Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006584
The grant opportunity titled "DRL FY19 IRF Addressing Societal Constraints on Religious Freedom in Pakistan" is a U.S. Department of State funding competition run through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). It is designed to support projects that advance religious freedom in Pakistan, with a strong emphasis on reducing societal pressures and discrimination that limit people s ability to live according to their faith or beliefs. The opportunity is issued as a discretionary grant, and it anticipates making one award with a maximum funding level (ceiling) of up to 1,000,000.
At the core of this opportunity is a rights-based definition of religious freedom grounded in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In practical terms, the program is meant to protect and promote the right to adopt a religion or belief, change beliefs, and practice or teach beliefs openly or privately. That includes everyday expressions of belief such as publishing materials, speaking publicly or privately about faith, wearing religious attire or symbols, gathering with others for worship and observance, and educating children in one s beliefs. Applicants are expected to treat religious freedom broadly, not as a narrow concern limited to worship services, but as a full set of civil and human rights that affect personal safety, community life, education, and social participation.
DRL is looking for proposals that directly respond to real restrictions on religious freedom and that align with wider U.S. government priorities related to religious freedom, democracy, governance, and human rights. The opportunity encourages applicants to use U.S. government reporting as a grounding source for problem analysis and program design, specifically pointing to the annual International Religious Freedom Reports and Human Rights Reports for country context and evidence of trends, risks, and affected communities. In other words, proposals should be anchored in documented conditions and show a clear logic connecting activities to the constraints identified in Pakistan.
A defining feature of the requested programming is youth engagement. DRL wants projects that work with young people to help build a climate of greater respect, peaceful coexistence, and reduced intolerance, both across religious lines (inter-communal) and within religious communities (intra-communal). The aim is to strengthen norms and relationships that make it harder for discrimination and violence to take root, and to reinforce the principle that all people should be able to live free from abuse, discrimination, or violence because of their religious identity, practices, or affiliation. While the notice does not prescribe specific interventions, the framing points toward initiatives that help change attitudes and behaviors at the community level and that create practical opportunities for cooperation, dialogue, and nonviolent conflict prevention among different religious groups.
The opportunity also sets clear inclusion expectations. Proposals should be gender inclusive, and they should explicitly include religious minorities rather than focusing only on majority communities. In addition, applicants must state their current NGO registration status in Pakistan, signaling that implementers are expected to be transparent about their legal ability to operate in-country and to plan realistically around compliance and operating permissions.
Finally, applicants are reminded that activities and products must be implemented in a way that complies with the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This is a key compliance point for U.S. government-funded programming: projects must not promote or favor a particular religion, and they must be structured around protecting rights and enabling freedom of belief rather than advancing religious doctrine. In effect, successful proposals should show they can support religious freedom for all communities in an even-handed, rights-based way while working within Pakistan s social context and the legal and constitutional requirements that come with U.S. government funding.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number SFOP0006584, CFDA 19.345, an original closing date of April 21, 2020, and a creation date of March 6, 2020. The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice, indicating the competition may be open to a range of organizations depending on the specific eligibility language in the complete announcement.Apply for SFOP0006584
- The Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DRL FY19 IRF Addressing Societal Constraints on Religious Freedom in Pakistan" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 06, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2020. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: DRL FY19 IRF Addressing Societal Constraints on Religious Freedom in Pakistan (SFOP0006584)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "DRL FY19 IRF Addressing Societal Constraints on Religious Freedom in Pakistan."
Which U.S. government office is running this funding competition?
This is a U.S. Department of State funding competition run through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to support projects that advance religious freedom in Pakistan, with a strong emphasis on reducing societal pressures and discrimination that restrict people s ability to live according to their faith or beliefs.
What type of award is this?
The opportunity is issued as a discretionary grant.
How many awards does DRL expect to make?
The announcement anticipates making one award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The maximum funding level (ceiling) is up to 1,000,000.
How does the opportunity define "religious freedom" for program purposes?
The opportunity uses a rights-based definition grounded in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It emphasizes the right to adopt a religion or belief, change beliefs, and practice or teach beliefs openly or privately.
What kinds of everyday religious freedom activities does the program consider in scope?
The notice highlights everyday expressions of belief, including publishing materials, speaking publicly or privately about faith, wearing religious attire or symbols, gathering with others for worship and observance, and educating children in one s beliefs.
Is the program limited to protecting worship services only?
No. Applicants are expected to treat religious freedom broadly, not as a narrow concern limited to worship services, but as a full set of civil and human rights affecting personal safety, community life, education, and social participation.
What kinds of problems should proposals address?
DRL is looking for proposals that directly respond to real restrictions on religious freedom in Pakistan, especially societal constraints such as pressures, discrimination, intolerance, and conditions that can contribute to abuse or violence tied to religious identity or practice.
How should applicants ground or justify their problem analysis?
The opportunity encourages applicants to use U.S. government reporting for country context and evidence, specifically the annual International Religious Freedom Reports and Human Rights Reports. Proposals should be anchored in documented conditions and show a clear logic connecting activities to the constraints identified in Pakistan.
Are there specific thematic priorities beyond religious freedom?
Yes. The notice states proposals should align with wider U.S. government priorities related to religious freedom, democracy, governance, and human rights.
Does the opportunity require youth engagement?
Yes. Youth engagement is described as a defining feature of the requested programming. DRL wants projects that work with young people to help build a climate of greater respect, peaceful coexistence, and reduced intolerance.
What does DRL mean by inter-communal and intra-communal work?
The opportunity indicates youth-focused efforts should reduce intolerance both across religious lines (inter-communal) and within religious communities (intra-communal), aiming to strengthen norms and relationships that discourage discrimination and violence.
Does the notice prescribe exact interventions or activities?
No. The notice does not prescribe specific interventions, but it frames the goal as community-level attitude and behavior change and creating practical opportunities for cooperation, dialogue, and nonviolent conflict prevention among different religious groups.
Are there inclusion requirements related to gender?
Yes. Proposals should be gender inclusive.
Do proposals need to include religious minorities?
Yes. The opportunity states proposals should explicitly include religious minorities rather than focusing only on majority communities.
Is NGO registration in Pakistan mentioned as a requirement?
Yes. Applicants must state their current NGO registration status in Pakistan, indicating implementers are expected to be transparent about their legal ability to operate in-country and plan around compliance and operating permissions.
Are there U.S. constitutional compliance requirements for activities and products?
Yes. The notice reminds applicants that activities and products must comply with the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
What does Establishment Clause compliance imply for project design?
Projects must not promote or favor a particular religion. Programming should be structured around protecting rights and enabling freedom of belief rather than advancing religious doctrine, and it should support religious freedom for all communities in an even-handed, rights-based way.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0006584.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.345.
What are the key posted dates for this opportunity?
The creation date is March 6, 2020, and the original closing date is April 21, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply based on the summary provided?
The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice. This suggests the competition may be open to a range of organizations depending on the specific eligibility language in the complete announcement.
What overall approach is DRL looking for in strong proposals?
Based on the summary, strong proposals would (1) use a broad, rights-based definition of religious freedom grounded in Article 18, (2) target documented societal constraints in Pakistan using U.S. government reporting for context, (3) center youth engagement to build respect and coexistence and reduce intolerance, (4) be gender inclusive and explicitly include religious minorities, (5) clearly state NGO registration status in Pakistan, and (6) remain even-handed and compliant with the Establishment Clause by protecting rights rather than promoting religion.
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