A. Background

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for South-East Asia was established in Bangkok in 2002. The Regional Office acts as an expert resource and plays a catalytic and convening role, helping to bring human rights standards and mechanisms into discussions on political, social, economic and developmental issues amongst governmental and non-governmental actors in Thailand and the region. Advocacy on human rights issues of concern combined with technical support and capacity building to key partners form the basis of the Regional Office’s work, including with government authorities, ASEAN, national human rights institutions, civil society and the UN system. The Regional Office aims to integrate gender into all areas of its work.

From January 2023, OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia, with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand, has been implementing the project “Strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights in Thailand”. The project aims to enhance alignment of Thailand’s legal framework, policies and practices with international human rights norms and standards; strengthen engagement of human rights defenders and civil society organisations (CSOs) with the International Human Rights Mechanisms; and improve responsiveness to human rights concerns by State actors, the UN System and the international community, in line with international norms and standards.

In connection with this, OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia invites interested local CSOs to submit individual proposals in line with the present guidelines. Local CSOs are invited to carefully read the guidelines to be followed for grant applications. 

B. Objectives of the grants

The grant activities are sought to enable the local CSOs in Thailand to:

• Monitor and document human rights violations at local level, focusing on land rights; business and human rights; the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment; the rights of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities; public participation; women’s rights; and the rights of persons with disabilities, among others;

• Engage and advocate with provincial and local authorities for the protection and promotion of human rights at community level; and

• Engage with national (e.g., National Human Rights Commission of Thailand) and international human rights protection mechanisms (e.g., Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, UPR), particularly through partnerships and collaboration with national CSOs (based in Bangkok).

C. Eligibility criteria

Eligible proposals are expected to include the following information/meet the following criteria:

• Clarification of how the project intends to contribute to the objectives outlined above.
• Proposals submitted by CSOs are expected to cover activities based on their expertise, including in the field of human rights and gender mainstreaming.
• Proposed projects should preferably be part of a longer-term, continuous effort beyond the specific activities funded by the present grants.
• Project activities must take place in Thailand. While the call for proposals does not discriminate proposals on a geographical basis, a balance among awarded beneficiaries is desirable in order to cover different regions within Thailand.
• The maximum duration for the implementation of the projects will be 12 months, commencing after the signature of agreement with OHCHR, or until 31 December 2024.
• The following types of activity will not be covered:
• Individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences and congresses out of Thailand. However, this does not prevent the implementing partner to use funds to pay speakers and participants per diems to cover food and transport in workshops and seminars that it organizes;
• Capital expenditure, e.g., land, buildings, equipment and vehicles;
• Individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
• Supporting political parties; and
• Sub-contracting.

D. Procedures of grant proposal submission

Those wishing to apply for grant under this call for proposal should submit the following:

1. Grant proposal (please see template/form under Annex 1 of Open Call)
2. Proposed activities (See table of objectives, activities and expected results under Annex 1)
3. Budget Form (please see the budget temple in Excel Sheet)
4. Copy of the Registration of the Organization

Under this grants programme, OHCHR will contribute approximately US $40,000 per project (at least two projects).

E.  Selection process

Applications will be examined and evaluated by OHCHR with the possible assistance of external assessors as well as by the OHCHR Grants Committee at OHCHR Headquarters. All actions submitted by applicants will be assessed according to the following steps and criteria. (Please see Section IX: Evaluation and Selection Processes of Open Call).

F. Deadline and contact information

Deadline for applications is Friday, 15 September 2023 at 17.00 hrs Bangkok time. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Submissions of proposals should be by email to <ohchr.bangkok@un.org>. OHCHR would acknowledge receipt of your submission.

For any questions and clarifications related to Call for Proposals, please contact Pratubjit Neelapaijit at <neelapaijit@un.org> and Nichapa Chanwisitkul at <nichapa.chanwisitkul@un.org>.