Global Coalition Against Transnational Repression

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor is soliciting proposals for a global program designed to counter transnational repression by enhancing coordination and building capacity among partner governments, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations. Transnational repression refers to authoritarian regimes targeting dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders, and diaspora communities across borders through intimidation, harassment, or violence, threatening the safety and fundamental rights of individuals worldwide, including Americans. This initiative seeks innovative, scalable solutions that strengthen international collaboration to deter and respond to these abuses. The solicitation, identified as DFOP0019327, was posted on July 16, 2026, with a deadline for submissions on August 12, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET, and is open to organizations through Grants.gov and MyGrants. Proposals must be submitted in English with a 15-page narrative using 12-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced with one-inch margins, alongside required forms including SF-424A, SF-424B, a detailed budget, logic model, security plan, and letters of support. All non-individual applicants must hold an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov prior to submission. The program is anticipated to begin on September 30, 2026, with a performance period of 24 to 36 months, targeting implementation outside the United States in locations determined during pre-award negotiations. Proposals will be evaluated based on the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity and prior grant experience, program planning and likelihood of achieving objectives, budget reasonableness, monitoring and evaluation plan, and long-term sustainability. There are no assigned weights, but cost is used as a tiebreaker, favoring applicants with lower indirect cost rates. Special requirements include a detailed security plan addressing operational, digital, and cyber risks with provisions for political risk, kidnapping, and travel insurance; compliance with Trafficking in Persons regulations for awards over $500,000 conducted abroad; adherence to Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance policies prohibiting funding for abortion advocacy or programs promoting gender ideology contrary to biological sex; and full compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws if any activity occurs within the U.S. Recipients must also maintain a TIP compliance plan and submit annual certifications. Budgets must follow the provided template with MTDC calculations, and indirect