Deadline: 30-Mar-21
The Community Engagement Office of the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad (hereinafter known as “CEO”) is pleased to announce an open competition for assistance awards, contingent on funding availability, through the Public Diplomacy Grants Program.
CEO is seeking proposals for innovative ways to change social discourse and reduce acceptance of extremist narratives and ideology. The proposals will aim at preventing and countering extremist narratives in Pakistan by promoting conflict resolution and peace building methodologies and fostering dialogues with a focus on engaging communities through influencers, women and religious leaders.
The Project Goal is to build community resilience to/against extremist ideologies perpetuating violence through community-based initiatives offering alternative narratives and opportunities to change the public discourse.
Project Objectives
Organizations may submit more than one proposal under this funding opportunity, projects that address one or more of the below objectives and/or sub-objectives are welcome. Each proposal will require its own application and should specify which project objective(s) the activities will support. Some project objectives below specify the issues or a range of issues that will be considered
- Capacity Building: Individuals and organizations involved in peace-building or ant violent extremist efforts, especially community influencers, women and religious leaders, will retain the skills, knowledge, and capacity necessary to take a stronger role in countering and preventing violent extremism. Project objectives may include:
- Enhance the role of credible community-based voices including local influencers, women and religious leaders;
- Amplifying the role of women in building secure, tolerant families and communities;
- Develop and strengthen critical thinking and peace-building skills to help build resilience against extremist rhetoric and recruiting;
- Promote local research and information-sharing on the drivers and the new trends of violent extremism in all its forms and on how to address them.
- Counter Narrative: Credible voices will offer positive, tolerant messages in reactive and proactive circumstances. Project objectives may include:
- Promote people-to-people engagements with leaders of influence, including religious, community, youth, and women leaders;
- Create and strengthen a network among Pakistani practitioners in the CVE space;
- Develop TV, radio, online, and social-media campaigns offering counter narrative;
- Build and strengthen a generation of CVE activists.
- Preventive Outreach: Vulnerable populations susceptible to recruitment into violent extremism will experience persuasive, positive alternatives to violent thought and action. Project objectives may include:
- Engage communities across dividing lines to strengthen ties and dissipate misconceptions within population sub-groups;
- Amplify and empower individuals (particularly youth and women) and local organizations in establishing secure, tolerant families and communities;
- Leverage intra-faith and interfaith leaders to encourage tolerance among sectarian and non-Muslim communities, and support peacebuilding, community engagement activities;
- Offer educational and experience-based programs to those at risk of recruitment into violent extremism.
Funding Information
- Anticipated Award Amount:
- The award floor is $200,000;
- The award ceiling is $300,000.
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000
Eligible Applicants
- Eligibility is open to international non-profit organizations. Organizations may sub-award or subcontract with other entities, but only one non-profit organization can be the prime recipient of the award. Pakistan government entities are not eligible to apply.
- For-profit entitles are not eligible to be the prime recipient of an award under this NOFO. When sub-awarding or sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. The applicants must submit proof of their non-profit status with their proposal submission (e.g. proof of 501(c) (3) status, Pakistan NGO license).
- Applications that do not include proof of non-profit status will not be considered for an award. Individuals are not eligible for an award under this NOFO. U.S.-based or registered organizations should provide proof of registration to operate in Pakistan or have a documented agreement with a partner organization registered to operate in Pakistan.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=331111