Latest Grants, Jobs and Resources on Human Rights

Here you can get the latest grants, jobs and resources for the protection and promotion of human rights around the world.

Fellowships for Human Rights Defenders to take some time off from their normal routine

Front Line is offering its Fellowship for Human Rights Defenders for the year 2009. The program is specifically meant for human rights defenders to take some time off from their normal work and instead take up project that can help them build their capacities and also work for promoting human rights at the international level. The fellowships are now available in flexible manner for period ranging from one to six months. The fellowships include a stay either in Dublin, Bruzzels or another location which can be decided based on discussions.

Since fellowships are to be offered to human rights defenders, evidence of threats, harassment and other negative conditions need to be presented as part of the application process. Additionally, experience, study topics, location of stay and how one would contribute for human rights protection during the fellowship period need to be explained in the application. The completed application can be sent by email. The fellowship is expected to start end of 2009 or beginning of 2010. For more information, visit this link.

Human Rights Award from the Dutch Government

The Human Rights Defenders Tulip Award is an initiative of the Dutch Government and it is currently seeking nominations of individuals who have made their contribution for the promotion of human rights through peaceful ways. Human rights defenders can be from any country and they sould be facing the risk of working or must be involved in human rights contribution in the face of the negative circumstances. The human rights award can provide them with an opportunity to increase their visibility through worldwide recognition.

Only nominations have to be submitted. The deadline for receiving nominations is 23 August 2009. For more information, visit this link.

IHEU-HIVOS Grants for Humanist Organizations

The Internatonal Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) in partnership with HIVOS is inviting proposals for providing funding support to humanist organisations in developing countries under the Humanist Network and Development Programme – 2009. IHEU is an international network of organizations promoting the ideas of humanism, rationalism and secularism and is active in more than 40 countries.The Union facilitates policy advocacy and support to partner organizations and also takes the lead in protecting humanist interests at multilateral platforms including the United Nations, UNESCO, UNICEF and the Council of Europe.

In the Humanist Network and Development Programme, it has partnered with the Dutch-based donor agency, HIVOS in supporting humanist organizations working for the promotion of humanism in developing countries.

Humanist organizations from developing countries are invited to submit proposals to IHEU under this programme. Applicant organizations should have objectives that reflect the IHEU’s Minimum Statement on Humanism, which believes in ensuring basic human rights, individual freedom and free inquiry. Proposed projects should clearly promote humanism, secularism, human rights, scientific approches and/or develop local capacities. Specifically, the grant will provide support to activities such as meetings, workshops, publications, media coverage, promotion and advocacy of human rights, propagation of scientific methods and trainings and conferences for building the local capacities in developing countries.

Proposals need to be developed for projects that can end by the year 2010. However, even projects running for a duration of three years can also be proposed. The total funding available for each project is around 10,000 EUROS. But new organizations are encouraged to submit smaller budgets and at least some part of it has to be contributed by the applicant itself.

There is an application form available which has to be used to write and submit the proposal. The last date to submit application forms is 1 September 2009. For more information, visit this link.

Correction: Only humanist organizations are eligible to apply for this grant.

Human rights funding in Chad

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) of the US State Department has posted a Request for Proposals from US-based organizations for the promotion of democracy and human rights in Chad. The proposed project should address either work towards prevention of recruitment of child soldiers in government or rebel groups or ensure reduction of school violence in the country. The former involves raising awareness among the field-level members of the military, local refugee leaders, parents/parent-teacher associations, gendarmes and law enforcement officials, local and provincial civilian authorities, and civil society/religious groups for preventing child soldier recruitment. In the education theme, the projects should work towards reducing school violence and increase the inclusion of girls in education. However, all project proposals should demonstrate in-depth knowledge of any ongoing intervention and should also work with other similar projects implemented by UNHCR, UNICEF and other agencies, but should not lead to duplication. Since projects have to be submitted online through grants.gov, all applicants need to be registered immediately for this. There is a set format available for presenting the concept notes. Deadline is 16 July 2009. For more information, visit this link.

Sigrid Rausing Trust

The Sigrid Rausing Trust is a UK grantmaking foundation, founded in 1995 by Sigrid Rausing to support human rights globally. Since then, the Trust has given away approximately £250 million to human rights organisations all over the world.

Our guiding principles are:

We recognise the value of core funding.
We look for good and effective leadership.
We are flexible and responsive to needs and opportunities.
We value clarity and brevity in applications and reports.
We look to establish long-term relationships with grantees.

The Trust runs nine main programmes:

Advocacy, Research and Litigation
Detention, Torture and Death Penalty
Human Rights Defenders
Free Expression
Transitional Justice
Women’s Rights
LGBTI Rights
Xenophobia and Intolerance
Transparency and Accountability

The 2016 Trust budget is £22.6 million. Please note that we identify potential grantees through research and field work, and we do not accept unsolicited applications.

Contact Details:

Sigrid Rausing Trust,
PO BOX 74062,
LONDON W11 9GR

Global Fund for Women: Flexible Grants for NGOs

The Global Fund for Women is a grantmaking international network organization based in the United States, but making worldwide grants to women’s groups and organizations. It works to advance the rights of women around the world and specifically focuses upon women’s economic security, violence against women, education, health and leadership. It is only in these areas that the Global Fund for Women funds programs to NGOs.The Global Fund for Women is one of the most flexible donors supporting small groups and organizations. However, its funding is confined only to organizations initiated and led by women working on the promotion of women’s human rights. The issues include “Ending Gender-Based Violence and Building Peace, Ensuring Economic and Environmental Justice, Advancing Health and Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Expanding Civic and Political Participation, Increasing Access to Education and Fostering Social Change Philanthropy.”

The flexible grants provided by the Fund are mostly limited to US $20,000. There are basically three types of grants which NGOs around the world can apply. They are: the General Support Grant, the Travel Grant and the Grant to organize meetings and events. The General Support Grant can be sought by NGOs for implementing new activities or strengthening the organizational capacity. However, these activities need to demonstrate that they are directly relevant for the promotion of women’s rights. The Travel Grant for NGOs fund the travel costs of NGO practitioners for participating in international conferences and workshops, while the Grant to organize meetings and events fund programs organized by NGOs on issues prioritized by the Fund.

The Global Fund for Women accepts proposals in any language. These can also be sent online. The Fund requests at least 8-10 weeks of time to review and approve the submitted proposals. More information about the grants is available at this link.

The contact information for The Global Fund for Women is:

Global Fund for Women
222 Sutter Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Phone 415.248.4800
Fax 415.2484801
URL: http://www.globalfundforwomen.org

Mama Cash

Mama Cash is the oldest international women’s fund established in the Netherlands in 1983 to support pioneering and innovative women’s initiatives around the world. The Fund has been providing funding to advance women and girls’ human rights in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Specifically, Mama Cash supports ambitious feminist and women’s rights organisations and initiatives led by and for women and girls.

Mama Cash also supports the human rights movements of trans people. We welcome applications from trans organisations that fulfill our eligibility criteria, regardless of the gender-identity of their members and leadership.

Organizations can request both general support and support for specific programmes, projects, or initiatives, but it encourages groups to apply for general support. Support is rendered both for single-year and multi-year to a maximum of three years. Each organisation or network may have only one grant per twelve-month period. Grants ranging from €5.000 to €50.000 per year can be requested from Mama Cash.

Mama Cash offers step-up support to help ambitious organisations and networks grow their capacities and take or make strategic opportunities to create fundamental change.

Mama Cash
P.O. Box 15686
Eerste Helmersstraat 17-III
1054 CX AMSTERDAM
The Netherlands
URL: http://www.mamacash.org