DRL Promoting Sovereignty and Rule of Law in Europe

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, is offering the Promoting Sovereignty and Rule of Law in Europe funding opportunity, opportunity number DFOP0019631, under Assistance Listing Number 19.345. The program is supported with FY 2025 Democracy Funds and is subject to the availability of funding. Approximately 2960039 dollars is available, with one award anticipated and an approximately 2960039 dollar award amount. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2026, and the performance period is expected to be 24 to 36 months, with proposed projects completed in 36 months or less. The Department may entertain noncompetitive continuation grants beyond the initial budget period, subject to available funding, satisfactory program progress, and a determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Department of State. The program seeks a project that researches and advocates for immigration policies and laws that protect sovereignty and the rule of law and promote democratic resilience in Europe. DRL seeks proposals that systematically, academically, and factually document and analyze democratic backsliding in Europe as it relates to mass migration, rule of law, and national sovereignty, with particular emphasis on research concerning the human rights and social impacts of mass migration in Europe. Proposals must address two objectives. The first is for civil society organizations to conduct methodologically sound and credible research about mass migration across the European Union. The second is for civil society to advocate for civil and social reform to improve rule of law and democratic resilience across the European Union. Illustrative activities include systematic research, data collection, documentation, and reports analyzing human rights, criminal, economic, and societal impacts of mass migration on local European populations; training on research methodologies and documentation techniques; training journalists and media actors on accurate reporting about mass migration and demographic change; policy debates concerning sovereignty, migration, globalism, integration models, and supranational governance; analysis of immigration laws, public service spending, and demographic effects; and distribution of research to increase public awareness. Activities under the second objective may include development of immigration policy recommendations, evidence based advocacy, civil society participation in immigration policy decision making, and public debates and research papers concerning mass migration and rule of law. Activities involving democracy or political party assistance must be nonpartisan, offered fairly and equitably to all democratic political parties, and must not seek to influence an election. Applicants may use subawards to support program activities. Funding may not be provided to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and award funds may not be used for alcoholic beverages. Eligible applicants are U.S. based nonprofit organizations and nongovernmental organizations, foreign based nonprofit organizations and nongovernmental organizations, private or public institutions of higher education, and for profit organizations or businesses. Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required and does not improve an application's competitive ranking. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration, subject to the stated exemption process. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization; if an organization submits more than one proposal, all proposals from that organization will be considered ineligible. Inclusion of at least one or two identified subrecipients and letters of commitment at application is described as strengthening an application, although additional subrecipients may be identified and approved during the award period. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or MyGrants no later than Monday, August 31, 2026, at 23:59:59 Eastern Time. Required application materials include SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B; a proposal narrative of no more than 15 pages; a separate budget justification narrative; a line item budget; key personnel position descriptions or selection criteria; and letters of support from program partners. Applicants using a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement must include their latest NICRA as a PDF, and official permission letters must be included when required for program activities. An optional summary page may also be submitted. The proposal narrative must address the proposal summary, applicant background and previous government grants, problem statement, goals and objectives, activities, methods and design, schedule and timeline, key personnel criteria, project partners, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Application documents must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and specified formatting requirements apply. Eligible applications will be evaluated by a review committee. Review criteria address the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity and record on previous grants, program planning and ability to achieve objectives, budget quality and reasonableness, monitoring and evaluation, 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. Before award, the Department also reviews financial stability, management systems and standards, history of performance, audit reports and findings, ability to implement requirements, and applicable responsibility and qualification information in SAM.gov. Competitive proposals should establish clear performance indicators and data collection methods, explain how progress will be measured, incorporate beneficiary feedback, and document and share lessons learned. The award will be issued and administered by a Grants Officer, and recipients may incur project expenses only beginning on the start date shown in the signed award document. Post award requirements include financial and program reporting, Foreign Assistance Data Review reporting as specified in the award, applicable branding and marking requirements, and compliance with relevant federal requirements and award terms. Program specific deliverables include key personnel information within 30 days after the award starts, an annual workplan within 60 days after the award starts and annually thereafter, and a Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative and plan within 90 days after the award starts. DRL must approve evaluation, research, or survey methodologies, and the recipient must provide required notifications concerning international travel. Questions about the application process may be directed to DRL-PRU-Solicitation@state.gov.

Address both required objectives and clearly connect activities to measurable results. Provide clear performance indicators data collection methods and milestones. Explain beneficiary feedback and how lessons learned will be documented and shared. Demonstrate expertise internal controls financial management capacity and subaward management experience when applicable. Provide a detailed realistic budget with reasonable costs tied to activities and anticipated results. Explain sustainability beyond the award period. Inclusion of at least one or two identified subrecipients with commitment letters can strengthen the application. Ensure all political party related activities are nonpartisan and do not seek to influence election outcomes.