American Center of U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh: Public Diplomacy Grants Program

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Ritu Saini, www2.fundsforngos.org

Deadline: 31 August 2017

The American Center of U.S. Embassy Dhaka is seeking applications for its Public Diplomacy Grants Program to promote U.S.-Bangladesh ties, strengthen democratic and inclusive societies, increase educational and economic opportunity for citizens, and improve access to accurate information.

Federal Assistance Awards, hereafter referred to as grants, under this notice are intended for local representatives of civil society, including U.S. or overseas-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private institutions of post-secondary and higher education.

Priority Areas

• Promote democratic values, good governance, civil society engagement, and peaceful political processes:
  • The American Center solicits proposals for:
    • Programs that aim to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to influence the government, and promote good governance.
    • Programs that initiate dialogue and create greater accountability and transparency in public institutions.
    • Projects that build partnerships and coordination among civil society organizations, and develop public-awareness and advocacy campaigns.
• Strengthen respect for human rights and inclusive societies (promote tolerance and pluralism):
  • Proposals are solicited that aim to:
    • Strengthen the work of human rights organizations.
    • Teach increased respect for differences and diversity.
    • Increase fairness, equal opportunity and access across all spectrum of society.
• Counter violent extremism:
  • Proposals are solicited that aim to counter violent extremism through:
    • Engaging community leaders of all ages to promote non-violent activism and build community resilience.
    • Strengthening youth engagement in the public arena to create awareness of vulnerability towards radicalization.
    • Building capacity for prevention and resolution of conflict through non-violent approaches and action frameworks.
• Pursue gender equality and women empowerment, and combat gender based violence:
  • Proposals will be considered that advocate for and promote gender equality, woman empowerment and combat gender based violence through projects that:
    • Minimize gender disparities in access to resources and opportunities in the economic, social, political and cultural context.
    • Involve awareness campaigns that reduce gender based violence and mitigate its harmful effects on individuals and communities.
    • Focus on increasing awareness of rights and building the capacity of young girls and women to realize their rights that in due course will influence decision making in households, communities, and societies.
• Increase U.S.-Bangladesh educational linkages, English language learning, higher education administration:
  • The American Center will consider project proposals that:
    • Support and expand linkages between Bangladesh and U.S. academic/educational institutions; promote and enable academic cooperation, curriculum development, and resource exchange.
    • Promote education sector reform and strengthen relationships between the respective stakeholders in the education sector.
    • Implement academic programs that provide increased and improved English language learning for marginalized groups.
• Cultural and artistic approaches to address any of the above priorities.

Funding Information

• Individual Award Floor: $5,000
• Individual Award Ceiling: $25,000

Eligibility Criteria

• The American Center encourages applications from non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, foundations, trusts, community-based organizations and educational institutions that have legal standing in Bangladesh and the appropriate registrations as per the local regulatory requirements.
• Commercial firms and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply for this funding opportunity.
• The applicant may propose to share the cost of the project but these costs must reflect the realistic capacity of the applicant’s contribution.
• If the applicant proposes cost sharing in their proposal, the recipient must provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the recipient’s budget approved by the Grants Officer.
• Cost share is not mandatory and will not be considered as a factor during merit review of applications.
• In addition, applicant organizations must have an organizational bank account for financial transactions and all transactions pertaining to an award granted will happen through Electronic Fund Transfer.

How to Apply

Proposals should be submitted via email at the address given on the website.

Eligible Country: Bangladesh

For more information, please visit Public Diplomacy Grants Program.