Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0019639
The grant opportunity titled "Strengthening Community-Backed Governance to Advance Stability and Peace in Burma" is a U.S. Department of State funding competition run by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). It is designed to support a single program that strengthens the prospects for a future peace process in Burma by helping key local stakeholders show up to eventual negotiations as credible, coordinated, and genuinely backed by the communities they claim to represent. In practical terms, the opportunity is focused on increasing the readiness and legitimacy of Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs), civil society groups, and state- or subnational-level actors so they can participate in future peace talks in a more unified way, with clearer mandates, stronger coordination, and deeper community grounding.
The central idea is to improve the conditions for peace negotiations before formal talks are possible or before they meaningfully resume. DRL is signaling that, for peace talks to have a better chance of producing lasting stability, the negotiating table needs participants who are not only influential on the ground but also organized, representative, and able to present coherent positions. The program this competition funds is meant to help bridge gaps among EROs, civil society, and state-level actors, reduce fragmentation, and improve their ability to function as serious counterparts in negotiations. This can include efforts that strengthen inclusive consultation with communities, improve coordination and joint planning among different groups, and support governance-related capacities that demonstrate accountability and community legitimacy.
From a funding and administrative perspective, this is a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government typically expects a more active partnership role than it would under a standard grant. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0019639, and the associated CFDA number is 19.345. The opportunity was created on August 14, 2026, and the original application deadline is August 31, 2026. DRL expects to make one award under this announcement, with an award ceiling of $1,973,359. Because only one award is anticipated, applicants should assume the competition will be selective and that proposals will need to present a strong, integrated program concept with a clear theory of change, credible local partnerships, and a realistic plan for achieving measurable improvements in coordination, legitimacy, and community-backed participation in peace-related processes.
Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs (with or without 501(c)(3) status), private/public/state institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations or businesses, and foreign-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs. This wide eligibility suggests DRL is open to proposals led by international NGOs, local or regional implementers, universities with relevant peacebuilding and governance expertise, and even private sector entities, as long as they can credibly implement sensitive, conflict-affected programming and manage U.S. government cooperative agreement requirements.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an investment in the political and social infrastructure that makes peace talks more viable: helping EROs, civil society, and subnational actors build unified positions, strengthen representative and accountable governance linkages to communities, and increase their standing as legitimate stakeholders for any future negotiation framework aimed at stability and peace in Burma.Apply for DFOP0019639
- The Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Community-Backed Governance to Advance Stability and Peace in Burma" 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 2026-08-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-31. (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 $1,973,359.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Strengthening Community-Backed Governance to Advance Stability and Peace in Burma."
2) Which U.S. government office is running this funding competition?
This is a U.S. Department of State funding competition run by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).
3) What is the main purpose of the program DRL plans to fund?
The competition is designed to support a single program that strengthens the prospects for a future peace process in Burma. The goal is to help key local stakeholders be able to participate in eventual negotiations as credible, coordinated, and genuinely backed by the communities they claim to represent.
4) What kinds of stakeholders is this opportunity focused on supporting?
The opportunity focuses on increasing the readiness and legitimacy of Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs), civil society groups, and state- or subnational-level actors so they can participate in future peace talks in a more unified way, with clearer mandates, stronger coordination, and deeper community grounding.
5) Why is DRL emphasizing community-backed governance and readiness before formal talks resume?
DRL is signaling that peace talks are more likely to produce lasting stability if participants at the negotiating table are not only influential on the ground, but also organized, representative, and able to present coherent positions. This program is meant to improve conditions for negotiations before formal talks are possible or before they meaningfully resume.
6) What types of activities or approaches does the opportunity suggest?
Based on the description provided, the program can include efforts to:
- Strengthen inclusive consultation with communities
- Improve coordination and joint planning among different groups
- Support governance-related capacities that demonstrate accountability and community legitimacy
- Bridge gaps among EROs, civil society, and state- or subnational-level actors
- Reduce fragmentation and improve the ability of stakeholders to function as serious counterparts in negotiations
7) How many awards does DRL expect to make under this announcement?
DRL expects to make one award under this announcement.
8) What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,973,359.
9) What funding instrument will be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This is a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.
10) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
The description indicates that under a cooperative agreement, the U.S. government typically expects a more active partnership role than it would under a standard grant.
11) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0019639.
12) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 19.345.
13) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 14, 2026.
14) What is the original application deadline?
The original application deadline is August 31, 2026.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include:
- U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- Private, public, or state institutions of higher education
- For-profit organizations or businesses
- Foreign-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs
16) Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes foreign-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs, indicating non-U.S. organizations are eligible.
17) Can for-profit entities apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations or businesses are listed among eligible applicants.
18) Do U.S. nonprofits need to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. The eligibility description includes U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs with or without 501(c)(3) status.
19) What does DRL appear to be looking for in a competitive proposal?
Because only one award is anticipated, the competition is expected to be selective. The description suggests proposals should present a strong, integrated program concept with a clear theory of change, credible local partnerships, and a realistic plan for achieving measurable improvements in coordination, legitimacy, and community-backed participation in peace-related processes.
20) What kinds of outcomes is this opportunity trying to achieve?
The opportunity is best understood as an investment in the political and social infrastructure that makes peace talks more viable. It aims to help EROs, civil society, and subnational actors build unified positions, strengthen representative and accountable governance linkages to communities, and increase their standing as legitimate stakeholders for future negotiation frameworks aimed at stability and peace in Burma.
21) Is the program intended to fund multiple separate projects or one integrated program?
The opportunity is designed to support a single program, and DRL expects to make one award under this announcement.
22) What is meant by improving "readiness" for peace negotiations in this context?
In the terms provided, readiness refers to stakeholders being able to participate in future peace talks in a more unified way, with clearer mandates, stronger coordination, and deeper community grounding, including the ability to present coherent positions and demonstrate legitimacy and accountability.
23) Which relationships or gaps is the program expected to help address?
The program is meant to help bridge gaps among EROs, civil society, and state- or subnational-level actors, reduce fragmentation, and improve coordination and joint planning so these stakeholders can function as serious counterparts in eventual negotiations.
24) What geographic or thematic focus does this opportunity target?
Thematically, it targets community-backed governance, coordination, legitimacy, and negotiation readiness in support of stability and peace. Geographically, it is focused on Burma.
25) Why might local partnerships matter for this opportunity?
The description notes that proposals will need credible local partnerships, aligning with the program intent to ensure stakeholders are genuinely backed by the communities they claim to represent and can participate credibly in future peace-related processes.
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| Documenting Human Rights Abuses and Countering DPRK Propaganda Apply for DFOP0019674 Funding Number: DFOP0019674 Agency: Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Category: Other Funding Amount: $2,960,039 |
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