Call for proposals: Small Grants Program (Kyrgyzstan)

Deadline: 1-Apr-25

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announces a call for proposals and invites non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the Kyrgyz Republic to submit applications for the implementation of small grants projects.

The call for proposals for small grants projects is being held within the framework of the UNDP-UNESCO project  “Strengthening National Capacities for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding: Constructive Engagement of Civil Society in Building Trust and Social Cohesion”  (hereinafter referred to as the Project), funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

The goal of the project is to strengthen both vertical trust and horizontal cohesion by increasing the level of social dialogue between the state and civil society. The beneficiaries of the project are the Public Advisory Councils (hereinafter referred to as PACs) in seven target settlements. The PACs were created in 2013 in response to violent conflicts in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions within the framework of the previous National Concept for Strengthening National Unity and Interethnic Harmony for 2013–2017. These public advisory councils on interethnic relations and social cohesion under district state administrations, mayoralties of cities of republican and regional significance were created and exist in 23 districts with a multiethnic population and operate under the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy.

The objective of the project is to review the existing network of community advisory councils to expand their scope of work beyond interethnic relations and empower them to work to improve cohesion across a variety of other areas of social division. The plan is to empower the CACs to engage various civil society actors and the media, central and local governments in dialogue and joint action to address community needs, grievances and priorities.

Purpose

• Supporting NGOs, youth and women’s organizations working in various areas of social cohesion, including civic identity, access to justice, human rights, the rule of law, mediation and other areas.
• Supporting media NGOs, journalists, local bloggers and other media community representatives involved in promoting social cohesion and constructive public dialogue.

Objectives 

• The main objectives of small grants projects:
  • Promoting social cohesion initiatives;
  • Assistance to local authorities and/or Public Advisory Councils on Interethnic Issues and Social Cohesion, the aforementioned pilots, in the implementation of activities aimed at strengthening trust;
• Additional objectives of small grants projects:
  • Assistance in strengthening coordination and interaction between civil society representatives
  • Promoting the building of inclusive communities (participation of all community representatives);
  • Assistance in improving the provision of state and municipal services, including legal services
  • Improving environmental protection
  • Improving access to economic resources
  • Women’s participation in decision-making;
  • Planning of the PSER;
  • Implementation of the PSER;
  • Prevention of gender-based violence at the local level;
  • Implementation of the Concept of Development of Civil Identity of Kyrgyz Republic;
  • Implementation of the concept in the religious sphere;
  • Implementation of the concept of youth policy;
  • Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security;
  • Prevention of extremism;
  • Creative industry.

Funding Information

• Within a project, a single individual grant agreement may be up to $20,000, and a grant agreement for coalitions may not exceed $50,000, including a number of interrelated initiatives/activities. Administrative costs must not exceed 20% of the total project budget.
  • Lot 1:
    • Target audience: Organizations created in 2024-2025 with a focus on peacebuilding and work in the project’s target locations.
    • Grant Amount: Not more than US$10,000.
    • Requirements:
      • The organization must be registered in 2024-2025.
      • Activities should be aimed at supporting social cohesion, peacebuilding, etc.
  • Lot 2:
    • Target audience: NGOs with at least two years of experience.
    • Grant Amount: Not more than US$20,000.
    • Requirements:
      • Minimum 2 years of work with officially confirmed experience.
      • Implementation of at least two events on the topics of peacebuilding, social cohesion, conflict resolution.
  • Lot 3:
    • Target audience: Consortia of organizations.
    • Grant Amount: Up to US$50,000.
    • Requirements:
      • Experience of each organization (Minimum 2 years)
      • Implementation of at least 4 activities on the topic of peacebuilding, social cohesion or conflict resolution.
      • The consortium must present a plan for joint work [5] and document the ability to coordinate among participants.
• Implementation period : 
  • The implementation period is from 2 to 6 months from the date of signing the grant agreement. The results must be demonstrated no later than September 2025.

Who can apply?

• Participation in this competition is open to all civil society institutions (associations, foundations, research centers, etc.) on an equal basis, created and registered on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.
• NGOs, including youth and women’s organizations, working on various aspects of social cohesion and peacebuilding;
• Media-OGOs, unions uniting journalists and local bloggers.
• Requirements for NGOs:
• Availability of legal documents of the organization (state registration with the Ministry of Justice);
• NGOs registered in pilot communities or having experience working in these communities;
• Experience in implementing relevant activities in the above-mentioned areas (at least two activities over the last 3 years for grants over US$10,000, experience is not required only for organizations created specifically to implement the work of the OKS in the project pilots.

For more information, visit UNDP.