Annual Program Statement for Public Affairs Cultural and Educational Programs (“Public Diplomacy Grants Program”)

Description

1) Priority Program Area One: Combating Transnational Threats PAS is seeking proposals that strengthen regional security and stability and combat transnational threats through engagement with diverse, targeted stakeholders on key issues like violent extremism, human trafficking, and emergency preparedness, incorporating American informational, educational, or cultural resources. This goal could be advanced through lines of effort such as to: ● Improve communication and coordination between civil society, local communities, and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to prevent radicalization and/or combat violent extremism; ● Develop skills that provide alternative opportunities to individuals who may be drawn to radicalization to increase in their economic and societal integration within their communities; ● Increase resilience of at-risk groups to the allure of extremist messages and recruitment attempts through messaging about the dangers of violent extremism; ● Raise awareness among vulnerable populations on human trafficking; ● Increase societal resilience to public health concerns, including by promoting the importance of COVID-19 vaccination; or ● Foster dialogue among key stakeholders, including civil society, about preparedness for climate change related challenges. Project Objectives (Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives. While these numbers are suggestions, grantees may select different targets as they see fit). Objectives during fiscal year 2022 may include: ● Support a minimum of 3 initiatives in the area of Combating Transnational Threats, including at least one youth-led and one based in a region other than Chui; ● Expose to alternative opportunities a minimum of 500 beneficiaries, including a minimum of 70% young people (14-28 years old); ● Train a minimum of 150 beneficiaries (content creators, influencers, mediators, and decision-makers), including 30 representatives of local/national government agencies, on C/PVE messaging; ● Support a minimum of one initiative that informs vulnerable populations in different regions on human trafficking; ● Support a minimum of one initiative addressing public health concerns, including the importance of COVID-19 vaccination; or ● Train a minimum of 10 representatives of key stakeholders, including civil society, about preparedness for climate change-related challenges. 2) Priority Program Area Two Sustainable Economic Growth PAS is seeking proposals that build inclusive economic prosperity upon regional connectivity and sustainable solutions to human capital, energy, and environmental challenges, using American informational, educational, or cultural resources. This goal could be advanced through lines of effort such as to: · Reduce barriers to economic participation, particularly among youth, women, and underserved groups; · Develop programs and tools for small and medium businesses; or · Build support for sustainable natural resource management and/or adoption of cleaner energy sources and technologies. Project proposals may include the following or other innovative strategies to realize the goals given above: ● English-language programs that promote the use and spread of the English language to increase the professional level of government officials, educators, and civil society, including disadvantaged students, and to provide better access to English-language sources of information and U.S. subject matter experts; ● Educational programs that focus on training soft and professional skills with a focus on IT technology sector skills; ● Convening key stakeholders to support sustainable natural resource management and adoption of cleaner energy sources and technologies; ● Expanding outreach on these themes to Kyrgyz-speaking audiences; or ● Innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment programs that develop innovative ideas involving STEAM, space, social entrepreneurship, adaptive technologies, rural economic development, economic diversification, women’s empowerment, corporate social responsibility, access to finance, and support for entrepreneurs. Project Objectives (Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives. While these numbers are suggestions, grantees may select different targets as they see fit). Objectives during fiscal year 2022 may include: ● Support a minimum of 5 initiatives in the area of Sustainable Economic Growth including at least 4 related to social entrepreneurship and/or promoting STEAM and/or sustainable natural resource management and/or adoption of cleaner energy sources and technologies; ● Raise awareness of legal and regulatory aspects of doing business for a minimum of 500 beneficiaries , including a minimum of 80% of them young people (aged 14-28) and women, especially Kyrgyz-speaking audiences; ● Improve the capacity of a minimum of 50 business association members to advocate for policy and programmatic solutions that increase economic participation, especially for women and youth. The solutions may include reforming discriminatory laws and practices that hinder access to capital, land tenure, property rights, finance, training, technology, markets, mentors, and networks; ● Train a minimum of 20 business owners on U.S. and international business standards and how to export locally sourced products to the U.S. using internationally known e-commerce platforms; ● Support at least one project that facilitates partnerships/collaboration and/or networking among businesses to further develop their capacity; ● Support a minimum one initiative that focus on improving English language as well as soft skills for government officials, educators, and civil society, including underserved students. 3) Priority Program Area Three: Accountable Governance and Stability PAS is seeking proposals that advance more accountable, inclusive governance underpinning a stable Kyrgyz Republic, using American informational, educational, or cultural resources. This goal could be advanced through lines of effort such as to: ● Strengthen civil society and independent media organizations’ capacity through facilitating connections, relationships, and opportunities to collaborate; ● Educate citizens on rights and protections, contributing to a culture of respect for rule of law and reduced corruption; ● Increase effectiveness of citizen oversight of political processes and government, regulations, budget processes, and activities; ● More effective collaboration between citizens and government bodies, resulting in improved policy formation, governance, and service delivery; ● Better access to civically-relevant information for Kyrgyz citizens through better quality and quantity of locally produced, locally relevant, and balanced media products. Project proposals may include the following or other innovative strategies to realize the goals given above: ● Peace-building programs that promote tolerance, leadership development, youth and women’s empowerment, and diversity and inclusion. Such projects should strengthen ties between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic or on a regional basis between Central Asian countries; ● Arts, culture, and sports programs that deepen ties between the Kyrgyz Republic and the U.S. and improve understanding of U.S. culture and values; ● Media strengthening and information literacy programs that develop Kyrgyz-language media, fact-checking and research for journalists or media consumers, capitalize on social media use for greater transparency, and/or expand such programs to rural and remote areas of the Kyrgyz Republic; ● Improving quality of media content on such topics as democracy and freedom, human rights, rule of law, civic education and advocacy, and protection of the environment and how the U.S. promotes those values through USG-supported programs; capitalizing on social media use for greater transparency and/or expanding such programs to rural areas of the Kyrgyz Republic; or ● Expanding outreach on these themes to Kyrgyz-speaking audiences. Project Objectives: (Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives. While these numbers are suggestions, grantees may select different targets as they see fit). Objectives during fiscal year 2022 may include: ● Support a minimum of 5 initiatives in the area of Accountable Governance and Stability, including at least three youth-led and two based in a rural areas; ● Expose to alternative opportunities a minimum of 300 beneficiaries, including a minimum of 80% from underserved groups (youth, women, minorities); ● Train a minimum of 200 beneficiaries (trainers, influencers, mediators, and decision-makers), including 30 representatives of local/national government agencies.

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