Grants / Department of State / Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor

SFOP0007619: DRL Strengthening Worker’s Rights in Armenia

Closed Closed May 4, 2021 Opportunity SFOP0007619 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: FY26 DRL/IRF Global Request for Statements of Interest (DFOP0019929). Status: Closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left). It is in our archive of Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor notices from 2021.

• Award ceiling$900,000
• Award floor$900,000
• Total funding$900,000
• Expected awards1
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL's preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor awards averaged $31.2 million; this notice allows up to $900,000 per award.
• Most of the program's money (99% over five years) went to nonprofits.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support freedom of association, collective bargaining and the right to strike for Armenian workers. Armenian workers in most sectors have the right to form and join labor unions and the right to strike is enshrined in Armenia’s constitution; however, in practice, Armenian labor unions are weak calling for rights is extremely difficult due to complex legal requirements. The law permits employers to pull out of collective bargaining agreements at any point, so opportunities for collective bargaining are quite limited. Workers remain unaware of their rights and the role labor unions could play in protecting those rights, largely due to the legacy of Soviet trade unions. Since the “Velvet Revolution,” several new labor unions have formed, and government officials and unions have stated that labor unions should be strengthened; however, visions of the future of Armenian labor unions diverge. Ensuring reforms set out in the revolution see progress is particularly paramount now amid growing concerns of Russia using the opportunity otherwise to advantageously insert its influence in civil society space and stymie progress in democratic reform.

Category: Other.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DFOP0019929, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.