Support for IKR Civil Society | DOS BAGHDAD PD 2024 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS BAGHDAD PD 2024 004

Support for IKR Civil Society is a U.S. Department of State grant competition run by the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil that aims to strengthen civil society capacity across the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR). It is structured as an omnibus program, meaning one selected implementer is expected to design and deliver a package of activities that serve several different audiences at once, all tied to practical skills-building and improved community outcomes. The overall theme is to make civil society organizations, emerging professionals, and key public-sector counterparts more effective in advancing human rights, democratic development, credible media practices, better environmental and water management, and more inclusive education. A required cross-cutting feature is an American cultural element or a clear connection to U.S. experts, institutions, or U.S.-developed resources, with the intention of strengthening U.S.-IKR cultural ties, highlighting shared values, and increasing understanding of U.S. perspectives.

The grant is built around six main objectives. First, it seeks to connect law students from rural IKR universities (University of Raparin, University of Garmian, Soran University, Halabja University, and Koya University) with local civil society organizations through paid internships. The practical goal is to expose future lawyers to how human rights laws and norms are applied in real life, while also building relationships between legal professionals and CSOs. Over time, this is meant to improve access to justice for rural residents by producing better-prepared legal counsel who can both provide legal services and refer clients to CSO support beyond the courtroom. It also aims to help rural CSOs that need stronger legal representation by increasing the pool of lawyers familiar with CSO needs and human rights work.

Second, the opportunity focuses on strengthening smaller, newer, and/or rural human rights NGOs that often lack professional development opportunities and therefore struggle with core organizational functions. The program is expected to provide training in advocacy and lobbying, fundraising practices, strategic planning, and leadership and management. The intended result is more capable and sustainable organizations that can effectively advocate for democratic advancement and human rights priorities within the IKR, communicate their goals, mobilize support, and engage decision-makers.

Third, the grant targets the quality and ethics of journalism in the IKR, recognizing that many working journalists have not attended journalism school and many graduates still lack solid training in reporting tradecraft. The program is expected to train journalists with fewer than five years of experience and/or journalism students, emphasizing professional standards such as ethics, fact-checking, and the use of multiple sources. The broader aim is to reduce biased or substandard reporting and contribute to a healthier media environment by improving practical skills and professional norms among the next generation of reporters.

Fourth and fifth, the grant includes a strong environmental and water-management component tied to the realities of climate change and drought. One track focuses on environmental or agricultural CSOs, helping them understand modern water management techniques and effective community advocacy so they can spread practical approaches to major water users, especially in agriculture, and ultimately reduce water demand. A second track is geared toward academics and industry, calling for a symposium or conference that brings together professors, researchers, and industry leaders working on water management and environmental issues. This convening is intended to generate concrete, implementable policy and practice recommendations for both industry actors and the Kurdistan Regional Government, recognizing the important advisory role academics can play in shaping public policy.

Sixth, the opportunity addresses inclusive education for students with disabilities, including ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, who often face social exclusion and gaps in instructional support. The program is expected to train staff within the KRG Ministry of Education, specifically the Training and Curriculum Development department, on best practices for educating and supporting students with disabilities. The idea is that improving capacity at this central training and curriculum unit will allow knowledge to cascade throughout the region by shaping teacher preparation and classroom approaches, leading to better educational outcomes and inclusion across the IKR.

The opportunity also defines minimum participation targets across the six areas to ensure each objective is meaningfully served. These outcomes include: 25 rural law students drawn from at least three of the listed rural universities; 25 human rights advocates from smaller or newer NGOs; 25 early-career journalists or journalism students representing the diversity of the IKR; 25 civil society activists from environmental organizations; 25 academics working on water management or environmental issues; and 10 employees from the KRG Ministry of Education Training and Curriculum Development department. Applicants are expected to design programming that reaches these groups with relevant, hands-on capacity building rather than purely theoretical content.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant funded under CFDA 19.021, offered by the U.S. Mission to Iraq. The funding opportunity number is DOS BAGHDAD PD 2024 004. The award ceiling is USD 250,000, with one award expected. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including those with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying under the nonprofit category). The original application closing date listed is 2024-07-01, and the opportunity was created on 2024-06-05.

• The U.S. Mission to Iraq in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Support for IKR Civil Society" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.021.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-01. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for DOS BAGHDAD PD 2024 004

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