U.S. Agency for International Development Contract (USAID)

Rule of Law Consortium/ARD-Checchi Joint Venture

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Rule of Law Grants Program for Ukraine, Moldova, or Belarus

The Rule of Law Consortium (ARD/Checchi Joint Venture), under the auspices of the United States Agency for International Development, announces a Grant Program to support the creation of a stable legal and political environment for facilitating the transition, through the rule of law, to a democratic, market-based society in Ukraine, Moldova and/or Belarus (grant activity must take place within the host country or countries). Specifically, projects should be designed to strengthen core legal institutions and processes of the justice sector, as well as civil society as it relates to legal development, in order to support general legal reform, encourage an orderly transition to a market economy, and protect human rights and limit the potential for arbitrary exercise of government power.

Types of projects which would meet this criteria might include, but are not limited to the following activities:

  1. increasing public awareness and knowledge of laws and legal procedures through a variety of mediums, e.g., library and information systems development, including electronic networking or the mass media;
  2. promoting the development of citizens' organizations to advocate for changes in the legal system;
  3. strengthening representative institutions of the people to ensure effective protection of their individual and property rights;
  4. assisting citizens to utilize the legal system for the adjudication of conflict;
  5. developing organizational management and strategic skills; and
  6. developing professional and trade associations.
Proposals are requested from U.S. not-for-profit (501 C 3), non-governmental and private voluntary organizations and groups in co-partnership with corresponding entities in Ukraine, Moldova and/or Belarus. Official public institutions (educational institutions, libraries, etc.) may also participate in special circumstances.

The applicant(s) must demonstrate the following with the submitted complete application package:

  1. experience in providing assistance to indigenous groups through domestic or international projects;
  2. a capacity to manage program logistics in a challenging environment;
  3. an understanding of the critical needs of the ROL Project as manifested in the solicitation;
  4. experience working with PVOs/NGOs in the NIS generally and in Ukraine, Moldova and/or Belarus in particular; and
  5. a capacity to field staff persons with local language capability.
Although applicants are welcome to discuss projects with ROL staff--or submit concept papers two-to-three pages in length--they are advised that an official application package is required for funding consideration. Grants are awarded through an open, competitive, and merit-based review process. All proposals require a 25% match from non-federal sources. The deadline for complete official applications is April 10, 1995. Decisions are anticipated in June 1995. Awards may range anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000 depending on the actual needs of the project.

For more information about requirements and an official application package with guidelines, write, fax, E-mail or call:

In UKRAINE: 

   
        Mara Moldwin, Grants Manager
        Rule of Law Consortium
        Dom Kino
        6 Saksaganskogo
        252033 Kiev
        tel.: (044) 227-4617
        fax: (044) 220-8505
        E-Mail:mg@ruleoflaw.kiev.ua
In THE UNITED STATES: 

        c/o Barry O'Connor, Grants Manager
        Rule of Law Consortium
        ARD/Checchi Joint Venture
        1819 L. Street, NW  Suite 500
        Washington, D.C.  20036
        tel: (202)-861-0513
        fax (202)-861-0934
        E-Mail: 74763.1652@CompuServe.com

Applications can also be obtained online from the FedWorld Information Network by dialing (703) 321-8020, choosing option "C" (Business, Trade & Investment Library) followed by option "D" (Rule of Law Donor Database). The Internet users can Telnet to FedWorld.gov and choose options mentioned or use Anonymous ftp to ftp.FedWorld.gov, then select ROL-NIS directory. Download in the binary mode.