Deadline: 15-Apr-22
The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the BOLD Academic Fellowship Program.
The BOLD (Balkanski omladinski lideri, Young Balkan Leaders in English) network is a project of PDS that seeks to develop the leadership capacity of young Serbians by empowering them to implement projects for positive change in their communities in two thematic areas: civic engagement and economic development. Anyone age 18-35 in Serbia can join the BOLD network where members have access to three main types of competitive opportunities:
- BOLD Academic Fellowships: Two in-depth leadership training experiences in the United States for 5-6 weeks, one on each BOLD theme.
- BOLD Workshops: Two workshops, one week to 10 days long, on leadership and project management, each on one of the BOLD themes.
- BOLD Small Grant Competition: An annual competition, open to all BOLD members, for funds up to $15,000 to implement projects in the areas of the BOLD themes over the course of a year.
Program Objectives
- The BOLD Academic Fellowship Program consists of two fellowships to take place in the United States for 5-6 weeks each, one on the theme of civic engagement and one on the theme of economic development
- Applicants may propose implementation of either one of the fellowships, OR implementation of two fellowships. If the proposal is for one fellowship, please indicate in box “c” of the application form if the theme will be civic engagement or economic development
- Each fellowship should be both academic and practical in nature, approximately 5-6 weeks in length, and ideally include a residency at a U.S. academic institution with a significant component of experiential learning, including community service, in the community or in another location. Ideally, each institute should also incorporate a homestay experience as part of the program
- The primary outcome desired by PDS is for fellows, either individually or in groups, upon their return to Serbia, to design a civic or economic project to be implemented in their communities over the course of the year. By the end of the fellowship, they should have a complete draft of a project proposal or business plan, which will be competitive for funding from the Embassy or other donors
- The academic component in the United States should include group discussions, experiential learning activities, and exercises that focus on the best practices, leading research, and most influential ideas and models pertaining to the theme of the fellowship
- The experiential learning component should include substantive and participatory community activities related to the theme of the fellowship. Where possible, a particular focus on the impact of not-for-profit organizations and/or social enterprises should be integrated into the program
- Both components of each fellowship should teach leadership skills and provide the necessary knowledge and experience for students to implement their follow-on projects in Serbia, including, but not limited to teambuilding, collective problem-solving, effective communication, appreciation of diversity, and management skills.
Program Themes
Civic Engagement:
- This fellowship should introduce participants to the concept of civic engagement in the United States as a means of improving communities and the institutions and services of government and provide them with the skills to implement projects as civic leaders themselves. An understanding of civic engagement and the civil society sector and its development in the United States should be accompanied by the opportunity to apply the U.S. experience to the Serbian context.
Economic Development:
- This fellowship should provide participants with an overview of entrepreneurial approaches by introducing challenges and successes of U.S. entrepreneurial models, including social enterprises, the leadership role of businesses in democratic societies, and women’s economic empowerment. An understanding of the U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystem should be accompanied by a strong focus on how to apply lessons learned in the Serbian context.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: 12-24 months (including the evaluation period) Number of awards anticipated: 1-2 awards (dependent on capacity of applicant) Award amounts: If one award, up to $300,000; if two awards, each up to $150,000
- Total available funding: $300,000
- Type of Funding: FY21/22 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act
- Anticipated program start date: No sooner than July 1, 2022.
Participants and Audiences
- Participants or primary audiences for BOLD Academic Fellowships should be Serbian undergraduate students, age 18-25, from across Serbia. Each fellowship should consist of at least 10 participants traveling to the United States.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants Accredited U.S. universities (public or private), or non-profit educational foundations legally registered in the United States with the demonstrated capacity to fulfill the objectives outlined in this NOFO are eligible to apply.
For more information, visit https://rs.usembassy.gov/bold-academic-fellowships-program-2022/