Open Call for proposals – Financial Support to Third Parties – Global Consortium for Death Penalty Abolition

on 19 September 2024

Earlier this year, 13 abolitionist organizations¹, including regional networks, grassroots organizations and international NGOs have come together to form the Global Consortium for Death Penalty Abolition. This civil society-led initiative² aims to amplify the voice and influence of the abolitionist movement on a global scale.

As part of this initiative, the Consortium has committed to supporting civil society in target countries and providing financial support to third parties to move towards the universal abolition of the death penalty.

Scope

Between September 2024 and March 2026, financial support will be provided in 32 target countries across 4 regions, for activities to be implemented regionally and nationally. The countries and types of activities will be chosen strategically and consistent with the strategic plans of the consortium members and the intervention logic of the action. The strategic financial support will use small and medium amounts, from 1,000€ to 40,000€ and cover several thematic and geographical areas that can enhance and bring changes for abolition of the death penalty.

Priority countries for Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP):

Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Taiwan, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

In addition, Financial Support is envisaged for regional activities, and for thematic activities with specific priorities.

Objectives

Overall objective: To move towards the universal abolition of the death penalty.

Specific objectives:

1: In retentionist countries: contributing to reducing the use of capital punishment and encouraging more transparency regarding its application. This includes contributing to reducing the number of crimes punishable by death, abolition of the mandatory death penalty, banning death sentences and executions of juveniles, increasing respect of international human rights, achieving greater transparency, reducing cruel methods of executions, raising public awareness of the discriminatory nature of the death penalty, improving fair trial rights, and the independence of the judiciary, penal reform, increased use of pardons, clemency, and commutations of death sentences to reduce the number of people on death row and the number of people executed.

2: In abolitionist in practice countries, contributing to abolishing the death penalty in law while avoiding setbacks in countries which constitute levers for the international community to develop “new frontiers of abolition”. As specific objectives for these swing countries, it will also encourage positive votes for the UNGA moratorium resolution, legislative evolutions (drafting of abolitionist law proposals, reduction of the scope of application and/or reform of the penal code) and keeping a minimum of people on death row.

3: For abolitionist in law countries: contributing to ratifications of abolitionist treaties and preventing the reintroduction of the death penalty.

Outputs:

1. Increased influence of the abolitionist movement in relevant decision-making processes/decision-making spaces
2. Expanded and more diverse abolitionist ecosystem at global, regional and national level.

Activities

Different types of activities are eligible for financial support:

• advocacy at the national level in favor of abolition including advocacy with abolitionist in practice countries and abolitionist in law countries to increase visibility of support for the anti-death penalty movement;
• building the capacities and awareness of parliamentarians, government officials and capital-defense lawyers;
• supporting civil society engagement with international human rights mechanisms;
• improving the conditions of detention of people on death row;
• supporting families of persons charged with capital offences and or of people on death row;
• strengthening the capacities of judicial and administrative authorities;
• research and data collection;
• documentation and litigation support;
• building the capacity of civil society, including governance practices and project management;
• supporting exoneree-led activities and amplifying exoneree voices;
• movement growth, innovation and coalition building;
• supporting advocacy, monitoring and capacity building of target groups;
• awareness, media and campaigns;
• crisis response to quickly react to in-country developments and mobilise relevant actors;
• mobilization of non-conventional stakeholders in the movement (eg. young people, private sector, cultural or sports sector) through actions including educational, technological, cultural activities;
• advocacy to hold abolitionist countries to account for any adverse shifts in law, policy or practice;
• activities aimed at making visible and combating the intersectional discrimination faced by women and/or LGBTQIA+ people in the judicial process leading to the death penalty.

Eligibility Criteria

One organization/entity may apply for several grants. To do so, please fill in several grant applications (one for each grant).

One organization/entity may be awarded several grants. The maximum amount of financial support per organization or third party is EUR 60,000.

Types of entities/actors or categories of persons/entities/actors which may receive financial support:

• civil society organizations (CSOs – for the purpose of this call for proposals, CSOs include all non-State, not-for-profit structures, non-partisan and non-violent, through which people organize to pursue shared objectives and ideals, whether political, cultural, social or economic³); or
• informal networks of people opposed to the death penalty

They should also:

• be non-profit-making or social enterprises; and
• have as part of their mandate the protection and promotion of human rights.

Evaluation Criteria

The applications will be reviewed by the Consortium Board, in consultation with the Independent Advisory Panel, according to the following criteria:

1. Activities are well explained and realistic
2. Activities are in line with the selected objective(s). The design of the proposal is coherent, the proposal indicates the expected results to be achieved and the rationale to achieve these results through the activities
3. Activities are relevant for the target audience and objectives, targets are clearly defined and strategically chosen. Their needs and constraints have been clearly defined and the proposal addresses them appropriately. Additional points for projects that target duty-bearers.
4. Planning is realistic
5. Budget is realistic
6. Budget is in line with the activitie(s)
7. Budget is cost efficient
8. Projects that are gender and intersectional sensitive and meaningfully include exonerees and youth voices and humanize people on death row will be valued
9. Projects that collaborate with new allies and/or create cross-generational, cross-regional, cross-industry alliances will be valued
10. Projects that are in synergy with other activities within the Consortium and beyond the Consortium will also be valued
11. Projects with an activity for World Day against the Death Penalty to reach out to new allies will be valued
12. Projects that are innovative will be valued
13. Projects that foster information exchange/debunk myths or misinformation/fill in information gaps will be valued
14. Projects that have potential for replication and sustainability will be valued

True to the spirit of the Consortium, after the call for FSTP, the selection process will be collective with consistent evaluation grid shared among Consortium members and a review process with the Independent Advisory Panel. After the selection, model contracts and consistent reporting mechanisms will be used by all to ensure transparency and equitable processes.

Indicative Budget and maximum amount

This strategic financial support ranges from 1,000€ to 40,000€ and cover several thematic and geographical areas that can enhance and bring changes for abolition of the death penalty:

Indicative Timetable:

• 19 September 2024: Launch of the Open Call
• 26 September at 10am CEST and 15 October: Information sessions for people willing to apply – to register, please email FSTP@worldcoalition.org
• 24 October 2024: Deadline for submission of proposals
• 24 October – 7 November 2024: Evaluation and selection process
• 7-21 November 2024: Decision by the Consortium Board on the selection of Third Parties with advice from the Independent Advisory Panel
• End of November 2024: Signature of the grant agreements and transfer of funds
• March 2026: end of activities and final reports

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¹Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN), Comunità di S.Egidio, Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM), International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT), Greater Caribbean for Life (GCL), Harm Reduction International (HRI), Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), Penal Reform International (PRI), Reprieve, The Death Penalty Project (DPP), The Rights Practice (TRP), Witness to Innocence (WTI) and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For more information

² Initiative co-funded by the European Union under a Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) and the French Development Agency (AFD) and led by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

³ They include membership-based, cause-based and service-oriented CSOs. Among them, non-governmental organisations, organisations representing indigenous peoples, community – based organisations, advocacy organisations, organisations representing national and/or ethnic minorities, diaspora organisations, migrants’ organisations in partner countries, local traders’ associations and citizens’ groups, cooperatives, employers’ associations and trade unions (social partners), organisations representing economic and social interests, organisations representing person with disabilities, organisations fighting corruption and fraud and promoting good governance, civil rights organisations and organisations combating discrimination, local organisations (including networks) involved in decentralised regional cooperation and integration, consumer organisations, women’s and youth organisations environmental, teaching, cultural, research and scientific organisations, universities, education institutions, churches and religious associations and communities, the media and any non-governmental associations and independent foundations, including independent political foundations.