IRF FY25 Nigeria Strengthening Capacity of the Legal Community

The U.S. Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for organizations to strengthen Nigeria's legal community in defending religious freedom. This open competition, with an award amount of $3,500,000, seeks projects lasting 24-48 months. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, public international organizations, institutions of higher education, and for-profit entities (with preference for non-profits). The program aims to improve access to justice for religious groups facing repression in Nigeria, which was designated a Country of Particular Concern due to severe religious freedom violations. Proposals must address how the program will support legal actors in defending religious freedom cases and engaging state actors, ensuring activities align with U.S. foreign policy goals and comply with anti-discrimination laws. Key application requirements include a proposal narrative, budget, logic model, monitoring and evaluation plan, risk analysis, and security plan. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration.

The U.S. Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for organizations to strengthen Nigeria's legal community in defending religious freedom. With an award amount of $3,500,000, the program aims to improve access to justice for religious groups facing repression, particularly Christians and Muslims, over a 24-48 month period. Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign non-profit organizations, public international organizations, institutions of higher education, and, in some cases, for-profit entities. Proposals must align with U.S. foreign policy goals and the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Key objectives include fostering strategic litigation, fair adjudication of religious freedom violations, and increased public demand for international religious freedom standards. Applicants need to demonstrate experience in hybrid legal systems and risk mitigation for culturally sensitive topics. Applications are due by July 9, 2026, and require detailed narratives, budgets, and operational plans.

The U.S. Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "IRF FY25 Nigeria Strengthening Capacity of the Legal Community." This open competition seeks applications from various organizations, including non-profits, international organizations, higher education institutions, and for-profit entities, for a grant or cooperative agreement worth $3,500,000. The program aims to support Nigeria's legal community in defending religious freedom and engaging state actors on violations, aligning with U.S. foreign policy goals. The anticipated program length is 24-48 months, with an application deadline of July 9, 2026. Eligibility requires a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and SAM.gov registration. Proposals must address program goals, objectives, and activities, demonstrating experience in hybrid legal systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and a deep understanding of security limitations. Applications will be reviewed based on the quality of the program idea, planning, institutional capacity, rights-based approach, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.