The U.S. Department of State, Office of International Religious (J/IRF) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that combat religious harassment and discrimination in Kenya.
J/IRF’s goal is to protect freedom of religion or belief for members of marginalized religious communities in Kenya through advocating against anti-Muslim bias within and between religious communities and civil society and as it is perpetuated through State authorities. The program will aim to combat anti-Muslim bias by engaging Muslim and non-Muslim societal actors, including religious actors and community leaders, through coalition-building efforts that are cross-generational and among interlocutors well-placed to better connect Muslim and non-Muslim communities. It will also seek to strengthen civil society’s advocacy and messaging against harassment and discrimination of Muslim communities, and documenting, reporting, and raising awareness of state violence against Muslim communities in order to promote accountability.
Funding Information
Total Funding Ceiling: $700,000
Total Funding Floor: $700,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 1-2
Period of Performance: minimum of 18 months
Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 6-9 months after NOFO is posted
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes may include but are not limited to:
Civil society, including local community actors and youth populations, take collective action to promote and protect the rights of members of all religions and beliefs, including those of Muslim communities;
Civil society-driven processes or mechanisms address the concerns and interests of community members, in particular members of minority religions and belief communities;
Government officials increase awareness and understanding of the value and importance of human rights, mutual respect, and inclusion for all, regardless of one’s religion or beliefs;
Governments are responsive to advocacy to protect rights of religions or beliefs;
Government and security actors reduce discriminatory laws and practices;
Government stakeholders strengthen and diversify working relationships with religious rights activists and community actors, including those from marginalized religions or beliefs.
Program Activities
Program activities may include but are not limited to:
Forming diverse, multi-faith and civil society stakeholder groups, including but not limited to youth and religious actors, to discuss shared concerns and collaborate on initiatives to counter discrimination based on religion or belief (groups may include members of diaspora groups in Kenya);
Providing technical assistance to rights advocates and/or multi-faith stakeholder groups to better monitor, document and report on religious freedom abuses, including relevant court cases, detentions, repression, raids, and other enforced disappearances of members of religious minority communities to hold government, law enforcement, and security actors accountable;
Providing technical assistance to civil society organizations to monitor and evaluate implementation of Kenya’s laws impacting religious freedom, including but not limited to the Security Law Amendment Act (SLAA);
Facilitating engagement opportunities for youth from Muslim and non-Muslim religious groups to challenge existing stereotypes in communities and empower them conduct joint advocacy or public awareness initiatives to counter discrimination based on religion or belief;
Providing training, technical assistance and awareness raising to government actors on the national and international legal framework on freedom of religion or belief to improve implementation of laws and reduce targeted profiling of members of marginalized religious groups.
Eligibility Criteria
J/IRF welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. J/IRF’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards.
