1. INTRODUCTION & GENERAL BACKGROUND

The goal of the IDEA project is to seek to advance civil society advocacy in Sri Lanka. The purpose of the program is to ensure that Sri Lanka has a vibrant and diverse civil society that empowers citizens to advance democratic values of citizen participation and government accountability on a range of governance and reform issues. To achieve this, it will support civil society advocacy to advance chosen reforms, protect and promote rights, improve the enabling environment for civil society in Sri Lanka and strengthen organizational capacity and sustainability of civil society organizations in the country. The program will place special emphasis to integrating gender and diversity considerations and inclusion of youth.

This grants program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is authorized in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. Issuance of this APS does not constitute an award commitment on the part of MSI, nor does it commit MSI to pay for the prices incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. MSI reserves the right to fund all or none of the applications received. All preparation and submission prices are at the applicant’s expense.

2. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS & APS SECTIONS

This APS aims to support civil society to be more effective in advancing democratic values of citizen participation, government accountability, and rights protection at local and national levels. Through this APS, IDEA seeks to support civil society efforts that will advance reforms through collaborative approaches that integrate women, youth and other marginalized communities in the areas of a) good governance b) rights protection / rule of law and c) improving the status of women. Within these themes, the IDEA APS is looking to support a few important sub-issues mentioned in Section C.