Deadline: 31-Jan-22
The U.S. Department of State Office of the Assistance Coordinator for Europe and Eurasia (EUR/ACE) has launched the ninth round of the Development Cooperation Partnership (DCP) to continue building U.S. foreign assistance partnerships with 11 partner donor governments in Central and Eastern Europe: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Through the DCP initiative, the United States builds partnerships with these partner donor countries by co-financing joint foreign assistance activities aimed at sharing the PDGs’ transition and EU integration experiences with Ukraine.
Objectives
EUR/ACE has identified the following priority objectives for DCP funding:
- Energy and Cyber Security: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider proposals that improve energy and cyber security in Ukraine. On energy, proposals could support Ukraine’s efforts to improve the legislative and regulatory environment for the energy sector and comply with EU and Energy Community requirements. Proposals could also enhance energy diversification by improving the ability of Ukraine to plan, implement, and sustain energy projects, including clean technology and renewable energy initiatives, and by increasing opportunities for Western investment. Cyber activities could include proposals to assist Ukraine to develop critical cybersecurity capacities within the public and private sector, promote public awareness of cybersecurity and cyber hygiene, strengthen detection and response mechanisms, or develop curricula for cybersecurity training.
- Access to Western Markets: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider proposals that increase integration with Western markets, establish a fair and transparent business environment, and increase opportunities for U.S. investment and trade. Proposals could include facilitating the implementation of relevant EU and international standards, improving the ease of doing business, or enhancing the ability of private sector companies to compete in Western markets and increase exports.
- Strengthening Resilience through Democratic Consolidation: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider proposals that build greater democratic resilience in Ukraine. This could include proposals to strengthen independent media and civil society organizations, combat disinformation, improve media literacy, bolster democratic institutions, and increase government transparency and accountability, including through e-governance capabilities and other efforts needed to narrow the space for corruption to occur.
- Tackling the Secondary Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Preparing for Future Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider allocating resources to projects that improve Ukraine’s medical response capacity; advise on how to manage economic and social impacts such as food insecurity and breakdown of the education system; address the increased risks of gender-based violence, the heavier burden of unpaid care and domestic work, and gender inequalities exacerbated by COVID-19; help livelihood recovery through technical assistance to the private sector; strengthen Ukraine’s preparedness and response capacities; attenuate the disproportionate impact on poor and vulnerable groups such as women, children, older persons, people with disabilities, migrants and ethnic minorities and promote resilience building measures with a focus on these groups; enhance the right to accurate information; assist Ukraine in granting fair access to safe, effective, and affordable tests, treatments, and vaccines against COVID-19.
- Financial Technology (Fintech): The U.S. Embassy’s Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider allocating resources to projects to help upgrade software and other modern technologies used by businesses that provide automated and improved financial services, to counter harmful Russian and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) efforts to gain influence in partner countries and in international organizations, and offset unfair economic practices. Projects could include upgrading crowdfunding platforms that allow internet and app users to send or receive money from others on the platform, blockchain and cryptocurrency exchanges, mobile payment apps, budgeting apps, and insurance.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $800,000
- Award Ceiling: $100,000
- Award Floor: $10,000
Participants and Audiences
A typical assistance activity will likely be a joint project, implemented with one donor partner in Ukraine, for which the U.S. cost share will be no more than 50 percent. No single U.S. contribution may exceed $100,000. Multiple PDG partners may contribute to the same activities, and implementing organizations may include government entities, research institutions, and/or nongovernmental organizations. Most DCP activities will likely entail co-financing new projects. U.S. Embassy Kyiv, however, may consider other means of collaboration, such as co-financing existing U.S. or PDG assistance activities or enhancing ongoing U.S. assistance activities by facilitating the participation of PDG officials or PDG-identified experts. Selected activities should include a significant amount of content from institutions, advisors or other sources of knowledge in the PDG countries in order to meet the DCP objective of fostering the transfer of transition experience to the beneficiary country. There is no limitation on the number of proposals submitted from one organization.
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions, research institutions
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337246