OpportunityTitle: U.S. Embassy Belgrade - Serbian-American Cooperation Grants (FY2023)
CategoryExplanation: Program Themes: The Embassy seeks applications focusing on the themes below.  We have included ideas about what your project could do, but we welcome creative approaches and activities.    &#8226; Fighting Brain Drain: Through Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and/or Tourism Promotion.   o Leveraging Serbia&#8217;s historic and cultural sites, including past beneficiaries of Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grants, and/or its natural treasures (e.g., parks, rivers, mountains, farmlands, vineyards, etc.) to attract more tourists and promote local economic development.   o Promotion of entrepreneurship, innovation, the study of STEM subjects (science, technology, environment, and math), and business development skills, including activities focused specifically on women, youth, minorities, members of other disadvantaged groups, and/or underserved communities, particularly in smaller towns and in rural areas.   o Protection of intellectual property rights to help entrepreneurs, inventors, and artists generate income through their ideas, innovations, inventions, and works.   o Practical, helpful, and realistic strategies and approaches to assist Serbian businesses and communities to recover economically in the post-coronavirus period.     &#8226; Equal Opportunity for People With Disabilities (PWDs): Inclusion and Advocacy in Education, Workforce, Civic Participation, and Social Interaction.   o Generation of broader awareness and discussion about the challenges faced by the disabled community by publicizing activities and successes of the disabled community in Serbia; showcasing best practices of NGOs, government offices, schools, institutions, and unions; or drawing lessons from the U.S. struggle to expand the rights of PWDs that can be adapted and applied in Serbia.  o Advocating for greater PWD access to opportunities in education, employment, sports, civic engagement, public policy debates, culture, and other fields including teachers and schools who provide quality instruction to children with learning disabilities; and communities that minimize or remove physical barriers to PWDs and provide easier access for the deaf/hard of hearing and the blind/visually impaired.     &#8226; Human Rights. PDS welcomes projects focused on women&#8217;s rights and on promoting equality for ethnic and religious minorities, the LGBTQI community, refugees and migrants, and other disadvantaged or vulnerable populations.     &#8226; Serbian-American Ties. PDS we
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Businesses and other for-profit organization may not apply for funding under this NOFO. The following entities, from Serbia or from the United States, are eligible to apply: &#8226; Not-for-profit organizations, including educational and cultural institutions, civil society organizations or non-governmental organizations, think tanks, professional associations, media outlets, etc.&#8226; Governmental institutions. &#8226; Individual citizens, including alumni of U.S. Government (USG) exchange programs, who have a demonstrated capacity or proven track record to carry out the proposed activities.In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations (not individuals) must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 in the full text of the NOFO for more information. Please also see the SAM registration instructions in the Related Documents tab and on the Embassy&#8217;s website:  https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/.To be eligible for consideration, every Serbia-based applicant organization must be registered in the territory of the Republic of Serbia with the Agencija za privredne registre (APR), or a relevant court.
Description: The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade announces an open competition for individuals and organizations to submit applications for the Serbian-American Cooperation Grants Program. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region: Serbia Program Objectives: PDS welcomes proposals from non-government organizations, governmental institutions and individuals to administer creative, engaging projects that strengthen the Serbian-U.S. relationship and explain U.S. culture, society, values, and policies to Serbian audiences. The Embassy is also working with Serbia&#8217;s government, civil society, business community, and other partners on promoting economic development and fighting brain drain; strengthening democracy, including through supporting civic participation, encouraging a free press and human rights, and advancing regional stability and cooperation. Projects funded through this NOFO must include an American element. That could involve a connection or partnership between Serbian and American organizations or institutions; inviting an American expert to take part, in person or virtually, in your project; hosting a program to examine shared Serbian-American values, national interests, etc.; or incorporating a U.S. approach or method for addressing a challenge facing your community, institution, or profession. Grant activities may take the form of academic competitions, summer camps (focused on language study, sports, etc.), cross-border exchanges, conferences, workshops, courses, curriculum development, exhibits, hackathons or app development, online projects, mock trials or moot court competitions, simulations and role-playing activities (e.g., Model Congress, Model United Nations), film or theater festivals, performances, or other activities. Projects should begin no earlier than 1 July 2023 and no later than 1 July 2024. All activities and your evaluation or assessment of the project should be completed within 12 months, but up to 18 months in exceptional circumstances. Activities should focus on audiences in Serbia. However, applicants may include participants or partners from neighboring countries of the Western Balkans, if it is in support of the project&#8217;s objectives. (See &#8220;Participants and Audiences&#8221; below.) In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, proposals should demonstrate how the program advances equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. The proposal should also demonstrate how the program will further engagement in underserved communities and with individuals from underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and underserved communities will enhance the program&#8217;s goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants. Grantees are expected to: publicize your activities, including through social media and/or traditional press outlets; and highlight U.S. Embassy support, with our logo included on project-related materials. Participants and Audiences: The goals and objectives of the project will determine the audience. PDS is seeking to support projects that strategically target audiences that will have the greatest impact and can work for the most positive change in communities in Serbia. In addition to primary audiences (e.g., teachers) projects may also have secondary audiences or beneficiaries (such as students who will benefit from the teachers&#8217; training). Please note that the participants or audiences for the proposed activity should be citizens or legal residents of Serbia. If your project idea might involve citizens of other countries, please see C.4. in the full text of the NOFO in the Related Documents tab and on the Embassy&#8217;s website: https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/ , to understand restrictions on funding. Submission Dates and Times: Applications are due no later than April 1, 2023. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates: PDS anticipates that final funding decisions will be made by May 15, 2023. Requesting the Application Package: Required Application forms are available in the Related Documents tab and at https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/. How to Apply: All application materials must be submitted by email to belgradepdsgrants@state.gov. If PDS does not receive a complete project proposal at the above address by the deadline, it will be considered technically ineligible and will not be considered for funding. If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: belgradepdsgrants@state.gov. For detailed information please see the full text of the Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Related Documents tab and on the Embassy&#8217;s website: https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/. If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: belgradepdsgrants@state.gov. Information Session. PDS will hold a virtual information session on February 14, 2023, at 16:00 (4 pm) Central European time to discuss this funding opportunity and to answer questions from potential applicants. Please contact PDS at belgradepdsgrants@state.gov for details. Please check for information on other PDS funding opportunities on the U.S. Embassy website at: https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: belgradepdsgrants@state.gov
GrantorContactText: Phone: 381-11-706-4263