The U.S. Embassy Kinshasa of the U.S. Department of State announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a program to raise awareness of children’s rights among the local population, improve the capacity of local human rights defenders and service providers to assist child victims, and increase accountability of authorities in Haut-Katanga in their responsibility to protect children. 

The project activities to promote human rights of vulnerable children in Haut-Katanga will: (1) conduct a “listening session” to learn more about the challenges children in Haut-Katanga face; (2) support local health and social service providers to better assist child victims of human rights abuses; (3) conduct brief surveys, both a baseline and end of project survey, to track increase in local knowledge of and attitudes towards children’s  rights and how to protect them; (4) train local organizations to build the capacity of human rights defenders to support children and advocate for children’s rights; and (5) conduct a local education campaign on radio and other appropriate platforms.

The project may also include the following suggested activities: (6) creation and distribution of educational materials specific to children’s rights context in Haut-Katanga to local service providers, educators, and other appropriate community figures; and (7) facilitation of dialogue between human rights defenders and local officials

Objective 1: To strengthen the local human rights framework by building the capacity of local children’s rights advocates, government officials, and service providers.

Objective 2: To support local human rights defenders in advocating for youth. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question:

In following the directions of the notification of funding opportunity, I would like to verify if an organization that is only registered in the DRC is eligible to apply. 

According to the directions: U.S. NGOs with 501(c)(3) status, and overseas-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations are eligible.

Does this mean we would have to be a registered organization in both the United States and in the DRC? Or is this grant also open to a non-profit/non-governmental organization that is only registered in the DRC?

Answer:

Yes, nonprofits only registered in the DRC are allowed to apply. You do not need to be registered in both the US and the DRC. Thank you for your question!