Deadline: 8 June 2020
U.S. Consulate General Karachi is seeking proposals to encourage tolerance, peace building, and critical thinking, and strengthen cross-border linkages between Pakistan and India through an academic curriculum based on shared culture, arts, and/or history.
The U.S. Mission to Pakistan is committed to promoting constructive engagement on regional security and peace between Pakistan and India. The neighboring countries share deep cultural and historical ties yet there is deep and widespread mistrust between the two populations. Building off of the United States’ longstanding relationship with both countries, they seek to promote peace between the two countries by promoting youth to critically think through analysis of culture, arts, and/or history from each country’s perspective to form a sense of shared identity and develop understanding for a prosperous future for both countries.
Project Goals
U.S Mission to Pakistan seeks proposals that further the development of critical thinking within the youth of Pakistan and India. Over the period of 12 months, the grantee will use culture, arts, and/or history of the partition and onwards as a tool for engagement. The training or engagement will help the participating youth foster critical thinking by presenting them with culture, arts, and/or history from both of the countries perspectives, allowing them to analyze the facts, tackle biasness, and have a more holistic approach towards a shared identity. Overall, the program should develop the skill of critical analysis in the participants to promote critical thought in different facets of their lives. To accomplish this goal, the project includes two core objectives:
- Increase participant’s understanding of Pakistan and India’s shared culture, arts, and history and ability to identify areas of mutual cooperation in the future.
- Develop two reading, activity, and/or instructional manuals – one for participants and one for group leaders or instructors on how to facilitate the process for participants.
Project Objectives
- As part of the funding, the grantee should develop a culture, arts, and/or history course that is specifically tailored for youth.
- The course should consist of culture, arts, and/or history as it is told from the Pakistani and Indian perspective, from the time of partition and onwards. It should also showcase the role the U.S. played in the development of both countries following Independence.
- The training should be conducted in Sindh as well as a specific part in India, with virtual interaction between the participants from both countries. The virtual interaction would facilitate the development of the course as well as to help participants develop an understanding of each other, building tolerance.
- Ultimately, the project will promote critical thinking, counter extremism, and build tolerance in both countries. Studies have shown a link between binary thinking and susceptibility to extremist ideologies, and the ability to analyze a sensitive issue with nuance and critical thought is applicable to broader issues of stability and responsible citizenship.
Funding Information
Proposals have a funding floor of $25,000 and a funding ceiling of $50,000.
Duration
All award activities should be completed within 12 months of the award start date.
Participants and Audiences
For purposes of this grant, “participants” are defined as citizens of Pakistan and India. The target audience is youth both male and female, specifically school students between the ages of 14-23 from Pakistan and India. The trainings can take place in schools, local community centers, and/or any space the organization deems fit for youth to actively participate.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility is open to international and Pakistan-based non-profit organizations.
- Organizations may sub-award or sub-contract 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 entities 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=326510