Deadline: 9 May 2020
The U.S. Consulate General, Public Affairs Section in Hyderabad is soliciting proposals for its project entitled “United States and India: A Joint Vision for the Indo-Pacific.
This current funding opportunity seeks to bring together stakeholders from government, the private sector, think tanks, and academia (including key participants from the December 2019 events) for a day-and-a-half long conference with the objective of generating productive dialogue around the theme The Indo-Pacific: Advancing a Shared Vision.” A strong U.S.-India partnership is vital to the United States’ Indo-Pacific vision.
This vision and approach in the Indo-Pacific region aligns closely with India’s Act East Policy which seeks to create a “free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific” by securing the Indian Ocean, integrating with Southeast Asia, deepening strategic partnerships with regional powers (including the United States, Japan and Australia), and managing differences with other strategic players in the region.
The proposed conference will present speakers who can informatively highlight issues related to U.S. and Indian approaches to the Indo-Pacific, shared goals, and also areas where the two countries have divergent opinions. The conference would also underline the role played by other nations with a stake in the region, including countries like Japan and Australia, which along with India and the United States make up the “Quad.”
The project will build relationships among key stakeholders involved in Indo-Pacific discussions, highlighting the current debates and issues in the Indo-Pacific region and ensuring they can be addressed through sustained, action-oriented dialogue.
Project Objectives
- Establish closer and deeper working relationships among Indo-pacific partner countries, leveraging post-conference interviews with key participants, citing specific examples;
- Secure extensive coverage in both local and international print and electronic media focused on the U.S.-India engagement in the Indo-Pacific, and U.S. and Indian partnership with other countries in the region; particularly regional-language media coverage is important.
- Build a favorable opinion of U.S. foreign policy engagements and shared goals within the region.
Project Deliverables
- Bring together approximately (100) participants in a 1.5-day conference.
- At least 30 news stories across regional media, with a focus on regional languages, influencing a broadcast audience of 15 to 20 million viewers.
- State-level ministers engaged and scheduled for follow-up dialogue with both U.S. Mission teams and other U.S. organizations on practical ways to demonstrably advance projects that support U.S.-India economic and security ties.
- Follow-on events and meetings between leading and influential Indian defense business networks and U.S. Mission teams as well as U.S. organizations, both academic and business, to advocate for regulatory policies that support U.S. interests, economic openness in India, and U.S.-India security collaboration.
- State-level officials are informed and capably convey the viewpoint in the region that national policy in India should support enhanced U.S.-India economic and security collaboration, including defense industry partnership.
Project Audience
Senior government officials representing countries that have a stake in the Indo-Pacific region, media, academics, and think tanks from across the Indo-Pacific Region.
Funding Information
- Minimum (“Floor”) Award Amount: $50,000
- Maximum (“Ceiling”) Award Amount: $55,000
Note: Applicants are not required to pursue all project objectives and deliverables. What specific subject matter expertise does applicant possess, and which objectives and deliverables are they therefore best suited to pursue?
The Public Affairs Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated grants officer.
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education;
- Civil society/non-governmental organizations;
- Think tanks;
- Public and private educational institutions;
- Individuals;
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions.
This award does not allow:
- Programs relating to partisan political activity;
- Charitable or development activities;
- Construction programs;
- Programs that support specific religious activities;
- Fund-raising campaigns;
- Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
- Scientific research or surveys;
- Commercial projects;
- Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
- Programs that duplicate existing programs; or
- Illegal activities.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=325274