Deadline: 2-Aug-21
The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy to the Kyrgyz Republic is pleased to announce applications for Annual Program Statement for Public Affairs Cultural and Educational Programs.
Project Goals
PAS invites proposals for programs that support one of the following U.S. Embassy strategic goals:
Countering Violent Extremism and Security
- PAS Bishkek is seeking proposals that strengthen regional security and stability and combat transnational threats through engagement with diverse stakeholders advocating for greater cooperation in countering human trafficking and violent extremism. This goal can be advanced through the following lines of effort:
- Improve communication and coordination between civil society, local communities, and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to prevent radicalization and/or combat violent extremism;
- Develop skills that provide alternative opportunities to individuals who may be drawn to radicalization to increase in their economic and societal integration within their communities;
- Increase resilience of at-risk groups to the allure of extremist messages and recruitment attempts through messaging about the dangers of violent extremism;
- Encourage positive dialogue about methods for threat reduction;
- Increase in content that educates about the risks of recruitment; or
- Educate populations on human trafficking.
- Project Audience(s):
- At-risk groups that include young people with limited educational and employment opportunities and other marginalized groups that lack social cohesion;
- Local community members and influencers;
- Local and national government decision making officials;
- Civil society organizations working in such areas as conflict prevention and resolution, peace-building, and prevention of violent extremism, especially in the regions.
- Project Objectives:
- Support a minimum of 3 initiatives in the area of Countering Violent Extremism and Security during fiscal year 2021, including at least 1 youth-led and 1 based in a region;
- Expose to alternative opportunities a minimum of 500 beneficiaries during fiscal year 2021, including a minimum of 70% of them young people (14-28 years old);
- Train a minimum of 150 beneficiaries (content creators, influencers, mediators, and decision-makers), including 30 representatives of local/national government agencies.
Promoting Business and Free Markets
- PAS Bishkek is seeking proposals that strengthen entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives through reduction of barriers to economic participation, particularly among youth, women, and under-represented groups, as well as development of programs and tools for small and medium businesses.
- Project Audience(s):
- Young people (14-28 years old), women, and other under-represented groups;
- Small and medium business owners, entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, innovators, influencers and mentors;
- Business associations working on improving the business environment, consolidating advocacy efforts to improve the business environment, and promoting public-private partnerships (PPP);
- Civil society organizations (CSOs) working in such areas as women/youth empowerment and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.)
- Project Objectives:
- Support a minimum of 5 initiatives in the area of Promoting Business and Free Markets during fiscal year 2021, including at least 4 related to social entrepreneurship and/or promoting STEAM;
- Raise awareness of legal and regulatory aspects of doing business for a minimum of 500 beneficiaries during fiscal year 2021, including a minimum of 80% of them young people (aged14-28) and women;
- Improve the capacity of a minimum of 50 business association members to advocate for policy and programmatic solutions that increase economic participation, especially for women and youth. The solutions may include reforming discriminatory laws and practices that hinder access to capital, land tenure, property rights, finance, training, technology, markets, mentors, and networks;
- Train a minimum of 20 business owners on U.S. and international business standards. Support at least one project that facilitates partnerships/collaboration and/or networking among businesses to further develop their capacity.
Promoting Democracy and Stability
- PAS Bishkek is seeking proposals that support a more inclusive and accountable democracy in one of the following ways:
- Strengthen civil society and independent media organizations’ capacity through facilitating connections, relationships, and opportunities to collaborate;
- Educate citizens on rights and protections;
- Increase effectiveness of citizen oversight of political processes and government, regulations, budget processes, and activities;
- More effective collaboration between citizens and government bodies, resulting in improved policy formation, governance, and service delivery;
- Better access to civically-relevant information for Kyrgyz citizens through better quality and quantity of locally produced, locally relevant, and balanced media products.
- Project proposals may include the following or other innovative strategies to realize the goals given above:
- Peace-building programs that promote tolerance, leadership development, youth and women’s empowerment, diversity and inclusion. Such projects should strengthen ties between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic or on a regional basis between Central Asian countries;
- Arts, culture, and sports programs that deepen ties between the Kyrgyz Republic and the U.S. and improve understanding of U.S. culture and values;
- English-language programs that promote the use and spread of the English language to increase the professional level of government officials, educators, and civil society, including disadvantaged students, and to provide better access to English-language sources of information;
- Educational programs that focus on raising awareness and knowledge, training soft and professional skills;
- Media strengthening and information literacy programs that develop Kyrgyz-language media, fact-checking and research for journalists or media consumers, capitalize on social media use for greater transparency, and/or expand such programs to rural and remote areas of the Kyrgyz Republic;
- Improving quality of media content on such topics as democracy and freedom, human rights, rule of law, civic education and advocacy, and protection of the environment and how the U.S. promotes those values through USG-supported programs;capitalizing on social media use for greater transparency and/or expanding such programs to rural and remote areas of the Kyrgyz Republic;
- Expanding outreach to Kyrgyz-speaking audiences; or
- Innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment programsthat develop innovative ideas involving STEAM, space, social entrepreneurship, adaptive technologies, rural economic development, economic diversification, women’s empowerment, corporate social responsibility, access to finance, and support for entrepreneurs.
- Project Audience(s):
- Children, youth, and students of both public and private schools and universities, particularly in remote and rural areas;
- Minorities, disabled people, and other disadvantaged groups;
- Community leaders, decision makers, influencers, educators, innovators, particularly in remote and rural areas;
- Civil society organizations, and/or non-profit organizations.
- Project Objectives:
- Support a minimum of 7 initiatives in the area of Promoting Democracy and Stability during fiscal year 2021, including at least 3 youth-led and 2 based in a region;
- Expose to alternative opportunities a minimum of 1,000 beneficiaries during fiscal year 2021, including a minimum of 80% of them from disadvantaged groups (youth, women, minorities)
- Train a minimum of 500 beneficiaries (trainers, influencers, mediators, and decision-makers), including 50 representatives of local/national government agencies.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Project Funding: Up to 20 awards (Pending availability of funds)
- Estimated Award Ceiling: $120,000 (Pending availability of funds)
- Estimated Award Floor: $1000
- Length of Project Period: 6-12 months
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Kyrgyz Republic-registered:
- Not-for-profit organizations,
- Civil society/non-governmental organizations,
- Think tanks,
- Public and private educational institutions,
- Individuals,
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions; and,
- U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs), educational institutions, and individuals seeking funding to support cultural and/or educational programs in the Kyrgyz Republic and partnering with Kyrgyz Republic-registered organizations.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332556