Culture of Research and Content Design Exchanges program

Description

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Public Diplomacy section of the Embassy of the United States in Harare announces an open competition for United States entities who combine research and content design to further public education. We anticipate funding approximately one grant in the following subject and research areas: 1) Theory of Design to shape civic discourse and 2) application of credible research methods (focus groups and analytics) to adapt and fine tune content for impact. Proposals must incorporate both focus areas. We seek proposals that build the research capacity of faculty and students at Zimbabwean academic institutions and Zimbabweans content creatives to cultivate partnerships between these institutions and their U.S. counterparts. Proposals should be submitted to PublicDiplomacyGrants-ZIM@state.gov by July 30, 2021. This program will focus on building cultures of research at Zimbabwean universities and establishing research methods that translate into artistic content creation that bolsters social contracts and civic engagement; building or expanding research capacity that influences better content design; connecting Zimbabweans with their U.S. counterparts and catalyzing partnerships. This program supports the U.S. Department of State’s Public Diplomacy efforts to deliver strategic content that strengthens social fabric and democratic principals. Theory of Change: If universities in Zimbabwe increase their ability to collaborate and improve their research capacity and artists engaged in shaping public discourse understand how to use research to improve their content design, then Zimbabwe and U.S. counterparts will be better position to contribute to national development strategies in Zimbabwe. Key Deliverables: The 18-month exchange program seeks to accomplish the program’s goals through the completion of the following deliverables: 1. Online Capacity-Building sessions on research methodologies, grant applications and compliance for Zimbabwean university faculty and staff (approximately 25). Additional topics could include (but not limited to) market-based research, private-sector integrations, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, important characteristics of a productive research environment and building up under-graduate student research capacities. Proposals should include a wide range of topics that focus on how to foster a culture of research, including: · Value and importance of a culture research designs and methods to generate more rigorous evidence and the use of that evidence to inform the design of interventions, program and policies that go beyond. · Share techniques on how to conduct research the positive deviance approach to organize social change in areas such as public health, education, human rights, poverty alleviation, sustainable development, civic participation, democracy and governance, and corporate citizenship. · Entertainment-education strategy to alleviate a social issue or educate the public through a custom-tailored piece of entertainment. Designing content defined by research methodologies for various levels of media to communicate social and behavior change. The "impact issue" usually comes first; the characters and story are built around the issue; and impact issues are woven into or extracted out of an existing narrative. · Modeling liberating interactional structures to design content that overcomes limiting behaviors and patterns in thinking and interacting, and provides tools for a community in their decision making through engaging, energizing, and fun practices. · Other key areas that support this effort. 2. Professional Networking Activities that support new collaborations that link together research methods for public education and the creative design community. 3. Launch of “model” public education campaign that brings to life the research to strategic content design process in order to foster positive civil engagement and strengthen social fabric by encouraging collaboration over conflict when dealing with difficult issues. Program Participants and Beneficiaries In partnership with the Public Diplomacy section at the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe, the program will target up to 25 Zimbabwean researchers and artistic content creators to collaboratively design a campaign that aims to strengthen social fabric and reinforce civil society. Recruitment and selection will be jointly conducted by the grantee and the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe. In consultation with the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe, the number of participants in each program component may change depending on local conditions and budget considerations. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: up to 18 months Number of awards anticipated: 1 award Award amounts: approximately US$ 100,000.00 Total available funding: approximately US$ 100,000 Type of Funding: Public Diplomacy Funds – Smith Mundt Anticipated program start date: September 15, 2021 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement. The target audience and beneficiaries will be identified in collaboration with the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 18 months or less.

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