Project to Support the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion (RESI) Goals

Overview

This project aims to increase collaboration and strengthen networks among host country civil society partners in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico to advance reforms that promote equity and equality, eliminate barriers to inclusion, and create equal access and opportunities for members of marginalized and underserved communities. Through training of diverse civil society leaders and capacity building of civil society and community networks, this project seeks to further WHA’s RESI goals. 

Program Objectives: Activities must focus on equal access and opportunities for members of marginalized and underserved communities, focused on the following priority areas for each country:
• Brazil: Activities must focus on access to higher education and higher education policy for Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous populations in support of the U.S. - Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (JAPER).
• Chile: Activities must focus on access to employment opportunities for Chilean citizens and residents of African descent and Indigenous and immigrant communities.
• Colombia: Activities must address access to academic opportunities for Indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations from rural communities in the Pacific and Atlantic regions in support of the U.S. - Colombia Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality (CAPREE).
• Costa Rica: Activities must focus on economic opportunities, including digital economic workforce development, for Indigenous and Afro-descendent populations, particularly in areas outside of the capital.
• Mexico: Activities must focus on workforce development for marginalized communities and should include a focus on the tech sector in southern states in Mexico, particularly in Oaxaca and Veracruz. Project beneficiaries must include underserved communities and marginalized populations, particularly women and girls, Indigenous communities, and Afro-Mexican communities.

Project activities must support at least one of the selected RESI policy objectives below:
• Promote reforms that advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility within communities and governments and strengthen democratic institutions to the equitable benefit of all peoples. Open an inclusive space to foster strong partnerships among underserved communities and their allies as they advocate for social and policy change.
• Advance equitable and inclusive access to public sector, community, and political engagement, higher education policy issues and discussions, and social and economic systems for members of marginalized groups, including African descendant, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities, and women and girls.
• Advance consistent and equitable application of laws, policies, and practices to improve access to justice and protect the human rights of underserved communities and to reduce the criminalization of advocates for marginalized groups.
• Support inclusive and sustainable economic growth, including by building local capacity to provide employment, entrepreneurship, participation in the digital economy and remote work, and job training opportunities to marginalized groups.

Project Components: Project proposals should include, at a minimum, each of the following activities:

1. Stakeholder mapping
2. Capacity building and advocacy training for marginalized population community leaders in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico
3. Fellowship program for young leaders in each country
4. Capstone and/or small grant funding
5. Consensus building and social and public advocacy for fellows and community leaders

Organizations may only submit one application per organization. If more than one application is submitted by an organization, only the first application received will be reviewed for eligibility and funding.