Call for Proposals under the Joint UN Regional Programme “Dialogue for the Future” in BiH, Montenegro, and Serbia

Deadline: 9 February 2020

The Joint UN Regional Programme “Dialogue for the Future: Promoting Dialogue and Social Cohesion in and between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia” is implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, and UNESCO, with the support of the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

Themes

Youth capacity building: That may include developing skills such as critical thinking, non-violent conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, empathy, tolerance, self-confidence, battling stereotypes; promoting positive role models and values; development of youth services, supporting youth for personal and professional development, contributing to greater employability.
Improving media and information literacy, and media reporting: That may include programmes for acquiring media and information literacy skills, strengthening media for objective and ethical reporting, increasing promotion of positive values and examples contributing to social cohesion; promotion of solidarity, empathy, respect for diversity, common good
Improving dialogue and action for common good: That may include promoting the dialogue of all stakeholders in society on important social topics and addressing common challenges, including inter-generational dialogue, advocating needs of marginalized groups, improvement of two-way communication between citizens and decision-makers, empowering citizens, and especially young people, to participate constructively in dialogue and decision-making, awareness raising on the importance of activism, information dissemination on opportunities for participation and activism, volunteering and cooperation of different age and social groups in socially beneficial activities, raising citizens’ awareness of the process of public policy making, decision-making, competences, rights and obligations of the administration, and the rights and obligations of citizens
Strengthening education system to achieve social cohesion: That may include programs for acquiring values, attitudes and skills needed for social cohesion, especially through civic education, media literacy, socio-emotional skills such as empathy, collaboration, tolerance, communication, intercultural understanding, acceptance of all forms of diversity in society, and other life skills such as are critical thinking, leadership, digital competencies, entrepreneurship, gender equality, etc; capacity building of teachers and support and promotion of positive examples; improving the quality of education and alignment with the requirements and trends of the 21^st century, both in terms of educational content and outcomes, and in terms of working methods
Improving gender equality: That may include programs concerning representation of women in decision-making positions, fighting gender-based stereotypes and discrimination.
Promoting cultural diversity and inter-cultural understanding: That may include programs of youth connectivity and exchange, work on joint creation of cultural and artistic content, promoting social cohesion.
Environmental protection: That may include raising awareness and knowledge in all sectors of sustainable development, environmental protection, natural resources and climate change; teaching about sustainable development through formal and non-formal education; promoting positive initiatives and behaviour models and raising awareness on the consequences of irresponsible behaviour.

Budget Information

The value of the funds earmarked for civil society organizations, public institutions and local governments is as follows:

Financial threshold I – from USD 30,000 to 40,000
- With 15% co-financing of the total amount of the grant (financial or in-kind contribution or a combination of the two).
Financial threshold II – from USD 20,000 to 30,000
- With 10% co-financing of the total amount of the grant (financial or in-kind contribution or a combination of the two).
Financial threshold III – from USD 10,000 to 20,000
- No co-financing required.

Project Duration and Implementation Period

Project duration may be between four (4) to seven (7) months from the date of signing the contract.
Project must be completed in the period from 1 April to 1 November 2020.
An application for a contract extension may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Eligibility Criteria

Lead Applicant (Applicant)
- Participation in this Public Call is open on equal grounds to:
  - Public institutions, primary and secondary schools, faculties, cultural institutions, research institutes, tourism and development organizations of local governments (municipalities/cities),
  - Civil society organizations – CSOs (foundations and non-profit organizations, registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia).
- Projects are submitted in the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia.
Partners
- Project partner may include another institution or civil society organization from one or the other two countries in the project. Partner organization/institution implements part of the project activities in the country in which it operates, and therefore implements part of the project’s funding.
- Partnerships can be of different types; that is, between different CSOs, and between CSOs and public institutions. The Lead Applicant must be clearly defined. The Lead Applicant must sign a contract or partnership agreement with partner institutions/organizations. Project proposal must clearly state the responsibility of the applicant and that of the partner in the implementation of project activities, and the project budget must clearly state the amount of funds to be implemented by the partner organization.
Associates
- Associates are those organizations and institutions contributing to the implementation of project activities, but which are not subject to the transfer of a part of the project funds for the implementation of project activities disbursed through this Public Call, that is, are not responsible for the implementation of project activities. In case associates’ engagement is necessary, their role should be clearly explained in the project proposal.