Deadline: 24-Apr-23
The U.S. Embassy Tashkent Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce a request for Statements of Interest (SOI) for projects that strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Uzbekistan through art, culture, sport, and women’s empowerment programs.
Priority Program Areas
- Arts, culture, and sports
- The United States and Uzbekistan both have rich cultural traditions in the visual arts, literature and storytelling, theater and performing arts, film, music, dance, sport, and education. Educational and cultural activities are a great way to engage the public, especially at-risk youth, to bridge cultures, deepen cultural ties and understanding, and discuss topics of mutual importance. The U.S. Embassy is interested in supporting art, education, sports, and cultural projects that promote local cultural heritage, traditional and modern art forms, and other forms of creative expression and that have a connection to American culture or are informed by American expertise. These programs may support civil society organizations, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, or emerging leaders in these fields. A previous example of successful arts programming includes the visit of an American musical duo to Uzbekistan in 2022. The visit provided an opportunity to share American culture and create exciting new partnerships and connections within the country.
Project Goal: Deepen ties between Uzbekistan and the United States by improving understanding of U.S. culture and shared values.
Project Objectives (Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives):
- Increase exposure to and understanding of United States through educational and cultural programming focused by highlighting mutual values between the U.S. and Uzbekistan
- Establish formal or informal partnerships between U.S. and Uzbekistani artists/musicians/dancers/directors/organizations/sport representatives to collaborate on issues that support:
- freedom of expression,
- women’s empowerment,
- cultural, religious tolerance,
- diversity and inclusion, and/or
- youth engagement/empowerment.
- Increase capacity of Uzbekistani artists/musicians/dancers/directors/organizations/sports representatives to create publicly accessible and engaging content in support of:
- freedom of expression,
- women’s empowerment,
- cultural, religious tolerance,
- diversity and inclusion, and/or
- youth engagement/empowerment.
- Increase awareness and understanding of the value of cultural heritage preservation in Uzbekistan.
- Increase awareness of the history of U.S.-Uzbekistan bilateral relations, through cultural projects
Women’s Empowerment
- The United States and Uzbekistan view women’s empowerment as an area of strategic focus—both governments approved national gender strategies in 2021. The U.S. government believes that gender equity and equality are not only a matter of human rights and fairness, but also: critical to promoting inclusive economic growth; advancing peace, security, and the prevention and resolution of conflicts; combatting gender-based violence; and addressing global challenges more effectively such as the climate crisis, forced displacement, the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting economic and social disruptions.
Project Goal: Increase social and economic empowerment of women in Uzbekistan through skills building, training and mentorship support, and sports activities.
Project Audiences (any of the following):
- Women in rural or underserved communities
- Aspiring female entrepreneurs
- Women in creative industries, including artists, musicians, dancers, and filmmakers, through training on business and/or career development
- Women and girls with disabilities
Project Objectives (Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives):
- Increase the vocational capacity of women through training and mentorship programs focused on building hard and soft skills to support female workforce participation.
- Increase business and technical skills of aspiring female entrepreneurs in creative industries to increase employability, launch and/or improve their own business.
- Strengthen leadership skills, increase self-confidence, and challenge gender norms among women and girls by increasing inclusivity in sports, especially for those with disabilities, through organized sport events.
Funding Information
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $15,000.
- Length of performance period: up to 12 months
Eligibility Criteria
- The following not-for-profit organizations and individuals are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit Uzbekistani and U.S. organizations
- Civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Think tanks
- Public and private not-for-profit educational institutions
- Individuals.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.