grassroots (rural), emergent (newly established) and more marginalized groups (such as women with disabilities, persons with psychosocial disabilities, persons with albinism, Deafblind etc.) are especially encouraged to apply for grants in this category.

Grant amounts range from USD 5,000 – USD 20,000. Grants will support activities to be implemented over a period of one year.

1.  Increasing DPO participation in decision-making processes regarding the CRPD at State or local levels

According to CRPD article 4.3, States Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities in CRPD implementation and monitoring, through their representative organizations. Grants in this category are aimed at supporting DPOs to: 1. Build capacity (especially of marginalized persons with disabilities) to participate – in a meaningful manner - in CRPD implementation and monitoring; and 2. Advocate for participation at state or local levels where implementation or monitoring of the CRPD is occurring, including through legal advocacy.

2.  Increasing DPO participation in decision-making processes related to implementation of the SDGs

This priority area focuses on ensuring DPOs are part of the process for the implementation of the SDGs so that development planning and policies are inclusive of all PWDs. This includes advocacy for participation of (especially marginalized) PWDs at state or local levels where implementation of the SDGs is occurring; and advocacy for participation of grassroots DPOs in local, regional or national development planning processes, policies and strategies, including National Action Planning for implementation of the SDGs.

3.  Addressing implementation of CRPD articles

Grants in this category are aimed at supporting DPOs to carry out projects, which inform or demonstrate to government or other key stakeholders how rights outlined in specific articles of the CRPD can be implemented in practice.

4.  Addressing implementation of the SDGs

Grants in this category are aimed at supporting DPOs to carry out projects, which inform or demonstrate to government or other key stakeholders how the goals and targets outlined in the SDGs can be implemented to be inclusive of PWDs in line with the CRPD.

To read more about the Small Grants priority areas of funding, including examples of the types of activities that could be developed under this funding stream please click here. Within the Small Grants stream, strong consideration will be given to organizations that are not yet registered (and applying under fiscal sponsorship), newly registered (within the last two years), rural, or representing marginalized sectors of the disability community.

MID-LEVEL COALITION GRANTS

The Mid-Level Coalition funding stream supports civil society coalitions at sub-national levels to ensure that national legislation and policy addressing the rights of PWDs is implemented at these levels, including through establishment of budgets. In addition, this funding stream supports sub-national level coalitions to advocate that sub-national development programs, policies and plans are inclusive of persons with disabilities and to ensure that efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include all persons with disabilities.

Advocacy at sub-national levels is especially critical in federal systems and in decentralized political systems – which make up the majority of DRF’s target countries. Mid-Level Coalition grants enable grantees to collaborate at state (in a federal system), provincial, regional, or district levels.

Because of the importance of joint advocacy at these levels, 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.

Grant amounts will range from USD 30,000 – 40,000 per year (USD 60,000 – 80,000 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.

Mid-Level Coalition grants should be aimed at one of the following priority areas at district, provincial, regional, or state (in a federal system) levels:

1.  Passage of specific legislation, policy, regulations, and/or ordinances at the sub-national level to accord with the CRPD

Following ratification of the CRPD, changes in national legislation and policy often occur to accord these frameworks with the Convention. In federal or decentralized political systems, legal or policy changes at national level must be followed up with similar changes at sub-national (state, regional, provincial or district) levels. Civil society can play an important role in advocating for legislative and policy reform at these levels, including through legal advocacy.

2.  Advocacy to national or international agencies responsible for development planning to ensure that sub-national action plans and programs aiming to implement the SDGs are inclusive of persons with disabilities and use the CRPD as a guiding document

In the context of the SDGs, to leave no one behind, it is critical that persons with disabilities are considered and counted as a target group and are involved at all levels of development planning, implementation, follow up and monitoring. The CRPD - often referred to as both a human rights and a social development treaty because of its expected impact in both areas - can be used to advocate for and guide this inclusion.

3.  Advocacy for governmental budgetary measures to implement the CRPD at the sub-national level

While legislative and policy frameworks are critical to rights advancement, they cannot be implemented without funding. It is critical for civil society, and DPOs in particular, to understand governmental budgeting, participate in it where possible, and demand sufficient resources to ensure that rights are made real.

4.  Advocacy for implementation of SDGs at the sub-national level in line with the CRPD

As governments begin addressing SDG implementation, it is critical for civil society and DPOs in particular, to understand and be involved in development processes and mechanisms (such as sub-national development plans and programs) to demand inclusive indicators, targets and monitoring frameworks within SDG implementation plans and programs at sub-national levels so that they are fully inclusive of persons with disabilities.

To read more about the Mid-Level Coalition priority areas of funding, including examples of the types of activities that could be developed under this funding category please click here. Mid-Level Coalitions that work across disability sectors and with marginalized sectors of the disability community are highly encouraged.

NATIONAL COALITION GRANTS

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 to advocate that national development programs, policies, legislation and frameworks are inclusive of persons with disabilities and to ensure that efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals[5] (SDGs) include 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.

Grants for National Coalitions are disbursed to one DPO with national scope on behalf of the Coalition. Applicant organizations are 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 at least two other organizations to be eligible. Both the applicant organization and the application aim must have national scope.

Grant amounts will range from USD 30,000 – 50,000 per year (USD 60,000 – 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.

National Coalition grants should be aimed at one of the following priority areas:

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.

2.  Passage of specific national legislation 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.

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, on the baseline situation for PWDs and any advancements in CRPD implementation to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 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.

Committees of independent experts monitor implementation not only of the CRPD, but also of all core international human rights treaties. Each Committee is created in accordance with the provisions of the treaty it monitors. It is critical that DPOs join other civil society organizations in reporting to all human rights treaty bodies about the situation of persons with disabilities.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a UN monitoring process which involves a review, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, of the human rights records of all 193 UN United Nations Member States once every four years.As with treaty bodies, DPOs and other civil society organizations can provide reports for the Universal Periodic Review of their State and follow up on recommendations made to governments.

4.  DPO engagement with national government SDG focal point and civil society SDG platforms to ensure national action plans, programs and monitoring frameworks aimed at 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 – can be used to advocate for and guide this inclusion.

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 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.

To read more about the National Coalition priority areas of funding, including examples of the types of activities that could be developed under this funding category please click here.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to submit an LoI for the Small Grants, Mid-Level Coalition Grants, or National Coalition Grants funding streams, potential applicants must answer “yes” to the following questions:

1.  Is your organization a new applicant for DRF/DRAF funding? OR, if you have received a grant from DRF/DRAF before, was your organization not a grant recipient in 2016?