U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Section FY 2022 Annual Program Statement (APS)

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BACKGROUND The United States condemns the Kremlin’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. We remain committed to imposing a severe economic and diplomatic cost on the Government of Russia as it pursues a war that threatens the foundations of global peace and stability. However, we do not hold the people of Russia responsible for P resident Putin’s war. While there is no equivalency with the atrocities being carried out by Russian forces in Ukraine, President Putin has also systematically ratcheted up repression inside Russia, shutting down independent media, restricting internet access, and punishing dissent with harsh prison terms. We recognize the terrible choices this presents for the Russian people who cannot make their voices heard. In these dire times, cutting off contact with all Russian people does not serve the long-term interests of the United States. To this end, the United States continues to pursue people-to-people exchanges and programs that welcome individual Russian students, scholars, and emerging civil society and business leaders to our academic institutions and our country to learn about the American people, values, and institutions. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Section (PAS) announces that funding is available through our Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This Annual Program Statement outlines our funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedure for submitting requests for funding. Applications for programs are accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline (July 15, 2022). This deadline is necessary to provide sufficient time to process and award programs before the end of our fiscal year on September 30, 2022. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Please use the grant application document and budget template found on our website. Purpose of APS Grants: PAS Moscow invites proposals for projects that strengthen ties and understanding between the American and Russian people through concrete demonstrations of cooperation between our two peoples. All grant proposals must convey an element of American history, culture, or shared values. Competitive proposals should support a priority program area (see below). Competitive proposals should also include a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s that will promote increased cooperation between the people of the United States and Russia even after the program has finished. Priority Programming Areas: · Media & Information : Projects that promote an understanding of freedom of the press, good journalistic practices, increased access to information, and improved media literacy for the Russian people; · Sharing America: Projects that promote an understanding of the American values of democracy, freedom of expression, and an open society, as well as proposals that increase the understanding of America’s diverse cultures and groups; · Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility: Projects that support women and minority rights and programs that provide skills and tools for people with disabilities; · Entrepreneurship & Innovation : Projects that promote an understanding of entrepreneurship, American business, workplace, and legal values, and increases the entrepreneurship skills of the Russian people; · One Planet: Projects that promote improvements, innovation, advancement, and collaboration in the areas of community and regional health, technology, and the environment, and energy. · English Language: Projects that support innovative, interactive teaching, and learning of the English language. Projects that support ongoing efforts of the Regional English Language Office will be especially welcome. The following types of projects are not eligible for funding: · Projects relating to partisan political activity; · Charitable or development activities; · Construction projects; · Projects that support specific religious activities; · Fundraising campaigns; · Lobbying for specific legislation or projects; · Competitions where the prize is the only outcome of the program; · Scientific research; or · Projects that duplicate existing projects. Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding: Funding authority rests primarily in Fulbright-Hayes or Smith-Mundt FY2022 Public Diplomacy funding.

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