Type of Award: Grant
Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 4-6 months
A. Project Description
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that empower civil society to combat corruption and protect human rights in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (the “Northern Triangle”).
The root causes of human insecurity and irregular migration stemming from the Northern Triangle include deficiencies in democratic governance, criminal violence, and endemic corruption. In order for this region to become safer, stronger, and more prosperous, civil society and governments must work together to strengthen democratic institutions, particularly those tasked with combating corruption and protecting human rights. Additionally, governments should ensure civil society and the media are able to provide oversight and challenge undemocratic practices without fear of reprisal. While El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras each face unique obstacles, corruption is a shared challenge that festers across borders. In recent years, efforts in Guatemala and Honduras to hold corrupt actors accountable have been undermined by the termination of internationally-backed anticorruption missions, replacing them with national anti-impunity bodies that have limited powers and insufficient political backing to address rampant corruption. These national anti-graft bodies often lack proper public oversight, citizen participation, institutional independence, and adherence to international standards. They also lack sufficient financial and expert resources to effectively investigate and prosecute grand corruption cases, resulting in chronic impunity for corrupt actors.