Access Alumni program to support Civic Engagement projects in Eastern Ukraine

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A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to implement the 2021-2022 English Access Alumni Program to support Civic Engagement projects in eastern Ukraine. The program seeks to encourage alumni networking, professional development, and civic involvement by supporting alumni-initiated projects that support civil society involvement in Ukraine’s reform efforts, encourage tolerance and integration of marginalized or displaced populations, and celebrate the strong links between the people of the United States and the people of Ukraine. Please follow all instructions below. Program Objectives: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) invites Ukrainian not-for-profit, nongovernmental organizations to apply for funding to support Access Alumni Civic Engagement Program in communities of south-east Ukraine affected by ongoing war conflict including Bakhmut, Lysychansk, Mariupol, Slovyansk, and Severodonetsk. The program will focus on developing the civic engagement skills of 50 bright Access alumni who will engage in various community service initiatives aimed at providing free English language training and promoting American culture and values to economically disadvantaged youth in “orange security zone” of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. After school events and activities will include hands-on learning and participation in community service projects: 1) Providing peer-to-peer training as well as educational assistance to young people of economically disadvantaged backgrounds in “orange zone” who have limited access to educational services. With a guidance and supervision from experienced civic society activists and Access teachers, the alumni will be able to provide English language training and share other skills, such as computer skills, and other educational assistance. 2) Assisted by experienced civic activists and tutors, further develop as skilled and active citizens. The acquired leadership and civic engagement skills will enable the Access alumni to further develop practices of leadership, responsibility, understanding, mentorship, and teamwork that will have a positive effect on the economic and professional development of their communities in Eastern Ukraine. 3) Organizing a final national weekend event in Kyiv to showcase the project outcomes. For all in-person events, applying organizations must explain in detail how they plan to enforce COVID-19 mitigation measures in accordance with Ukrainian laws and regulations. Applying organizations must also have plans in place to adjust as needed should the COVID-19 situation worsen. Proposal Eligibility Requirements: Proposals may be submitted by Ukrainian or U.S. based not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations. Basis for award of the grant: The grantee should be an established institution or a non-governmental organization (NGO) with at least 3 years of experience in administering educational programs, preferably to the target age group. The grantee must identify the location(s) and venue(s) that will be used for this program (verified with a document/preliminary agreement). Organizations with previous experience and a capacity of working with educational institutions on a national level will be given priority. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental Organizations. Note: For-profit and commercial entities are ineligible. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing is strongly recommended and will be considered favorably during the review process. The Grants Review Committee will assign more points to applicants who offer cost sharing. This solicitation requires applying organizations to demonstrate that they already have or have the capacity to establish partnerships with public and private sector organizations other than the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Department of State in implementing this program. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. For complete details please go to: https://ua.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/151/NOFO-FY21-Access-Alumni-Civic-Engagement-program.pdf

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