Deadline: 22-Jul-22
The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs is seeking applications for its Building Leaders in Cuban Civil Society Program that will support the participation of cohorts of young emerging leaders from Cuban civil society in a professional development project, ideally for four to six months with an alumni follow-on component.
The project will include bringing two to three small cohorts of civil-society leaders and/or young professionals to a third country, for no longer than three weeks per cohort, for in-depth training in required skillsets for fostering grassroots civil society in Cuba as a means of developing the skills needed to build up Cuban democracy. Such skills may include, but are not limited to, communications for spreading democratic ideals, presenting democracy-building and human rights ideas to audiences, and starting or growing community-level organizations related to democracy-building.
Objectives
- WHA seeks project proposals that will develop the skills and abilities of a new generation of independent leaders to bolster Cubans’ abilities to develop independent civil society communities and express ideas regarding human rights and democracy to peers and those outside Cuba.
- This cadre of professionals will model effective leadership of civil society organizations that effectively advocate for public interests, promote community engagement, support diversity, and further democratic practices in Cuba.
- In order to fulfill this purpose and meet this goal, this project will build the professional capacity of 15-20 Cubans, ages 25-45, to advance community-focused causes related to human rights and democracy.
- The project will provide in-depth training and a skills-development project in Cuba (virtually and in-person, as deemed appropriate by implementer and WHA) and in a single third country for up to three cohorts.
- On island training will support participants before and following their third country training.
- The alumni follow-on component will provide additional networking and professional development opportunities for up to six months, or the end of the period of performance, following the training.
- At this time, no project activities should be planned to take place in the United States.
- Cohort activities will last no more than six months in duration, with activities outside of Cuba lasting no more than three weeks in duration.
- The alumni follow-on component will last up to six months following the training. Participants will learn to function professionally and effectively, communicate new ideas to diverse audiences, and learn training skills in order to conduct future training among their peers.
- Project proposals should outline processes to ensure that opportunities align with the specific thematic interests of applicants from a broad cross-section of civil society, such as journalists with a media outlet, political activists with party campaigns, community organizers with grassroots organizations, etc.
- Project proposals must be centered on furthering democracy and governance goals but may be customized to best suit the proposing organization’s project and participant age-group and must include the elements.
Goals
- The purpose of the WHA-supported Building Leaders in Cuban Civil Society Leaders project is to allow the participants to establish themselves in Cuba as professional resources for grassroots efforts in democracy and human rights promotion, and further open communications and coordination across the island and internationally.
- Project alumni will have the tools to promote causes by attracting wider audiences, communicating messages effectively to other leaders and partners, and mobilizing independent actors within civil society to promote freedom of expression and assembly.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $543,125
- Award Floor: $543,125
Participants
- Project participants will be Cuban citizens and residents who demonstrate an interest in communications, technology, and/or other leadership roles.
- As emerging leaders, participants may be young professionals.
- Participants must demonstrate a stated desire to work in the management of independent organizations and/or activities in Cuba.
- The implementing organization’s recruitment plan must actively seek a candidate pool representing gender, racial, socio-economic, and geographic diversity in Cuba.
Eligibility Criteria
- U.S. non-profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the U. S. tax code and U.S. institutions of higher education (public and private).
- Eligible applicants must provide proof of their 501(c) (3) eligibility status, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=341024
