DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FUND

Advancing Democracy and Human Rights Worldwide

The Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) has been one of a variety of programs that the United States has used to support the process of democratization in Africa.  The goal of fund is to promote civil and political rights and strengthen democratic institutions and civil society, as well the adoption and adherence to democratic values and practices in Africa.

Democracy and Human Rights Fund 

The Democracy and Human Rights Fund in Uganda provides funding for small-scale projects led by civil society leaders, non-governmental or community-based organizations, or groups that promote political pluralism and protect and advance human rights.  The program seeks to encourage projects or programs that develop and promote a better understanding of human rights and lead to an improved tolerance and respect for those rights.

Democracy and Human Rights Fund grants may cover or encourage, but are not limited to the following areas:

Human Rights:  Education, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGO) start-ups, creative projects to improve respect/enforcement of human rights.

Legal:  Publication, translation into minority dialects, and dissemination of the Constitution and other laws; legal education; bar and legal association start-ups; and legal aid projects.

Judicial:  Improving the judiciary's efficiency, training court officials - including local or traditional officials - on the rule of law or the role of the judicial branch in a democracy.

Legislative:  Improving legislative efficiency and training MPs and their staff.

Civic Education: Public education for journalists on the role of media in a democracy, technical assistance, support to journalist association start-ups, public awareness campaigns on voting rights and/or the social costs of public corruption.

Women's Rights: Education, counseling and legal support for the prevention of     violence against women or female genital mutilation, empowerment    of women (non-economic), women-led NGO start-ups, increased     access of women to the judicial system and to the political process.

Electoral:    Assistance to independent electoral commissions and local NGO election monitoring groups.

Conflict Resolution: Activities such as workshops and publication of civic education material on equal rights and rights in a democracy that promote tolerance and understanding.

Limitations on the use of Democracy and Human Rights funds:

The Democracy and Human Rights Fund cannot support the following:

• Training of military and police;

• Building construction or maintenance, or purchase of a vehicle of any sort;

• Long-term (more than one year) core costs (salary, rent, training or technical assistance);

• Health-related projects, including medical services and population control, except projects promoting the discontinuation of female circumcision;

• Conferences or workshops without a clear goal or deliverable;

• Research projects without an action-oriented component;

• Intercontinental travel, including per diem and airfare;

• Grants to organizations lacking other means of support (unless a start-up);

• Grants to the executive branch of any government or an American NGO based in the United States and not properly registered in Uganda;

• Social or cultural rights activities, including social welfare or general education projects that promote social or cultural aspiration;

• Children rights or activities in support of destitute children, except projects that support children's legal rights;

• Humanitarian assistance, including refugee assistance, assistance to prisoners, or social services projects; or

• Labor unions (unless human rights related) or projects in support of economic empowerment.
 
The Application & Selection Process
The Democracy and Human Rights Fund application must be completed fully following the guidelines noted above.  Applicants should identify one of the eight Democracy and Human Rights issue areas and explain what the project will address.  Priority will be given to proposals that directly promote human rights and democracy.  Organizations must be registered with the Government of Uganda.  In addition, perspective grantees should have prior experience with the subject matter and demonstrate capacity to manage the grant award.  There is no submission deadline for the Democracy and Human Rights Fund; applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications received after March 31 will be considered for the following calendar year funding. 

The Small Grants Coordinators will conduct a preliminary review of the applications received and select a shortlist of proposals that:

• Comply with the application submission guidelines;
• Meet one of the eight DHRF program areas;
• Are specific, detailed, and clear with realistic budgets;
• Have sound technical merits; and
• Demonstrate an ability to measure the impact of the project.

A shortlist is then presented to an internal review committee for final selection.  Grant awards are made in September.  Grants range from $2,000 - $25,000, but in general the average grant is around $10,000.  Grant awards are disbursed in Ugandan shillings at the prevailing exchange rate on the day of payment.  Grants are awarded for a one year period.

Expenditure Reporting
While the Democracy and Human Rights Fund is designed to minimize paperwork, there are explicit procurement, reporting, and record-keeping requirements for the grantee.

Contact Information
We encourage projects that promote democracy and human rights.  Complete the application and send it to:

Small Grants Coordinator
American Embassy
P.O. Box 7007
Kampala

In case of any questions, please contact the Small Grants Office, U.S. Mission to Uganda, telephone: 0414-259-791 ext. 6421/6444/6141, email: kampaladhrf@state.gov.

Resources: Applicants may consult the U.S. Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights at http://www.state.gov/, to gain a better understanding of key human rights issues in Uganda.