Guidelines for Grant Applications to Front Line - 2008

Grants are given for the specific purpose of strengthening the security and protection of human rights defenders. Grants are for amounts up to a maximum of €6,000.

Examples of grants provided in 2007

• Guatemala €6000 reinforced door, security camera, office-entry and radio-communications system for human rights organsiation

• Sri Lanka €670 iron gate and surveillance camera at entrance of LGBT rights organisation

• Uzbekistan €400 travel expenses for family of detained human rights defender to visit prison

• Thailand €2305 emergency temporary relocation of 6 community leaders

• Democratic Republic of Congo €1100 mobile phones for women human rights defenders in rural area

• Serbia €5850 legal costs for human rights defender

• Palestine €2660 alarm, iron door, multi-lock door and gates for human rights organisation

• Bangladesh €500 basic emergency support for food and accomodation for human rights defender in hiding

These are examples only. We ask you to apply for what you need to ensure the protection of human rights defenders at risk.

Front Line does not provide funding for:

• Retrospective funding;
• International organisations;
• Organisations that have applied or are already receiving funding for the same purpose elsewhere;
• Projects which focus on broader human rights issues rather than the specific situation of human rights defenders.
• Costs for human rights defenders who are already in exile
• Ongoing office running costs such as salaries and rent
• Armed security guards
• Purchase of vehicles

Grants will not normally be made for 100% of the cost of a project. Applications may be made in Arabic, Russian, English, French or Spanish. Applications are considered by Front Line’s Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis. After submitting an application, an organisation is likely to be contacted by a member of Front Line staff with questions to clarify the application. Lobbying in support of applications is not encouraged. All applicants will receive a written response whether or not their application is successful.

Emergency Grants

An application will be considered for an emergency grant where the applicant can show that the provision of the grant will contribute to addressing immediate threats to the lives or well-being of one or more human rights defenders.

If the application falls within Front Line’s criteria for the provision of emergency funding for human rights defenders at imminent risk then small grants can be approved in a matter of days at the discretion of the Director. Please get in touch with our office directly. Our 24-hour emergency phone no. for human rights defenders is +353 12100489

Accountability

Groups receiving grants are required to submit a short written report, including all receipts, on completion of their project. If for any reason a project does not go ahead, or gets alternative funding, the grant must be returned to Front Line and cannot be reallocated for other work. Front Line may check that the same grant has not already been funded by other international funders.If a report is not received on completion of the grant the applicant will no longer be eligible for any further grants.

Front Line Grant Application Form:
Your application should include contact details of the applicant (name, organisation, phone, email) and the name of the person accountable to Front Line for the organisation. It should also address the following questions:
1. What security risks are you facing and why?
2. What do you want to do and how would the proposed grant make a difference to your security and reduce the risks you face?
3. What results do you expect? Is there a way to measure whether it has made a difference? (this will be what we expect to be covered in your report on the grant in addition to original receipts for purchases)
4. Give a breakdown of costs and an explanation of how costs have been arrived at. (where items are to be purchased Front Line may ask to see several quotes and/or may propose making the purchase elsewhere and sending the items)
5. Give a concise outline of your group/organisation to include its aims, previous activities, membership, organisational structure, financial structure, work with other groups or networks. If you are in contact with Front Line for the first time please give contact details (name, organisation, phone, email) for at least two referees who are well known within the human rights community in your country or internationally.

Applications can be sent by post, email or fax to:
Front Line
81 Main Street
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
Ireland
Email: grants@frontlinedefenders.org
Fax: +353 1 212 1001
Tel: + 353 1 212 3750