Africa Regional Democracy Fund
Active
- Assistance listing
- 19.225
- Agency
-
Department of State
- Grant awards
- 175 $30,576,647 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Africa Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF)
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 19-7210-3-7-002
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of State Bureau of African Affairs funds the Africa Regional Democracy Fund (CFDA 19.225) to support democratic processes, civil and political rights, and anti-corruption reform across sub-Saharan Africa, with 175 awards totaling $30.6 million federal dollars obligated since October 2019 and the most recent grant award dated November 1, 2024.
Award activity has accelerated substantially: the program distributed 12 awards in 2020, 32 in 2021, 40 in 2022, 41 in 2023, and 46 in 2024, reflecting growing demand and institutional capacity. The funding mix is predominantly Project Grants (94 percent of awards) with a smaller complement of Cooperative Agreements (6 percent). The Department of State Bureau of African Affairs is the sole funding agency across the portfolio, concentrating all 175 awards and $30.6 million in federal obligations.
Awarded projects target concrete democracy and governance outcomes across African nations. Recent grants include $200 thousand for strengthening responses to counter human trafficking and protect trafficking victims in Equatorial Guinea (award date November 1, 2024); $400 thousand to support LGBTQI+ civil societies in Ghana to mitigate human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (October 1, 2024); and $608.1 thousand for training magistrates, judges, and lawyers in Sierra Leone to improve human rights and create a legal map for better law understanding and use (September 30, 2024). Other active grants fund civic engagement platforms in Mali, capacity building for Lesotho correctional services on human rights standards, women and youth political participation in Congo, and electoral transparency initiatives across the region. Notably, several grants posted in late September and October 2024 have been terminated in alignment with executive orders, indicating recent policy shifts affecting program continuity.
Grant opportunities remain active through individual U.S. Embassies. Open or recently closed solicitations include the Africa Regional Democracy Fund posted by U.S. Embassy Lome (due August 28, 2024) seeking proposals to promote inclusive civic engagement and strengthen democratic institutions in Togo; a call by U.S. Embassy Maseru (due August 16, 2024) for human rights training and a dedicated human rights unit within Lesotho Correctional Services; and U.S. Embassy Kinshasa (due August 11, 2024) seeking projects targeting youth and women as emerging political leaders through mentorship, entrepreneurial capacity building, and centers of learning. Award ceiling varies by opportunity; the Gambia solicitation specified up to $500 thousand. Applicants must be nonprofits, NGOs, or higher education institutions where specified; eligibility constraints vary by post.
Objective and description
- Objective
This program supports democratic processes and promotes strong democratic norms including the advancement of civil and political rights, freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and access to information, and support the fair and impart
- Description
This program supports bilateral, mission-led programs to strengthen legislative functions and processes, particularly oversight capacity; institute key anti-corruption reforms; advance important consensus-building processes, such as peaceful dialogue among opposing political factions; build government and civil society capacity and civic education in support of electoral processes; and increase awareness of and advocacy regarding human rights, including freedom of expression and association.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
See www.grants.gov for individual notice of funding opportunities and eligibility requirements.
- Uses of assistance
See www.grants.gov for individual notice of funding opportunities.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Up to five years
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
See www.grants.gov for individual notice of funding opportunities for selection criteria
- Award procedure
See www.grants.gov for individual notice of funding opportunities for information about procedures for individual opportunities.
Grant opportunities
Show all 37
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 175 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unicef | $5,740,000 | 19% |
| 2 | Institute For Security Studies | $3,250,000 | 11% |
| 3 | International Republican Institute | $1,081,181 | 4% |
| 4 | International Labor Organization | $800,000 | 3% |
| 5 | Social Watch Benin | $674,105 | 2% |
| 6 | Riveiro Consulting S.l. | $608,100 | 2% |
| 7 | American Bar Association | $600,000 | 2% |
7 of 78 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$1,916,831 |
| FY2025 | -$642,838 |
| FY2024 | $7,568,847 |
| FY2023 | $13,534,289 |
| FY2022 | $4,784,881 |
| FY2021 | $4,479,036 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 19.225?
Assistance Listing 19.225 is Africa Regional Democracy Fund, a federal grant program run by Department of State.
What is the CFDA number for Africa Regional Democracy Fund?
Its CFDA number is 19.225: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 19.225 awarded?
175 grant awards under 19.225 have obligated $30,576,647 in federal funds to 78 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 19.225?
The recipients obligated the most under Africa Regional Democracy Fund are Unicef ($5,740,000), Institute For Security Studies ($3,250,000) and International Republican Institute ($1,081,181).
How much did 19.225 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 19.225 obligated -$642,838 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 19.225?
No opportunity listed under 19.225 is open now. The latest, Africa Regional Democracy Fund, was posted on July 29, 2024.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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