DRL invites organizations to submit proposals for programs to conduct the following:
Strengthening Protection of Rights for Persons with Disabilities (approximately $1,000,000, pending availability of funding):
Create a consortium of expert Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Disabled
People’s Organizations (DPOs) to provide technical assistance to civil society and governments on the effective implementation and enforcement of legislation to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
U. S. experience in t his regard, including development and implementation of:
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other relevant legislation; programs; policies; and practice; will form the basis for guidance to target countries in such areas as:
legislative analysis, monitoring implementation, effective enforcement, and coalition-building to advance democratic political processes.
In addition to providing technical assistance, applicants are asked to develop a virtual clearinghouse that advances effective implementation and enforcement of legislation to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, drawing from the extensive U. S. experience in this regard.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to refer to, as appropriate, existing clearinghouses and websites such as:
Disability.gov (www.disability.gov), GDRL (http://www.widernet.org/egranary/gdrl), National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (www.miusa.org/ncde), Making it Work (http://www.makingitwork-crpd.org/), and other pre-existing resources as appropriate.
The clearinghouse shall include relevant U. S. legislation, regulations, and technical assistance materials, where available, that can be of assistance in the development and implementation of laws and regulations.
The clearinghouse shall also include information that documents the role of civil society in the United States , and other countries as appropriate, to work in collaboration with legislative bodies in the development and implementation of relevant legislation.
This consortium will have expertise in the following areas:
legal/judicial, electoral processes, political party building, civil society capacity building, public outreach, and U. S. civil rights laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Access Board, etc.
This consortium should be able to work more broadly, but must include Kenya and Tanzania among its target countries.
This initiative will be a pilot program and could be expanded beyond the initial scope.