Deadline: 31 August 2020
The U.S. Embassy Belgrade has announced an open competition for individuals and organizations to submit applications to carry out grant projects in support of English Language Program in Serbia.
In light of social distancing and restrictions imposed to stop the spread of COVID-10, the U.S. Embassy welcomes creative proposals that utilize video conferencing, distance learning tools, etc.
Program Objectives
The U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section (PAS) has set aside funds for English Language Program Grants designated to help the citizens of Serbia strengthen their system of education, promote entrepreneurship and economic development, increase civic engagement, promote regional cooperation and stability, and make progress toward Serbia’s accession into the European Union. Grant projects take any number of forms, including English language camps, conferences, workshops, courses, hackathons, online projects, or other activities.
Program Themes
The following list represents the project themes that will receive preferential treatment during the English Language Program Grants committee’s review of submitted proposals. However, proposals covering other topics will naturally be considered.
- Improving English Language Instruction within Serbia. For example, through projects which:
- support development and improvement of English language teaching at all levels (K-12 and university), as well as English for Specific Purposes (ESP), i.e., for people in certain professions or areas of interest;
- model, disseminate information on, and enable access to current/innovative trends, methodologies, tools, and technologies in English language instruction, including those that assist with distance learning;
- establish or strengthen connections between U.S. and Serbian and/or Serbian and regional (Western Balkan) teaching professionals and institutions;
- Supporting Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
- Helping Serbian Citizens get Jobs, promoting Economic Development. For example, through projects which:
- help Serbian citizens develop English language skills in order to find jobs. Beneficiaries may include economically disadvantaged students and adults, residents of rural communities, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and members of other vulnerable populations;
- support entrepreneurship and innovation, including in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics);
- assist cultural and historical sites attract more English-speaking visitors and thereby promote local tourism and economic development;
- Making progress towards EU Accession. For example, through projects which:
- assist Serbian officials and civil servants improve the English language skills needed to accelerate progress toward EU integration;
- help Serbian society and the citizens of Serbia make progress toward EU accession in the areas of human rights protection, media freedom, environmental issues, rule of law, combating corruption, etc.
- Promoting Regional Cooperation and Stability. For example, through projects which use English to:
- promote mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect among peoples of the Western Balkans;
- identify joint approaches to solving problems or challenges facing the Western Balkan region;
- support the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade;
- expand and strengthen ties of Serbian professional societies and civil society organizations with their English-speaking counterparts abroad, especially in the Balkan region;
- Highliting U.S- Serbian Connections. For example, through projects which inform and educate audiences in Serbia about historical and cultural ties, common attitudes and values, cooperation in different sectors (economic, political, security, health, science), the intersection of national interests, etc.
- Strengthening Critical Thinking and Media Literacy Skills.
Funding Information
- Award amounts: May range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $30,000
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $ 170,000
- Anticipated program start date: June 1, 2020 or later
Funding Restrictions
You CANNOT apply for a grant from the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade if:
- your project involves partisan political activity;
- your project involves giving charitable activity and humanitarian aid;
- your project is a fundraising campaign;
- your project is commercial in nature.
Project Participants/Audiences:
The participants or audiences for the proposed activity:
- should be citizens or legal residents of Serbia, though if the project has a regional focus, a number of participants might come from neighboring countries, too;
- may fall into any level of English language fluency, from beginner to fluent speaker;
- may be students (high school or university);
- may belong to any profession (not only English language instructors).
Eligibility Criteria
The following Serbian and American entities are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit civil society organizations/non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and think tanks
- Public or private educational institutions
- Governmental institutions
- Individuals if they have a demonstrated capacity to carry out the proposed activities in the application
Evaluation Criteria
- Quality of the project proposal. The proposal is well-developed, innovative, and offers a creative approach and/or solutions to deal with the stated problem or challenge, focused on specific audiences or participants, with sufficient details that spell out what the project activities are and how they will be carried out, with clear milestones provided. Appropriate partners, if applicable, will take part in the activity. (40 points)
- Capacity. The individual or organization submitting this application—and, if applicable, any partner organization—has the qualifications, skills, talent, and demonstrated ability to achieve the goals and objectives laid out in the proposal. (15 points)
- Clarity of Outcomes and Objectives. The project has a clearly identified, S.M.A.R.T. objectives, with a good approach to measure impact on target audiences. Once again, S.M.A.R.T. stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. (15 points)
- Budget.The figures, narrative, and justification are complete and reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget accounts for all necessary expenses and the justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable and realistic in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. (10 points)
- Measuring the Impact. The proposal outlines in sufficient detail how success, impact, or progress will be measured with a plan (even a basic one) on how to evaluate impact upon conclusion of the grant activity. (10 points.)
- Sustainability/Multiplier Effect: The proposal includes a discussion of the follow-on impact of the funded activity even after the end of the program through the multiplier effect or through expected follow-on activities by the applicant and/or partners and/or participants/audience. (10 points)
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=326538
