Open Call to implement the C5+1 Youth Council Program in Kyrgyzstan

Deadline: 16-Jun-23

The U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to implement the C5+1 Youth Council program to build leadership skills among English-speaking university students from Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Program Goal: Develop a regional network of civically engaged and English-speaking youth leaders across Central Asia who work to advance C5+1 priorities.

Program Objectives

• Increase understanding and knowledge of participants on U.S. foreign policy and C5+1 priorities in the region
• Increase connectivity between English-speaking Central Asian and Afghan students attending Central Asian universities
• Foster youth leadership by developing critical thinking and project management skills of program participants
• Develop and execute community-based projects led by program participants and C5+1 program alumni
• Increase collaboration between C5+1 YC alumni and English-speaking high school and university participants through mentorship opportunities

C5+1 YC programming of activities and events should align with the C5+1 agenda:

• Peace and security: Enhancing regional security cooperation, including by promoting best practices for regional approaches to countering violent extremism (CVE), and addressing media literacy, radicalization, and counter-messaging.
• Economic Growth: Increasing awareness and expertise in the areas of regional connectivity and trade, improving the business operating environment, bolstering private sector competitiveness, and supporting entrepreneurship and women’s economic empowerment.
• Energy and Environment: Increasing awareness about environmental issues in Central Asia and Afghanistan and promoting transition to, adoption, and scale-up of low emission and advanced energy solutions. Implementing environmental projects and initiatives.
• People-to-People Connections: Enhancing U.S.-Central Asian ties while upholding human rights and freedoms and promoting inclusive, sustainable development.

Funding Information

• Award Ceiling: $120,000
• Award Floor: $120,000.
• Length of performance period: 12 months

Participants and Audiences

• Key Audiences:
  • English speaking university students from Central Asian countries and Afghanistan
  • English speaking high school students from Central Asian countries and Afghanistan
  • C5+1 YC alumni working and studying in Central Asian countries and Afghanistan Secondary Audiences:
    • The implementing partner will help C5+1 Youth Council members engage the following groups (as relevant) when implementing their youth-led projects:
      • Media institutions, journalists, bloggers and other content creators in Central Asian countries
      • Experts in four sectors of common interest – security, economics, environmental challenges, and human rights.
      • Young representatives from government agencies of Central Asian countries
      • Civil society partners in Central Asian countries
      • Private companies in Central Asian countries
      • Central Asian governmental and non-governmental regional organizations and initiatives including Go Viral (a regional program focused on the creative economy), C5+ONE (a regional English program for professionals), and others.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Kyrgyz Republic-registered universities and educational institutions;
  • Kyrgyz Republic-registered not-for-profit civil society organizations (CSOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and associations, think tanks, and academic institutions;
  • U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGO), educational institutions partnering with Kyrgyz Republic-registered organizations;

For more information, visit Grants.gov.