U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan seeking Applications for Alumni Outreach Grants

Deadline: 1 August 2020

The U.S. Embassy Tashkent Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce funding is available through the Embassy’s Alumni Grants program.

Grant Priority Areas

Funding is available for projects that address the priority areas below and focus on Public Affairs’ key audiences, including: civil society organizations, entrepreneurs/innovators, US exchange alumni journalists, women, and youth (14-25 years old).

Grant proposals should address one or more of these Public Affairs priority areas:

Strengthening Civic Education and Civil Society;
Supporting Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment;
Supporting Increased Transparency, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law;
Fostering a Strong and Independent Media
Protecting the Environment;
Supporting Educational Reforms.

Funding Information

Floor of Individual Award Amounts: $1,000 for Alumni Grants;
Ceiling of Individual Award Amounts: $15,000 for Alumni Grants;
Anticipated period of performance: 6-12 months.

Theme

Uzbekistan is going through a period of profound change and civil society organizations will be key to helping the government achieve its reform program. Embassy Tashkent supports effective programs that empower civil society, reform governance, and advance human rights.

Program Activities

Activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to:

Profit-generating projects;
Scholarships to support educational opportunities or study for individuals;
Paying to complete activities begun with other funds;
Financial support for fundraising or fund development projects;
Projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to an Individual or single party in electoral campaigns;
Political party and lobbying activities;
Projects that support specific religious activities; and,
Microloans/microfinance projects, distribution of seed money for enterprises, and legal/land rights-focused programs are not allowable

Eligibility Criteria

The U.S. Embassy Tashkent Public Affairs Section encourages applications from citizens of Uzbekistan who are alumni of USG exchange programs under the Alumni Grants program.
Prior experience in completing grant projects is encouraged, but not required. This experience should be documented in the applicant’s proposal.

Review and Selection Process

Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea should be well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.
Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points:
- The applicant has expertise in the subject area and demonstrates the ability to perform the proposed activities.
- The applicant demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management.
- Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations.
- Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate.
Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.
Budget – 10 points: The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.
Monitoring and Evaluation – 15 points: The Monitoring and Evaluation component of the proposal should outline in detail how the proposal’s activities will advance the program’s goals and objectives. A strong proposal will include the following:
- Any outputs and outcomes the grantee expects to occur because of their program. Outputs are direct actions or products that result from program activities, such as articles written, films shown, items produced, people trained, etc. Outcomes are program results such as: change in knowledge, awareness, and attitudes; improved quality of services; increased capacity at a school, group; etc.
- How the grantee will know those outputs and outcomes are occurring (surveys, interviews, observations, success stories, etc.). For example: If the program expects that a teacher-training program will improve the skills of a teacher, a proposal may explain the skills the teacher would gain and plan to perform a preand post-survey that would show a change in understanding as a result of the program. The proposal may also include a plan to collect teacher’s stories regarding how program participation effected them.
- A schedule of when grant activities will occur (such as participant selection, workshops, travel, lectures, trainings, etc.) and when the grantee will check the grant’s progress to know how it is performing. Results of those checks should be reported in the quarterly reports.
- A plan to include the grantee’s reflection of how their program, as a whole, contributed to the program’s goals and objectives. As applicable, a strong final report would be supported by qualitative information such as success stories, behaviors changed, lessons learned, and results obtained.
Sustainability – 10 points: Project activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the project.