Deadline: 28-Aug-2024
The U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Belgrade, announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project that will establish a network of researchers, analysts, business leaders, and/or journalists in the Western Balkans, who promote responsible trade and foreign direct investment.
This includes considerations for stewardship of the environment, development of human capital, advancement of long-term prosperity built on a market- and rule of law-based system, and engagement with Euro-Atlantic commercial and analytical partners. This network of diversified stakeholders will investigate the current effects of trade and FDI on economic growth in the six Western Balkan states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia), evaluate free trade agreements, promote Euro-Atlantic trade, and create mechanisms to maintain this network to promote economic reform that interests key stakeholders, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and academia.
Goals
- The first goal of this project is to establish a network of researchers, analysts, business leaders, and/or journalists in the Western Balkans, who promote Euro-Atlantic trade, responsible foreign direct investment, stewardship of the environment, development of human capital, long-term prosperity built on a market- and rule of law-based system, and engagement with Euro-Atlantic commercial and analytical partners. This network of diversified stakeholders will investigate the current effects of trade and FDI on economic growth in the six West Balkan states and promote Euro-Atlantic integration through a trade and investment forum as well as through public discourse.
- A second goal is to create mechanisms to maintain this network, which will promote economic reforms that interest key stakeholders, including the government of Serbia, the Serbian civil society and private sector, in addition to the Serbian academic society.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $500,000
- Award amount: $500,000
- Length of performance period: Up to 36 months
- Number of awards anticipated: 1
- Anticipated program start date: Your project should start no earlier than October 1, 2024, and no later than September 30, 2025.
Expected Results
- Illustrative examples of anticipated program outcomes include:
- Publicly accessible information on the current effect of free trade agreements and FDI on economic growth in the six West Balkan states. In particular, this should emphasize the positive impacts of Euro-Atlantic trade and investment in the Western Balkans,
- A significant trade and investment forum to promote Euro-Atlantic commercial relations with the Western Balkans,
- Greater public awareness of and expert attention to the environmental effects of FDI,
- Greater public awareness of and expert attention to FDI’s effects on human capital, for example the creation of jobs overall as well as the creation of high-level, high-wage employment in leadership and management positions of foreign-owned companies in the Western Balkans,
- Development and/or implementation of local, national, or European Union-led strategies to mitigate risks associated with existing FDI in infrastructure, mining, auto and battery production sectors. These risks might include the potential for exploitation of cheap labor and resources and the risk of cultural clashes and political instability.
Main Activities
- Illustrative examples of program activities include:
- Development of a public trade and FDI portal and creation of a mechanism to ensure it continues beyond the two-year program of the grant,
- Organizing and hosting a trade and investment forum in the Western Balkans and creation of a mechanism to ensure the forum has long-lasting spillover effects, commercial, political, and/or analytical,
- Articles and op-eds published in local languages and/or English discussing trade and FDI and emphasizing, when possible, the positive impact of Euro-Atlantic investment and trade,
- Roundtable discussions in covered countries, organized by local partners, to publicize findings and galvanize responses.
Priority Region
- Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia)
Eligibility Criteria
- The following entities, from one of the six Western Balkan countries or from the United States, are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks, business associations, universities, and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Individuals may not apply for this program.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.