Human Rights and Democracy Fund

The Human Rights Democracy Fund (HRDF) "is the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor's flagship program, used to fulfill the bureau’s mandate of monitoring and promoting human rights and democracy worldwide. HRDF programs are designed to promote democracy and human rights and acts as the Department’s venture capital for democracy. Since Congress established it in FY 1998, the Human Rights and Democracy Fund has allowed the U.S. to respond rapidly and decisively to democratization and human rights crises and deficits...

"DRL funding has grown from $7.82 million in FY 1998 to over $317 million in FY 2007 (DRL administered estimate). The vast majority of DRL programs are awarded through an open, merit-based competition. DRL finds such open competitions yield innovative ideas from a variety of partners who bring, among other things, invaluable country- and region-specific experience."

Projects Funded

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 * Elizabeth Dugan