Deadline: 14 June 2020
The US-Russia Social Expertise Exchange (SEE) has announced the request for proposals for its 2020-2021 project competition.
Through this Request for Applications (RFA), Eurasia Foundation’s (EF) U.S.-Russia Social Expertise Exchange (SEE) invites statements of interest from U.S. organizations seeking to establish collaboration with Russian partner(s) in joint pursuit of solutions to social issues of importance to both countries.
Themes
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
Funding Information
- Projects may request EF funding of up to $43,000 for a period of up to twelve months 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Projects must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Projects must address one or more of SEE’s four thematic areas (Social Inclusion, Technology and Innovation for Social Good, Social Entrepreneurship, and Youth Engagement).
- 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.
Project Activities
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.
Evaluation Criteria
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/