Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005258
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announced a discretionary grant competition called Secure and Sustainable Human Rights Documentation Solutions (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005258). The program is designed to fund work that strengthens how human rights information is safely collected, stored, and used, with an emphasis on building practical, secure documentation tools and approaches that can stand up in high-risk environments. The core purpose is to improve accountability for serious abuses, including genocide and mass atrocities, by making it safer and more effective for civil society and other actors to document violations and preserve credible records.
The opportunity focuses on projects that support the research, development, and implementation of secure human rights documentation solutions. In practice, that can mean creating or improving secure communications tools and platforms used by human rights defenders, investigators, or documentation groups, as well as providing digital safety training so that people gathering sensitive evidence can reduce the risk of surveillance, data theft, retaliation, or disruption. DRL ties this work to broader U.S. policy goals, including the 2017 National Security Strategy's emphasis on accountability for atrocity crimes and Executive Order 13800, which highlights the importance of an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet that protects privacy and guards against fraud and theft.
Financially, the grant lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000, with DRL expecting to make one award under this announcement. The assistance instrument is a grant, categorized under a general "Other" funding activity classification (with further clarification referenced in the original notice). The program is associated with CFDA number 19.345 and is administered by the Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. The opportunity was created on September 14, 2018, and the original application closing date was December 7, 2018.
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional details referenced in the full eligibility section of the notice, indicating that DRL was open to a range of organizational applicants depending on the specific criteria laid out in the solicitation. Overall, DRL is seeking proposals that clearly outline program concepts aligned with secure and sustainable human rights documentation, combining strong technical design with real-world usability and safety for the people and organizations most at risk while doing documentation work.Apply for SFOP0005258
- The Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secure and Sustainable Human Rights Documentation Solutions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 14, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 07, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled Secure and Sustainable Human Rights Documentation Solutions.
Which U.S. government office is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of State, specifically the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0005258.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to strengthen how human rights information is safely collected, stored, and used, especially in high-risk environments. The overall aim is to improve accountability for serious abuses, including genocide and mass atrocities, by making it safer and more effective to document violations and preserve credible records.
What kinds of projects does DRL want to support under this opportunity?
This opportunity focuses on projects that support the research, development, and implementation of secure human rights documentation solutions. Examples described include creating or improving secure communications tools and platforms used by human rights defenders, investigators, or documentation groups, as well as providing digital safety training to reduce risks connected to documentation work.
What does "secure and sustainable human rights documentation solutions" mean in practice?
Based on the announcement description, this refers to practical tools and approaches that make human rights documentation safer and more resilient. This can include solutions that help reduce the risks of surveillance, data theft, retaliation, or disruption while gathering, handling, or preserving sensitive evidence.
Who is expected to use the tools or approaches supported by this grant?
The opportunity emphasizes tools and approaches used by people and groups doing documentation work in difficult settings, including human rights defenders, investigators, and documentation groups, as well as other relevant actors involved in documenting violations and preserving records.
Why is DRL emphasizing safety and high-risk environments?
The announcement highlights that individuals and organizations collecting sensitive evidence can face serious threats. DRL is seeking solutions that are practical and secure enough to "stand up" in high-risk environments where surveillance, theft of data, retaliation, and operational disruption are realistic concerns.
How does this opportunity connect to broader U.S. policy goals?
DRL links this work to U.S. policy goals that prioritize accountability for atrocity crimes. The announcement references the 2017 National Security Strategy and Executive Order 13800, which emphasize the importance of an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet that protects privacy and guards against fraud and theft.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $1,000,000.
How many awards does DRL expect to make?
DRL expects to make one award under this announcement.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The assistance instrument identified is a grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 19.345.
How is the funding activity classification described?
The funding activity classification is listed as "Other", with additional clarification referenced in the original notice.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on September 14, 2018.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was December 7, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others", with additional details referenced in the full eligibility section of the notice. This indicates DRL was open to a range of organizational applicants depending on the criteria laid out in the solicitation.
What qualities should a strong proposal demonstrate, according to the description provided?
DRL is seeking proposals that clearly outline program concepts aligned with secure and sustainable human rights documentation and that combine strong technical design with real-world usability and safety for the people and organizations most at risk while doing documentation work.
Does the opportunity include support for training?
Yes. The description explicitly mentions digital safety training as part of the work that may be supported, particularly to help reduce risk for people gathering sensitive evidence.
What specific risks is the program trying to reduce for human rights documentation efforts?
The announcement notes risks such as surveillance, data theft, retaliation, and disruption affecting individuals and organizations engaged in documentation activities.
Is the program focused only on documentation, or also on preserving and using records?
The core purpose includes making it safer and more effective not only to document violations, but also to store information securely and preserve credible records so they can be used to support accountability for serious abuses.
What is meant by "credible records" in the context of this opportunity?
The announcement emphasizes preserving records that can support accountability for serious abuses. In this context, "credible records" refers to documentation that is preserved in a way that maintains its reliability and usefulness for accountability efforts, particularly in environments where tampering, loss, or theft may occur.
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