Documentation of Human Rights Abuses by Organized Criminal Groups

The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, is offering the Documentation of Human Rights Abuses by Organized Criminal Groups funding opportunity, number DFOP0019647, under Assistance Listing 19.345. This initial announcement is supported with FY25 Democracy Fund resources and is subject to the availability of funding. The priority region is the Western Hemisphere, with proposed activities required to include at least one of Colombia, Ecuador, or Mexico. Applicants should select one or more target countries based on organizational capacity, regional expertise, and ability to perform the proposed activities, while the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor will make the final determination of countries included in funded programs. The program aims to improve accountability for human rights abuses committed by organized crime groups in Latin America. It is designed to strengthen the ability of civil society organizations to investigate and document violations, organize credible evidence for accountability mechanisms, expand community access to protection and legal support, and advance judicial security, transparency, and reform through strategic advocacy. Program objectives include developing secure and standardized documentation methodologies, preparing evidence for legal proceedings and other accountability mechanisms, strengthening victim support and community protection networks, providing emergency protection assistance to people at imminent risk, monitoring judicial performance, conducting strategic litigation, developing policy recommendations, and supporting legal and policy reforms. Activities may also examine human rights abuses that drive mass and illegal migration and abuses occurring within migration flows. The Department anticipates making one to two grants, depending on award amounts, from total available funding of $1,967,535, pending availability of funds. Individual awards may range from $900,000 to $1,967,535. The period of performance must be at least 18 months and no more than 24 months, with an anticipated project start date of September 30, 2026. Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required and does not improve an application's competitive ranking. Applicants should allocate a proportion of funding through subaward agreements, and applications are strengthened by identifying at least one to two subrecipients and including letters of commitment. Program budgets must include resources supporting the digital and offline security of staff and participants who may face threats because of advocacy activities. Award funds may not be used for alcoholic beverages or payments or transfers to UNRWA. Funding also may not be used to encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass-migration caravans toward the United States southwest border or for specified United States asylum counseling or referrals. Other federal compliance requirements described in the notice also apply. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and international not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or nongovernmental organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations or businesses; and foreign-based nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier issued through SAM.gov and an active SAM.gov registration unless an applicable exemption is approved. Applicants may submit only one proposal per organization; if an organization submits more than one proposal, all proposals from that organization will be considered ineligible. An applicant may nevertheless participate as a subgrantee on other proposals. Consortia are permitted, and competitive consortium proposals should define the roles and responsibilities of participating organizations and provide a management plan. Proposed activities must be nonpartisan, must not seek to influence election outcomes, and should avoid activities that could be viewed as endorsements of political parties, candidates, campaigns, agendas, or outcomes. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or MyGrants. Required forms include SF-424 for organizations, or SF-424-I where applicable, SF-424A, and SF-424B when required under the circumstances described in the notice. Applicants may provide an optional summary page and must submit a proposal of no more than 15 pages. The proposal must address the proposal summary, applicant background and capacity, problem statement, project goals and objectives, project activities, methods and design, project schedule and timeline, key personnel selection criteria, project partners, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. A separate budget justification narrative is required. Required or applicable attachments include key personnel position descriptions, letters of support from program partners, the latest NICRA when NICRA charges are included, and official permission letters when required for activities. Documents must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and specified document formatting requirements must be followed. Eligible applications will be evaluated by a review committee. Review criteria include the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity and the applicant's record on previous grants, program planning and ability to achieve objectives, the quality and reasonableness of the budget, the monitoring and evaluation plan, and sustainability. If two or more applications receive equivalent scores, the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate receives preference as a tie-breaking mechanism. The Department will also conduct a risk review considering financial stability, management systems and standards, performance history, audit reports and findings, and ability to implement award requirements. Competitive proposals should establish clear indicators and data collection methods, incorporate beneficiary feedback into program adjustments, document lessons learned, use a Do No Harm approach to documentation, address security risks, and coordinate with other U.S. Government-funded initiatives to avoid duplication. The application deadline is August 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. No separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other pre-application gating deadline is stated. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2026, and the performance period is 18 to 24 months. Questions concerning the grant application process may be directed to DRL-PRU-Solicitation@state.gov. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email. Successful recipients will receive an award agreement administered by the Grants Officer and may begin incurring project expenses only on the start date shown in the signed award document. Recipients will be required to provide quarterly financial and program reports, comply with applicable Foreign Assistance Data Review requirements, and submit a monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan within 45 days of award. The notice does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another regular cycle.

Directly address the stated program goals and objectives and provide a feasible implementation timeline. Demonstrate relevant expertise, internal controls, financial management capacity, and subaward management experience when applicable. Use measurable output and outcome indicators with milestones and clear data collection methods. Provide a detailed, realistic budget that includes digital and offline security resources. Apply a Do No Harm approach to documentation and explain beneficiary feedback mechanisms. Clearly define consortium roles and management arrangements when applicable. Identification of at least 1-2 subrecipients with letters of commitment strengthens an application. Ensure activities are nonpartisan and do not endorse political parties, candidates, campaigns, agendas, or electoral outcomes.