Operation and Programmatic Support of American Spaces in Tajikistan

Description

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Executive Summary: Competitive proposals will show the capacity to manage both the PD operational/programmatic and ASSF programmatic activities at the Spaces. Thus, the most competitive applicants will submit at least two proposals, as appropriate. Furthermore, applicants demonstrating the capacity to manage multiple Spaces will be highly competitive. The recipient will receive significant Public Diplomacy Section input and assistance to ensure the programming under both awards meets U.S. Embassy Dushanbe goals and objectives. The expected date range for implementation of all projects is October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Please follow the instructions below for the application. Background American Spaces are the premier public diplomacy platform of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan that has been strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the people of Tajikistan and the United States of America for almost 21 years. The eight American Spaces in Tajikistan are located in Bokhtar, Dushanbe, Gharm, Isfara, Khorugh, Khujand, Kulob, and Panjakent and offer English resources and development opportunities to meet interests of diverse audiences, while also serving as gateways for Tajik citizens to learn about American society, culture and education. The American Spaces are well known in the community for their regular English-language activities, such as conversation groups with native speakers, workshops with visiting specialists, and regular presentations by Americans on U.S. life and culture. American Spaces operate based on the global standards of the American Spaces program. These standards mandate that every American Space offer programming in six core areas free of charge for all the participants: 1. English language teaching and learning: Increase English language proficiency and instructional skills of English language learners and English language teachers, particularly for underserved audiences by facilitating a wide range of programs (designed and delivered by American Space coordinators, USG grantees, and volunteer networks) that build the skills of English language teachers and promote English language learning. American Spaces provide access to English language speakers and professional development/teacher training resources provided by the State Department. 2. Information about the United States: Increase awareness and understanding of school and university students about American history, culture, and society through people-people diplomacy. American Spaces also offer collections of English books, videos, newspapers, magazines, photo galleries, and Internet access and ensure these collections remain accurate, up to date, and audience appropriate. 3. Educational advising: Increase the knowledge and skills of high-school students on higher education opportunities in the United States by providing accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date guidance on applying to U.S. colleges and universities. In collaboration with Education USA, American Spaces conduct virtual sessions providing accurate, comprehensive, current information about opportunities to study in the United States. American Spaces host students/ alumna of different exchange programs to talk about their study, life in the States, sharing tips from their personal experience. They also conduct essay writing clubs and TOEFL sessions for the student who seek opportunity to study in the States. 4. Alumni engagement: Support continuing engagement with alumni of U.S. exchange programs and cultural enrichment programs, connecting them to local audiences by sharing their U.S. experience and expertise to benefit the local communities. 5. Skills Building: Develop skills and increase capacity of the Tajik population to meet global challenges, mitigate crises, increase trade, support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and opportunity and strengthen resilience to economic, technological, environmental and other global challenges. American Spaces continue offering programs to meet interests of diverse audiences in the regions especially by organizing projects that promote English language, innovation, entrepreneurship, environmental protection, and gender equality in STEM, as well as teach skills such as critical thinking and media literacy, resume writing and job promotion, how to launch entrepreneurial or social development projects, how to use makerspace equipment to conduct projects. 6. Strategic Cultural Programs: Foster people-to-people connections, increase understanding and build respect towards the United States with Tajikistan audiences through cultural programs and holiday celebrations, that can include visual and performing arts, film, literature, health, food culture/cuisine, sports, science and technology, volunteerism, makerspace activities, environment, civil society, and entrepreneurship. The American Spaces in Tajikistan also actively partner with international and local organizations to conduct highly impactful programs. Funding Opportunity 1: Operational/Programmatic (PD): Competitive proposals will show a cost-share for space/rent or staffing. Competitive proposals will seek to maintain current Spaces locations or justify proposals to relocate to a new facility. Project Goal: Strengthen relationships, deepen trust, and expand people-to-people exchanges between the United States and Tajikistan. Objectives: Objective 1: Oversee and administer American Spaces operations within the allocated budget over a 12-month period, demonstrated by implementation of innovative solutions to technical and logistical challenges, maintenance of staff’s high professional standards, and cost-efficient maintenance of spaces, while maintaining the modern aesthetic and accessibility standards of American Spaces. Provide skilled, innovative staff, comfortable with social media, to attract and work with public audiences. Objective 2: Increase the reach and engagement outreach to target American Spaces audiences by creating and launching a unified social media strategy within the second months of the program’s implementation. Objective 3: Improve program management, reporting, and other professional skills of American Space Coordinators at six American Spaces through in-person and virtual professional development training and activities. a. Training topics may include but are not limited to: project planning, report writing techniques, methods on tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics, budget management, data collection tools and techniques, data analysis, social media management, graphic design and content development, customer service, first aid, etc. b. Offer free-of-charge skills building workshops and educational programs to showcase American culture, holidays, and traditions at six American Spaces of Tajikistan: Gharm, Isfara, Khorugh, Khujand, Kulob, Panjakent. Objective 4: Design and execute a range of diverse programming activities across six core areas of American Spaces (described above) at six American Spaces in Tajikistan: Gharm, Isfara, Khorugh, Khujand, Kulob, and Panjakent, demonstrated by sustained participation and increases in participant turnout. Funding Opportunity 2: Programmatic (ASSF) Goal: Strengthen relationships, deepen trust and expand people-to-people exchanges between the United States and Tajikistan through the promotion of the English language, providing a supportive and tolerant community to combat violent extremism, increasing regional connectivity, and promoting economic opportunities. Objective: Design and execute a range of diverse programmatic activities across six core areas of American Spaces (explained below) in alignment with Mission goals at eight American Spaces in Tajikistan, demonstrated by sustained participation and increases in participant turnout. 7. English language teaching and learning: Increase English language proficiency and instructional skills of English language learners and English language teachers, particularly for underserved audiences by facilitating a wide range of programs (designed and delivered by American Space coordinators, USG grantees, and volunteer networks) that build the skills of English language teachers and promote English language learning. American Spaces provide access to English language speakers and professional development/teacher training resources provided by the State Department. 8. Information about the United States: Increase awareness and understanding of school and university students about American history, culture, and society through people-people diplomacy. American Spaces also offer collections of English books, videos, newspapers, magazines, photo galleries, and Internet access and ensure these collections remain accurate, up to date, and audience appropriate. 9. Educational advising: Increase the knowledge and skills of high-school students on higher education opportunities in the United States by providing accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date guidance on applying to U.S. colleges and universities. In collaboration with Education USA, American Spaces conduct virtual sessions providing accurate, comprehensive, current information about opportunities to study in the United States. American Spaces host students/ alumna of different exchange programs to talk about their study, life in the States, sharing tips from their personal experience. They also conduct essay writing clubs and TOEFL sessions for the student who seek opportunity to study in the States. 10. Alumni engagement: Support continuing engagement with alumni of U.S. exchange programs and cultural enrichment programs, connecting them to local audiences by sharing their U.S. experience and expertise to benefit the local communities. 11. Skills Building: Develop skills and increase capacity of the Tajik population to meet global challenges, mitigate crises, increase trade, support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and opportunity an

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