ICNL Small Grants in Tanzania to Promote the Rule of Law

ICNL Small Grants in Tanzania to Promote the Rule of Law

Promoting Civic Space through Advocacy and Strategic Action in Tanzania

Background

The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) is an international not-forprofit organization that promotes an enabling legal environment for civil society, freedom of association, assembly and expression, and public participation around the world.

ICNL has provided technical, research and capacity-building assistance to support the reform of laws affecting civil society organizations in over 100 countries.

We draw upon a worldwide network of partners and experts to produce innovative research and analysis on legal topics affecting civil society. To learn more about ICNL’s programs in Africa, visit www.icnl.org.

ICNL is pleased to invite proposals for small grants as part of its ongoing rule of law program to enhance the protection of freedom of expression, association, and related fundamental rights in Tanzania.

Through this program, ICNL aims to support public awareness, strategic engagement, innovative information exchange and advocacy by civil society groups to promote and protect the fundamental rights of association, assembly and expression and advance civic space at the local, national or regional levels.

To achieve these program goals, ICNL will provide small grants to support innovative, impactful projects, which may address the following priority interventions:

• Innovative research on a topic related to freedom of expression, association or digital rights issues and trends in Tanzania; research proposals should clarify how the findings will inform much needed legal or policy reforms or amplify the voice of civil society organizations in their advocacy for increased protection of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly or civic space more broadly.

• Innovative public outreach to deepen their understanding of the importance of civil society, the impact of restrictive laws on civil society, and to encourage involvement in efforts to protect freedom of association, assembly, expression, and digital rights in Tanzania.

These can include capacity building initiatives targeting traditional groups such as CSO networks, media, CBOs, academic institutions, religious groups etc; media and digital campaigns or targeted advocacy materials, etc.

• Engagement with state actors to support their work in creating an enabling environment for civil society. This can include strategic convenings and dialogues, or other creative initiatives to advance advocacy for legal reform.

• Innovative communication and information-gathering platforms that provide data on civic space for use in evidence-based advocacy including blogs, newsletters, etc

• Innovative outreach and sensitization of marginalized groups and communities on freedom of expression, association, assembly and digital rights, or access to information, and initiatives to include and integrate them in broader advocacy efforts on civic space issues.

Please contact us via email at africa@icnl.org should you have questions. Application Instructions.

Application Materials

To apply, please send:

• Application Coversheet;

• Proposal (no more than five pages);

• Resume or CV of the person responsible for the proposed project; and

• Line-item Budget (no more than $8,000).

Content of Proposal

In no more than five (5) pages, please describe your project proposal, and ensure the following information is included:

• An overview of the proposed project, including a description of proposed activities, outputs, and outcomes;

• The proposed activity plan and timeline for the project, recognizing that grant activities must be completed no later than the end of March 2021;

• Specific objectives, and how results will be measured (by including at least one success indicator per objective);

• The plan to sustain the impact of the project beyond the grant support.

• Applicant’s experience in working on legal reform projects, the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, or digital freedoms or other civic space related issues;

• Existing initiatives by the applicant or other entities dealing with similar or related issues. Where applicable, the plan for ensuring complementarity between the proposed project and existing initiatives;

Please also attach a line-item budget (which does not count toward the 5-page limit for the proposal)

Eligibility Requirements

Proposals are welcome from registered non-profit organizations, academic institutions and research-based organizations operating in Tanzania.

Proposals from communitybased organizations are especially encouraged.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following factors:

• Compliance with eligibility requirements and application procedures;

• Demonstrated commitment of applicant to protecting civic space;

• Quality of proposed project, including innovation and potential impact of the proposal, the proposed methodology/design, and feasibility of the project (e.g., activities are targeted to achieve stated results, and anticipated results that are realistic and attainable);

• Likelihood that the proposed project will enhance civic space in Tanzania;

• Sustainability of the proposed project beyond the grant period;

• Proposed budget and apparent value for money; and

• Inclusion of reasonable indicators to measure project success.

Additional information

Interested applicants can apply by completing the application coversheet and submitting it, along with all required documents by email (see instructions below).

All grant recipients will be required to submit progress reports during the grant period and a final report on the use of funds, activities conducted, and outcomes of their projects prior to receiving their final grant disbursements.

All project activities must be completed by the end of March 2021.

Deadline