Strengthening Community-Backed Governance to Advance Stability and Peace in Burma

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor is soliciting applications for a cooperative agreement to strengthen Ethnic Resistance Organizations, civil society, and state-level actors as credible, unified, and community-backed participants in future Burma peace negotiations, with an application deadline of August 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. One award of $1,973,359.00 is anticipated for a single 24-month performance period beginning September 30, 2026.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and foreign-based nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in Burma, established relationships with Ethnic Resistance Organizations, experience in conflict-affected environments, operational security capacity, and understanding of Burma's ethnic dynamics and peace process history. No mandatory cost share is specified, though cost-sharing when provided must be documented in accordance with 2 CFR 200.306 and comprise non-federal contributions excluding other U.S. Government or foreign government funding.

Program objectives focus on two integrated areas: strengthening coordination and information flows among Ethnic Resistance Organizations and state-level governance actors to position them as credible peace negotiators, and supporting Ethnic Resistance Organization governance bodies in expanding early warning systems to demonstrate community protection capacity and responsive governance. Illustrative activities include facilitating coordination forums and Track 1.5 dialogue mechanisms, supporting independent media through subgrants, providing digital security assistance, developing joint positioning strategies, and expanding proven early warning models in priority states including Rakhine, Sagaing, and Kachin. Proposals must clearly explain how activities focus exclusively on civilian governance functions and protection rather than military support and include vetting and monitoring procedures to prevent diversion to military purposes.

Applicants must submit SF-424 series forms, a 15-page proposal narrative, detailed line-item budget organized by OMB cost categories, budget narrative, project monitoring and evaluation plan with narrative and tracker components, key personnel descriptions (maximum two pages), and a timeline (maximum one page), all in English and U.S. dollars, single-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins. Indirect costs may be claimed through a current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or up to 15 percent of Modified Total Direct Costs. The opportunity is funded under CFDA 19.345, International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, with all applicants required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active SAM.gov registration prior to submission.