Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0009788
The Grassroots Embattled Environmental Defenders Capacity Building and Small Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0009788) is a U.S. Department of State funding program designed to support and protect environmental defenders who face threats, harassment, and violence because of their work. The program sits within the Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and is framed explicitly around the Biden Administration's foreign policy priorities. At its core, the opportunity aims to reduce violence against environmental defenders while strengthening the broader systems that should protect them, including environmental governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award and will be implemented through a cooperative agreement, which generally means the government expects to have substantial involvement in the project during implementation (for example, through ongoing coordination, technical input, or shared oversight of key activities). The activity category is listed as Environment, but the description makes clear that the program is also about governance, human rights, anti-corruption, and security outcomes, not just environmental conservation. The intent is to reinforce protections and accountability mechanisms in places where environmental defenders are embattled and where institutions may be weak, compromised by corruption, or unable to prevent attacks and intimidation.
The program is structured to combine capacity building with small grants. In practical terms, that typically means supporting a central implementing organization that can both strengthen the skills, safety, and operational resilience of grassroots environmental defenders and also re-grant funds to smaller local actors for urgent needs or targeted initiatives. The emphasis on "grassroots" suggests the program is meant to reach local communities and frontline defenders, rather than only national-level organizations, and the word "embattled" signals a focus on higher-risk contexts where defenders face meaningful and credible threats. The objectives include protecting and advancing defenders' human rights, countering corruption that enables environmental crime or weak enforcement, fostering a level playing field for business by reducing illegal or corrupt advantages, and contributing to security and sustainable prosperity by improving governance and reducing conflict and impunity.
The total funding level is reflected through an award ceiling of $4,295,625, with an expectation of one award. That suggests a single lead recipient would likely manage a sizable multi-component program, potentially covering multiple geographies or operating through a network of local partners. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice, indicating that applicants may extend beyond standard categories and could include certain types of organizations or entities specified in the complete announcement.
Key administrative details include a creation date of May 18, 2023 and an original closing date of July 13, 2023. The program is associated with CFDA number 19.017. Overall, the grant is best understood as a State Department-led effort to materially improve the safety and effectiveness of environmental defenders and to strengthen the governance conditions that reduce attacks, discourage corruption, and support lawful, transparent environmental decision-making aligned with U.S. foreign policy goals.Apply for SFOP0009788
- The Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Grassroots Embattled Environmental Defenders Capacity Building and Small Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 18, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 13, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,295,625.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is called the Grassroots Embattled Environmental Defenders Capacity Building and Small Grants opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0009788.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State funding program.
Which office within the Department of State is associated with the program?
The program sits within the Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to support and protect environmental defenders who face threats, harassment, and violence because of their work, while reducing violence against environmental defenders and strengthening systems that should protect them.
Who does the program aim to support?
The program is focused on environmental defenders, with an emphasis on grassroots defenders and those described as embattled, meaning they work in higher-risk contexts where threats are meaningful and credible.
What kinds of risks or harms is the program trying to address?
The program is framed around addressing threats, harassment, and violence directed at environmental defenders, as well as the underlying institutional weaknesses that can allow attacks, intimidation, and impunity to persist.
Is this opportunity only about environmental conservation?
No. While the activity category is listed as Environment, the description makes clear the program also targets governance, human rights, anti-corruption, and security-related outcomes, not only environmental conservation.
How is the program framed in terms of U.S. policy priorities?
The opportunity is framed explicitly around the Biden Administration's foreign policy priorities.
What type of award is this?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award.
What is the award instrument for this opportunity?
The program will be implemented through a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply about government involvement?
A cooperative agreement generally means the U.S. government expects substantial involvement during implementation, such as ongoing coordination, technical input, or shared oversight of key activities.
What is meant by "capacity building and small grants" in this program?
The program is structured to combine capacity building with small grants. In practical terms, this typically means supporting a central implementing organization that can strengthen the skills, safety, and operational resilience of grassroots environmental defenders and also re-grant funds to smaller local actors for urgent needs or targeted initiatives.
What types of outcomes does the program aim to achieve?
The stated intent includes reducing violence against environmental defenders; strengthening environmental governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights; countering corruption that enables environmental crime or weak enforcement; fostering a level playing field for business by reducing illegal or corrupt advantages; and contributing to security and sustainable prosperity by improving governance and reducing conflict and impunity.
How does the program relate to corruption and environmental crime?
The program includes an objective to counter corruption that enables environmental crime or weak enforcement, and it aims to strengthen accountability mechanisms in places where institutions may be weak or compromised.
How does the program relate to rule of law and human rights?
The opportunity is designed to reinforce protections and accountability mechanisms and includes objectives tied to the rule of law, respect for human rights, and protecting and advancing defenders' human rights.
What is the total funding amount available?
The opportunity reflects an award ceiling of $4,295,625.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
There is an expectation of one award.
What does "one award" suggest about how the program may be implemented?
With one expected award at a sizable ceiling, a single lead recipient would likely manage a multi-component program, potentially covering multiple geographies or operating through a network of local partners.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice. This indicates eligibility may extend beyond standard categories and may include specific types of organizations or entities defined in the complete announcement.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The summary points to additional eligibility details in the full notice, which would contain the specific requirements.
What is the activity category listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Environment.
What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?
The program is associated with CFDA number 19.017.
When was this opportunity created?
The creation date is May 18, 2023.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was July 13, 2023.
What overall problem is this grant trying to solve?
Overall, the grant is positioned as a State Department-led effort to materially improve the safety and effectiveness of environmental defenders and to strengthen governance conditions that reduce attacks, discourage corruption, and support lawful, transparent environmental decision-making.
Does the opportunity indicate a preference for grassroots or local actors?
The emphasis on "grassroots" suggests the program is meant to reach local communities and frontline defenders, rather than only national-level organizations.
What does the term "embattled" indicate in the program title and description?
"Embattled" signals a focus on higher-risk contexts where environmental defenders face meaningful and credible threats, harassment, intimidation, or violence.
Does the program anticipate working through local partners?
The description suggests a model where a central implementing organization strengthens defenders' capacity and also provides small grants to smaller local actors, which implies working through local partners or a local network.
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