Strengthening collaboration across fields

Request for Proposal

Coexistence International at Brandeis University (CI) envisions a world where diversity is embraced for its positive potential, respect for persons is a core value, interdependence between different groups is recognized, equality is actively pursued, and the use of weapons to address conflicts is increasingly obsolete.

There are numerous individuals and organizations doing important coexistence work on the ground. CI occupies a unique niche: we focus on strengthening the capacity of these actors to do coexistence work. We believe that this focus can help achieve sustainable peace. We use the term coexistence to cover a range of disciplines, including conflict resolution, conflict management, conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and diversity work.

CI is inviting proposals, under a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, for a project that encourages a more collaborative approach to strengthening intergroup relations. This can either be a project that seeks to strengthen collaborations within the coexistence field (between local, regional and international actors) OR a project that seeks to strengthen collaborations between the coexistence field and institutions and practitioners working in areas related to coexistence, such as human rights, development, democratization, cultural work, etc.

CI seeks to partner with local NGOs, international NGOs, or University-based programs already at work - within one area of a country or at the national level or in a particular geographic region - on strengthening intergroup relations. These organizations might situate themselves in the fields of coexistence, peacebuilding, human rights, development or gender, among others.

Expected outcomes of the regional program are likely to include the emergence of a new leadership cadre committed to a collaborative approach to coexistence, the integration of coexistence values to other areas of work, a new in-country coexistence network, and a series of publications.

CI will support one project that encourages a more collaborative approach to strengthening intergroup relations. We will consider applications from organizations based in the following countries:

Peru
El Salvador
Mexico
Brazil
Nigeria
Rwanda
Countries of West Africa
India
Australia/Oceania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Countries in Europe facing issues of Muslim-non-Muslim relations and/or questions of immigrant and non-immigrant communities.
United States
The organization must be one that seeks to improve the quality of intergroup relations, either through a direct focus on coexistence issues, or because of a focus on human rights, humanitarian assistance, development, gender, refugee resettlement, cultural work, or some other related field.

This RFP is for a one-time, eighteen-month initiative. Up to US$35,000 is budgeted for this initiative, with disbursements tied to programmatic benchmarks. Funds can be used for a range of activities including networking activities, meetings, documentation and communications, among others.

Applications are due on October 31, 2006.

For full application guidelines, please visit www.coexistence.net/news/rfp.html

Coexistence International at Brandeis University
Mailstop 086
Waltham, MA 02454
U.S.A.
Tel: (781) 736-5017
Fax: (781) 736-5014
http://www.coexistence.net/