Minority Rights Group Grants for issue-based networks for policy influence for Civil Society Organizations in the MENA region

Application Deadline: 1 April 2024

Minority Rights Group is accepting applications from human rights and minority rights nonprofit organizations based in Lebanon, Tunisia, Palestine and Morocco for issue-based grants to organizations that coordinate networks or are collaborating to develop one. These grants are available for Human Rights Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and aim to influence policy change through targeted funding by focusing on pressing issues at national or regional levels.  As part of our project Minorities, Accountability and Civic Space (MACS), the grants provide support to form a physical network or platform, or an online network/platform that can act as a space for dialogue or campaigning; or support an umbrella organization that is already acting as a network.

Eligibility

For their application to be considered, applicants must: 

• Apply as a network or collations of organizations with a clear lead applicant. 
• Organizations focused on policy research, legislative reform, democratic development with a human/ minority rights component in their work are also welcome to apply. 
• Be a not-for-profit civil society organization (official registration is not necessary).  
• Be based in one of the programme countries: Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia or Morocco. 
• Be a community-based organization and/or NGO with a track record of working with disadvantaged ethnic, religious, or cultural minorities or marginalized groups such as migrants, refugees, LGBTI, or persons with disabilities, and rooted in these marginalized communities.  
• Be committed to involving various minorities and other marginalized communities in their broader activities. 
• Have skills in project management, risk management, and financial management. 
• Be an organization that has no public debt, complies with anti-corruption measures, and proves the absence of conflict of interest.
• Include women and minorities in the organization’s decision-making structures will be highly valued. 
• Can receive funding, either through their own organization or an agreed upon alternative arrangement which aligns with approved protocol. 
• Have an established track record of similar work in one of the programme countries

Benefits

These grants can be used to finance various activities crucial for effective policy influencing. This can include:

• Activities related to influence specific policy at the local, national or regional level (EU regional level).
• Building and sustaining a physical network of organizations to support collaboration on policy issues affecting minorities and marginalized communities. 
• Creating and running online platforms to provide spaces for CSOs to facilitate dialogue, collaboration, and campaigning with clear advocacy goals. 
• Support for umbrella organizations: Assisting umbrella organizations already functioning as networks to further enhance their capacity and reach.

Selection criteria

• The proposal must identify specific policy at the local, national or regional level with clear activities and outcomes.
• The project should have a clear logic explained through; stated objectives, outcomes, activities, and implementation strategy.
• The proposal should have been designed in a participatory manner with the minorities and marginalized communities that the intervention aims to focus on.
• The proposal should have realistic target(s) set and capacity to deliver planned activities should be in line with the resources, capacities, and previous experiences of the applicant(s).
• Clearly justifying a budget that represents value for money and efficiency.
• The proposal should show how the proposal will ensure the sustainability of the project even after the intervention is over. 
• The proposal should highlight how the organization ensures gender and minority rights mainstreaming in its work. 
• Intersectional aspects of the organization’s target groups should be considered.

Timeline:

• 4 March 2024: Call for proposals  
• 1 April 2024: Application deadline 
• 12 April 2024: Shortlisted applicants finalized and notified 
• 19 April 2024: Contracts sent  
• 26 April 2024: Transfer of the first tranche of funds and welcome packs sent
• 12-18 months: Distribution of funds
• Two weeks after the end of the grant: Final narrative and financial reports due

More Info: Minority Rights Group Grants