Deadline: 23 January 2020
Through this Request for Applications (RFA), Eurasia Foundation’s (EF) U.S.-Russia Social Expertise Exchange (SEE) is seeking statements of interest from U.S. organizations to establish collaboration with Russian partner(s) in joint pursuit of solutions to social issues of importance to both countries.
Thematic Areas
Teams composed of at least one US and Russian organization or higher education institution are invited to propose innovative bilateral initiatives that will benefit both countries and address a common issue in one of the four following socially-oriented themes:
- Social inclusion
- Technology and innovation for social good
- Social entrepreneurship
- Youth engagement
Projects should avoid topics related to political activism or activity, or public policy reform.
EF will fund innovative ideas that leverage U.S.-Russian cooperation to implement unique solutions to pressing social problems in the thematic areas. Projects may request EF funding for projects that focus on various topics, including but not limited to increasing involvement of youth in the social sphere and cultivating their participation in international dialogue; increasing involvement of people with disabilities in social life, employment, and sports; and creating initiatives to encourage social entrepreneurship and technological innovation.
Funding Information
Project teams may request up to $43,000 in funding for a period of up to twelve months.
Eligibility Criteria
- Projects must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Projects must address one or more of SEE’s four thematic areas.
- Projects must include one U.S.-based partner and one Russia-based partner as implementing organizations. Lead partners may also include other organizations/individuals as additional implementers to assist with project activities as necessary.
- Project applications must be submitted by the U.S.-based partner on behalf of the partnership. EF will only disburse funds to the U.S. lead organization to manage on behalf of the partnership.
- Projects must achieve clear and measurable impact with equal or near-equal benefit to both the U.S. and Russia.
- Projects must impact at least 250 direct beneficiaries* in each country (500 total).
- Projects may not directly engage in political activism, public policy reform, or the influence of public opinion.
- Russian federal, regional, state, and local government bodies; government-funded social institutions (e.g. orphanages, nature preserves); as well as federal academic and research institutions are not eligible to serve as project partners (except for student groups, which may do so).
- While universities and other research institutions are eligible to apply, funded projects must expand beyond pure research. Projects falling outside the four thematic areas will also be considered for funding if the project will facilitate greater understanding of shared values in the U.S. and Russia. Applicants are encouraged to include innovative methodologies and technologies to accomplish program goals and collaboration between U.S. and Russian peers.
* “Direct beneficiaries” are identifiable individuals who receive measurable benefit from project activities (e.g. obtain new knowledge or skills by attending a training, gain access to new community resources generated or enhanced by the project, or increased understanding of an issue due to project outreach).
Travel Guidelines
Project teams that plan to integrate international travel into their projects should keep the following requirements in mind while planning their project activities:
- Due to significantly increased wait times for both U.S. and Russian visas, the project team should allot enough time for visa processing in advance of any international travel (at least 60 days in advance for travel to Russia and 90 days in advance for travel to the US). Project teams should begin planning international travel as soon as funding is awarded.
- The project team will be responsible for making all travel arrangements associated with the project (e.g. lodging, domestic and international transportation, interpretation services, per diem/living allowance, health insurance, visa services).
- All participants traveling internationally must take part in an EF online orientation before their departure from their home countries.
Criteria for Project Evaluation and Selection
The following criteria will be used to evaluate project applications:
- Extent of demonstrated need for the project among target groups;
- Clarity and impact of the project objective and activities;
- Relevance of proposed activities for achieving the project objective;
- Overall extent of project impact in the U.S. and Russia and on collaboration between the two countries;
- Potential for project sustainability beyond the proposed funding period;
- Capacity of lead organizations and other project team members to successfully implement the proposed project.
For more information, visit https://www.usrussiasocialexpertise.org/partnership-projects-post-2/