Documenting Human Rights Abuses and Countering DPRK Propaganda

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, announces an open competition for the Documenting Human Rights Abuses and Countering DPRK Propaganda funding opportunity, opportunity number DFOP0019674. The priority region is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The program is intended to increase documentation of DPRK human rights violations and abuses in real time and counter DPRK propaganda and foreign influence operations. The Department describes a restrictive information environment in which the DPRK controls domestic media and access to outside information while conducting external influence operations intended to shape international perceptions. The program is designed to generate credible information from inside the DPRK, inform U.S. policymakers and international advocacy, and elevate North Korean defector voices through modern digital platforms. The program has three objectives. The first is to increase real-time reporting on DPRK human rights abuses, violations, and repressive policies through safe and proven strategies, including secure mechanisms for collecting information and protocols for cross-referencing real-time data with secondary sources. Activities must be led by or include significant consultation with the North Korean defector and escapee community, and proposals that do not meet this requirement may be deemed technically ineligible. The second objective is to package documented information into accessible products, including English and Korean products, for policymakers and international campaigns countering DPRK propaganda. The third objective is to leverage defector voices and modern digital platforms to educate international audiences, particularly youth, including through subgrants, technical training, platform-native content, and targeted digital campaigns. Approximately 2,960,039 dollars is available, subject to availability of funds, with two to three awards anticipated. Individual awards may range from approximately 750,000 dollars to 2,250,000 dollars. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, and proposed projects should last 18 to 36 months and be completed within 36 months. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2026. Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required and does not improve competitive ranking. All funded activities must comply with applicable U.S. sanctions and export control requirements. Funds may not be used to provide payments or transfers to UNRWA, and award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages. For-profit recipients may not earn profit from assistance awards. The Department will have substantial involvement, including review and approval of annual workplans, security risk plans, implementation timelines, sub-awardees, proposed travel, and key personnel. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs with or without 501(c)(3) status, private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations or businesses, and foreign-based nonprofit organizations or NGOs. Applicants should have or be able to develop active partnerships with relevant thematic or local partners and stakeholders and should have proven experience managing successful and preferably similar projects. Consortia and subgrants are permitted, but only one organization may serve as the prime applicant and that organization must independently satisfy the stated eligibility requirements. Primary applicants may submit only one application. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration, subject to the NOFO's stated exemption process. Subrecipients must obtain a UEI before an award is processed or directed to them. Applications are due August 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST and must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or MyGrants. Required materials include the SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B; a proposal of no more than 15 pages; a separate budget justification narrative; and required attachments. The proposal must address the proposal summary, organizational background, problem statement, project goals and objectives, project activities, methods and design, schedule and timeline, key personnel selection criteria, project partners, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Required attachments include a line-item budget, key personnel position descriptions, letters of support from program partners, the latest NICRA when applicable, and official permission letters when required. A summary page is optional. Application documents must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and documents must follow the stated page and formatting requirements. Eligible applications will be evaluated by a review committee based on the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity and record on previous grants, program planning and ability to achieve objectives, budget, monitoring and evaluation plan, and sustainability. Competitive proposals should demonstrate knowledge of the DPRK operating environment, tested security and Do No Harm measures, practical distribution strategies for documented information, identification of international demographics susceptible to DPRK influence operations, and localization through North Korean human rights organizations, activists, and defector communities. If applications receive equivalent evaluation scores, the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate receives preference as a tie-breaking mechanism. Before award, the Department will also consider financial stability, management systems and standards, performance history, audit findings, and the applicant's ability to implement requirements. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2026. Unsuccessful applicants are expected to be notified through MyGrants by October 15, 2026. The NOFO does not establish a recurring application cycle, and future funding or renewal is not guaranteed. Questions about the grant application process may be directed to DRL-PRU-Solicitation@state.gov. MyGrants technical assistance is available through the ILMS help desk at +1 888 313-4567, while Grants.gov technical assistance is available at +1 800 518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Successful recipients will be subject to financial and program reporting requirements, including a final narrative and financial report within 120 days after expiration of the award.

Demonstrate a strong understanding of the DPRK operating environment and tested secure Do No Harm measures; ensure significant North Korean defector and escapee leadership or consultation because proposals without it may be technically ineligible; provide practical distribution strategies for real-time documentation; identify international demographics susceptible to DPRK propaganda; prioritize localization and empowerment of defector content creators; present a feasible implementation timeline measurable objectives detailed realistic budget monitoring indicators and sustainability; demonstrate organizational capacity and internal controls for federal funds and subawards; ensure proposed activities comply with U.S. sanctions export controls and applicable Executive Orders