The U.S. Embassy Malabo is pleased to request proposals for funding under the Africa Regional Democracy Fund program.

Grants are intended for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil-society organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions.  Programming should address one or more of the following:

Promote accountable, transparent, and responsive governance. Promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.  Support democratic processes and promotion of strong democratic norms

Proposals should also be related to one or more of the following U.S. Embassy Malabo priorities:

• The development and strength of democratic institutions and processes, and promotes accountable governance and respect for human rights
• Build capacity within Equatorial Guinea electoral system and government institutions to promote transparency and accountability and strengthen democratic processes
• Technical assistance and training facilitate enactment and enforcement of legislation protecting human rights for all residents

Activities that are typically funded target one or more of the following goals:

• Support local civil society entities, including think tanks, academic research, watchdog groups, media associations, journalists, and other civil society actors to advocate for legislative transparency, accountability, and oversight at all levels of government.
• Provide specialized, technical support to support democratic governance, with a particular focus on legislative oversight.
• Support the protection, mitigation, and responses to human rights violations and abuses, in particular human rights violations affecting the most vulnerable, by strengthening human rights frameworks, institutions, and oversight.
• Support to local, and key international, human rights organizations and institutions to promote human rights systems, policies, and protection, with particular focus on women and youth.

• Strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations; and resident, vendor, or other associations through civic education and citizen participation to advocate for democratic rights and norms that advance public involvement in civic life.
• Support local civil society to hold government accountable for free, fair, and credible electoral and political processes.
• Support throughout the electoral cycle, not only the voting process, at the national, regional, or local level. Support could include providing assistance to help increase the percentage of women holding elected and appointed national, regional, and local offices; support for legislative that ensures fair processes; independent journalism on electoral issues; and issue-based political party development with civil society input.
• Support to political processes, such as peace processes and negotiations, which seek long-term democratization and respect for human rights and accountability with a particular focus on empowering women, youth, and marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Click here for more information on the Africa Regional Democracy Fund program.