Background Maximum grant amount: $500,000
The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) is now open to accepting project proposals for its Sixth Round of Funding from NGOs working for the promotion of democracy, civil society empowerment, including empowerment of women, civic education and voter registration, citizen’s access to information, participation rights and the rule of law in support of civil society and transparency and integrity. NGOs, civil society organizations, independent and constitutional bodies and global and regional inter-government bodies, organizations and associations (other than the United Nations) are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity. Among these, NGOs and civil society organizations are expected to receive the bulk of funding. Besides, UNDEF allocates 70% of its programmable resources in each funding round for projects that take place in one country while the rest of the 30% is for global/regional projects. This means that local NGOs have better chances of receiving grants for their projects than international organizations working in different regions.
Eligibility
While applications from all countries will be considered, strong preference will be given to applicants from countries and regions where the challenges of democracy are more critical, such as countries emerging from conflict, new and restored democracies, the Least Developed Countries, Low Income Countries and Middle Income Countries. The following institutions are eligible for UNDEF grant funding:
- Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations, engaged in promoting democracy which are anticipated to receive the
bulk of the funding
- Independent and Constitutional Bodies, including Election Commissions, Ombudsman Institutions, National Human Rights Institutions and
other independent governance bodies, for project proposals facilitating the inclusion of the voice of civil society.
- Global and Regional inter-government bodies, organizations and associations other than the United Nations, for project proposals which
strengthen the voice of civil society.
Grant amount
UNDEF provides grants for a period of two years. Although grants will not necessarily match the full amounts applied for, applicant organizations can request a minimum funding of US $50,000. Grant allocations for a project will not exceed $500,000 but the majority of projects are granted no more than $250,000.
Deadline: 31 December 2011
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