Building community capacity to achieve the human rights

of all persons with disabilities

The CRPD at 10: Accessing the Right to Development

2016Round 2: Letter of Interest for Bangladesh and Uganda

Deadline: June 9, 2016

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 their rights and ongoing efforts of national, state, provincial, regional, and district level DPOs to advance CRPD implementation.[3]

For more information about DRF, please visit our website at For more information about DRAF, please visit the DRAF website at

ABOUT DRF FUNDING

DRF currently administers threeopen funding streams: Small Grants, Mid-Level Coalition Grants, andNational Coalition Grants:

The Small Grants funding stream helps organizations to build a broader movement to advance the CRPD at state or 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[5]to ensure development efforts include all PWDs. While DRF welcomes applications from any disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs), we encourage grassroots, emergent and more marginalized groups to apply.

Small Grants are one-year grants ranging between USD 5,000-20,000which supportactivities under the following priority areas:

1. Increasing DPO Participation in Decision-Making Processes at State orLocal Levels

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

  1. Increasing DPO Participation in Decision-Making Processes Related to Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals: 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 ofallPWDs. This includes advocacy for participation of PWDs at state or local levels where implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals is occurring; and advocacy for participation of DPOs in local, regional or national development planning processes, policies and strategies, including National Action Planning for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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 Sustainable Development Goals

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.

  1. Ratification Efforts (in the Pacific Island Countries only)

Ratification is an important step towards institution of human rights of persons with disabilities at national levels. Civil society can play an integral role in advocating for treaty, or optional protocol, adoption.

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.

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 Goalsinclude 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.

Mid-Level Coalition grant amounts range from USD 30,000 – 40,000 per year (USD 60,000 to 80,000 over the course of two years). Grants 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 priority areas include:

  1. Passage of specific legislation or policy at the sub-national level to accord with theCRPD[6]

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.

  1. Advocacy to national or international agencies responsible for development planning to ensure that 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 Sustainable Development Goals (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.

  1. 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.

  1. Advocacy for governmental budgetary measures to implement the SDGs at the sub-national level

While development programs and policy frameworks are critical to advancing inclusive development, they cannot be implemented without funding. It is critical for civil society, and DPOs in particular, to understand development budgeting, participate in it where possible, and demand sufficient resources to ensure that development efforts and the implementation of the SDGs are inclusive of persons with disabilities.

5. In Pacific Island countries only: Ratification of the CRPD and/or the Optional Protocol (where not ratified)

Ratification is an important step towards institution of human rights of PWDs at national levels. Civil society can play an integral role in advocating for treaty, or optional protocol, adoption.

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.

The National Coalition funding stream supports advancement of the CRPD at national levels through lobbying for legislative changes (including but not limited to CRPD 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 Goalsinclude 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.

National Coalition grants are two-year grants ranging between USD 30,000-50,000 per year (USD 60,000 to 100,000 over the course of two years).Grants 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 priority areas include:

  1. Ratification of the CRPD and/or the Optional Protocol (where not ratified)

Ratification is an important step towards institution of human rights of persons with disabilities at national levels. DPOs and other civil society organizations can play an integral role in advocating for treatyadoption.

2. Passage of specific national legislation[7] to accord with theCRPD

Some countries try 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

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.

  1. Production of and/or follow up to reports submitted to other UN human rights monitoring mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council or to other Committees of Experts from other human rights treaties

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.[10]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.[11]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.

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

In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to leave no one behind, it is critical that persons with disabilities are considered and counted as a target groupand are involved at all levels of national action 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.

Proposals addressing priority area 5 on development planning should explicitly reference which Sustainable Development Goals the Coalition will address.

6. 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.

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 to submit a 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 local (as opposed to international) organization based in Bangladesh or Uganda?
  2. Is your organization a disabled persons’ organization (DPO)[13], primarily governed by and composed of persons with disabilities?
  3. Does your organization advocate for the advancement of rights of persons with disabilities?
  4. Does your organization have legal registration and an organizational bank account (or fiscal sponsorship from an organization with legal registration and an organizational bank account)?
  5. Does the proposed project fit at least one of DRF’s priority areas (described above) for the Small Grant, Mid-Level Coalition Grant, or National Coalition Grants funding stream?

Potential Mid-Level Coalition LoI applicants must answer “yes” to the following additional questions:

  1. Will the proposed project be led by a DPO and include at least two other organizations?
  2. Does your organization, as well as the proposed project, have scope at sub-national, including state (in a federal system), provincial, regional, or district level?
  3. Is your organization able to provide two past years of income and expenditure reports?

Potential National Coalition LoI applicants must answer “yes” to the following additional questions:

  1. Will the proposed project be led by a DPO and include at least two other organizations?
  2. Does your organization, as well as the proposed project, have national scope?
  3. Is your organization able to provide two past years of income and expenditure reports?

If you answered “yes” to the above questions, you may proceed with submitting a LoI.

WHAT WE DO NOT FUND

DRF does notfund 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 (community based rehabilitation, etc.)
  • Income-generation or service-provision
  • Acquisition of land or buildings
  • Reconstruction or renovation of physical spaces (offices, etc.)
  • Individuals and scholarships
  • Travel to conferences outside your country
  • Public schools and universities
  • Governmental entities
  • Religious activities
  • Sporting activities
  • Training to learn sign language, Braille, or tactile communication
  • Participation or intervention in an election campaign that expresses a view in support or opposition to a candidate for public office

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE LETTER OF INTEREST

This Letter of Interest (LoI) process applies only to applicants from Bangladesh and Uganda.

The purpose of the LoI process is to determine whether an applicant organization and proposed project fit DRF’s funding guidelines before requesting a full proposal. If there is a fit, applicants will be invited by DRF to submit a full proposal for possible funding.

A LoI should briefly describe the problem to be addressed, proposed activities, costs, and organizational qualifications for implementing the activities. A well-written LoI can be crucial to securing funding and should provide the information requested in a clear, concise but detailed, and complete manner. This is a competitive process and not all proposed projects will be supported.

Important Dates

  • June 9, 2016: Deadline for LoI submissions. LoIs should be received by midnight your time.
  • July 6, 2016: DRF will invite selected applicants to submit full proposals.
  • August 18, 2016: Deadline for full proposals. Proposals should be received by midnight your time.
  • December 2016: Applicants will be notified about final funding decisions.
  • January1, 2017-December 31,2017: Project activities will occur.

Instructions for Submission

  • Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (
  • Check to see if your organization is eligible and if the project fits DRF funding streams and priority areas.
  • If yes, follow the instructions and complete the Letter of Interest form. Responses must be provided in English.
  • Send completed LoIs to . Please state “Letter of Interest,”the organization name, and the country on the subject line.
  • If submitting by mail, post to:

Disability Rights Fund

Attention: Letter of Interest

89 South Street, Suite 203

Boston, MA 02111 USA

ASSESSMENT OF LOI

The LoI will be reviewed using the following guidelines:

  • Extent to which persons with disabilities are leading efforts at organizational and project levels
  • Match of project plans with DRF funding streams and priority areas
  • Extent to which the applicant draws on the CRPD to inform and drive the project
  • Organizational capacity to carry out the planned project and to obtain the planned result
  • Extent to which marginalized sectors of the disability community are included