The British Embassy in Costa Rica is inviting bids from non-profit civil society organizations for small-scale projects up to US$10,000, aiming to use public data to advance human rights and environmental protection.
Running from October 2025 to March 2026, these initiatives emphasize innovative data use, inclusion of marginalized groups, and sustainability beyond the funding period.
Empowering Costa Rican NGOs
The British Embassy’s initiative targets Costa Rican NGOs with a proven track record in public data use, civic technology, or human rights advocacy.
By promoting transparency and data literacy, these projects aim to address pressing environmental and human rights challenges. The administrative costs are capped at 10% of the total budget, ensuring that most funds directly support project activities.
Project Requirements
All proposals must be received by 11.59pm on 28 September 2025 (Central America time). Late proposals will not be considered.
- proposals must be submitted in English using the relevant Project Proposal Form and Activity Based Budget templates (provided below)
- proposals must be submitted to Denise.Lewis@fcdo.gov.uk with the subject line “Call for bids: Open Data project – Organisation name – Project Title” and include a point of contact in the body of the email
- successful bidders will be notified by 3 October 2025
Global Significance
This initiative underscores the UK’s commitment to supporting transparency and human rights globally. It can influence UK-based professionals working in international development and environmental consultancy.
UK businesses collaborating with Costa Rican partners may benefit from enhanced governance and accountability through improved data-driven practices.
Potential Benefits for UK Stakeholders
- Inspiration for similar domestic projects enhancing civic engagement.
- Improved access to reliable data supporting human rights causes.
- Paving the way for future UK policies integrating equity with governance.
Sustainability Challenges
The short implementation window and limited budget pose challenges for long-term impact. While these projects aim for sustainability beyond initial funding, potential risks include insufficient local capacity or political resistance.
The UK may need to consider follow-up funding or regional coordination to maximize benefits and ensure systemic changes rather than isolated efforts.
Additional Reading
To Sum Up
This initiative by the British Embassy in Costa Rica highlights a strategic approach towards fostering open government practices in Latin America.
By emphasizing values-based partnerships post-Brexit, it reinforces diplomatic ties while promoting sustainable development goals globally. Monitoring these projects’ outcomes will be crucial in assessing their long-term impact on both local communities and international relations.
Sources: UK Government, and Open Government Partnership.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News™, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
