DRL Applied Research and Evaluation Innovation Fund: MEL360 Accompaniment in Democratizing DRG Evaluation | DFOP0014012

Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0014012

The DRL Applied Research and Evaluation Innovation Fund opportunity, titled "MEL360 Accompaniment in Democratizing DRG Evaluation" (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0014012), is a discretionary U.S. Department of State funding competition run by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which usually signals an award where the U.S. government expects to be meaningfully involved during implementation rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The core idea is to fund a single applied learning project that strengthens how monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) is done in democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) programming, with a specific emphasis on incorporating the feedback, knowledge, and expertise of the people and communities most directly affected by these programs.

At the center of the opportunity is the concept of "democratizing" DRG evaluation. In practical terms, DRL is looking for MEL approaches that do not treat communities as passive sources of data, but instead create structured ways for local stakeholders to shape evaluation questions, interpret results, and influence learning and decision-making. The goal is not only to produce evaluation products, but to test and demonstrate methods that make evidence generation and use more participatory, accountable, and grounded in lived experience. This aligns with DRL's broader interest in building a portfolio of credible evidence about what works in democracy, human rights, and labor rights programming, and then using that evidence to improve program design, implementation, and evaluation across foreign assistance.

This funding is part of the DRL Evaluation Innovation Fund, an initiative focused on integrating evidence into the full program cycle. That framing suggests DRL is seeking work that goes beyond traditional endline evaluation and instead strengthens ongoing learning loops, adaptive management, and practical tools that can be used by implementers and funders. The applied learning project is meant to contribute usable knowledge, approaches, or models that can be replicated or adapted across different DRG contexts, helping DRL and partners better identify which strategies are effective and under what conditions.

Eligibility is broad. DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations and NGOs, public international organizations, private institutions, public or state institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations or businesses. Even with that wide eligibility, DRL states a preference to work with non-profit entities, while acknowledging that in some cases a for-profit applicant may be the most appropriate fit for the work. The opportunity is listed under CFDA (now often referred to as Assistance Listing) 19.345 and categorized under the funding activity area "Other," which reflects the cross-cutting nature of applied research, evaluation, and learning innovation work.

In terms of funding scale and competition structure, DRL expects to make one award with an award ceiling of $1,350,000. The original closing date for applications is July 1, 2024, and the opportunity was created on May 2, 2024. With a single expected award and a relatively substantial ceiling, the competition is likely aimed at a well-developed, methodologically strong project that can demonstrate clear value to the broader DRG evaluation field, including practical outputs and learning that can be carried forward by DRL and its partners.

• The Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DRL Applied Research and Evaluation Innovation Fund: MEL360 Accompaniment in Democratizing DRG Evaluation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-01. (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 $1,350,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DFOP0014012

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