Available Grant

WRI solicits expressions of interest for the research and writing of an informative Memorandum on “Freedom of association & assembly – creating an adequate space for NGOs to operate (NGO)”.  The format and content for the memorandum is given below and would be 10-15 pages long to be completed by August 2008.  

The purpose of this information memorandum is to research global knowledge and to inform practitioners who form an access community of practice. The access community of practice will be fostered and perpetuated through the new TAI website to be launched soon.  The information memorandum will be uploaded to the new website for public use.

This research and writing assignment will be facilitated through an individual research contract.  The total all inclusive remuneration offered for researching and writing the memorandum is 3000/= US$. 

Those interested in researching and writing this memorandum, please send your CV and a writing sample to access@wri.org before April 15, 2008.

Content of Information Memorandum

Freedom of association & assembly – creating an adequate space for NGOs to operate (NGO): Freedom of association and assembly are basic rights for NGOs to operate in a country. These rights are guaranteed in the UDHR and enshrined in the Constitutions of many countries. But, in practice, the legal, political, social and cultural space available for NGOs to operate effectively and freely is much more limited. Limitations are introduced through laws that seek to control NGO activities and funding. Limitations are also introduced through political cultures where registration or incorporation will only be granted to NGOs that the Government sees as “safe”. In some cultures, women cannot join or work in an NGO and in still others NGO employees are placed lower on the social ladder. This memo will (a) identify minimum conditions necessary for NGOs to operate freely and effectively in a country (b) document good practices that support these minimum conditions (c) document barriers to establishing and nurturing these conditions and (d) through success stories, provide strategies for how access practitioners have overcome such barriers.

Timeframe

Initial drafts will be due in May/June and final document by the end August 2008. Memo should be 10-15 pages long (English) and should inform access practitioners.

Format

Format for Informative Memo For Access Law & Practice Community of Practice

1. Introduction: Briefly state the main questions that the memo is addressing. Set out the main recommendations (responses) to the questions. Provide a guidance to the way in which the memo unfolds (a road-map).

2. Background: Give a brief background (including history, if relevant) to the issues – adequate to set the stage for the memo.

3. Respond to each of the questions raised in order (a) providing substantive information (including success stories/failures) (b) analyzing the information (positives/negatives)(c) providing conclusions and recommendations.

4. Provide a summary of conclusions pulling together the main findings and recommendations.

5. Provide references and citations according to the Chicago manual on citations. Provide web URLs where possible. Keep the language simple for non-English speakers and use short sentences.

6. Each info memo will be dated and given a version identifier. This is because such memos may be updated from time to time to keep the information current and useful to practitioners.