Deadline: 28 November 2016
The US-Russia Social Expertise Exchange (SEE) is currently seeking applications for its “Independent Professionals Project Initiative” for a diverse network of Russian and US professionals and entrepreneurs engaged in a meaningful exchange of ideas and best practices that lead to joint action and positive change in the social dimensions of both countries.
The SEE “Independent Professionals Project Initiative” establishes and strengthens partnerships between US and Russian experts and host organizations in their counterpart countries by means of collaborative projects that focus on one or more of SEE’s thematic areas.
Thematic Areas
Projects must address at least one of the socially-oriented thematic areas listed below. Projects may combine multiple thematic areas.
- Social support and protection of citizens (e.g., children, women or vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities or the elderly)
- Protection of flora and fauna and promotion of animal welfare
- Promotion of philanthropy and volunteerism
- Youth development, extracurricular and alternative education
- Public health and promotion of healthy lifestyles
- Preservation of national identities, cultures, languages and traditions of indigenous peoples
- Social and cultural adaptation and integration of migrants
- Medical and social rehabilitation and/or social and economic reintegration of persons engaged in the illicit use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances
- Promotion of economic and labor mobility
Funding Information
Successful independent professional candidates will receive up to $2,500, as proposed within their submitted budget, to implement their project across both countries.
Program Components
- Project teams are the new foundation of SEE, launched with the start of the 2015-2016 project competition. These teams are selected though an open competition that invites project groups-composed of Russian and US organizations — to create innovative bilateral initiatives.
- Invited Professionals — project teams may also nominate up to four “Invited Professionals,” who will travel to host organization(s) in the other country and will make distinct contributions to project implementation.
- Independent Professionals are individuals who support initiatives that establish new US-Russian partnerships or strengthen existing ones. These participants each develop and implement a socially-oriented project that produces a significant and measurable social benefit in both Russia and the US.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered eligible, candidates must:
- Be a citizen of the Russian Federation or the United States.
- Have a proven academic and/or professional track-record in the thematic area/s of interest.
- Demonstrate a general professional proficiency in both the English and Russian languages.
- Develop a project that is not politically motivated and does not include political activity, focus on public policy reform, or the changing of public opinion.
- Be primarily affiliated with organizations and/or institutions that work on issues within EF priority areas.
- Have not previously participated as an SEE Invited Professional, Independent Professional, and Special Exchange Participant or as an Emerging Professional or Advanced Practitioner Fellow.
- Be prepared to travel to the host country in early March – mid April, 2017.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
Eligible Countries: United States and Russia
For more information, please visit SEE.