The U.S. Embassy Dushanbe Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce a call for proposals through the Embassy’s Democracy Commission Small Grants Program.

This program supports the development of Tajikistan’s democratic institutions and civil society by competitively awarding small grants to Tajikistan’s non-profit, for-profit nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and associations, to nonprofit civil society organizations (CSOs), and to independent local media organizations.

Topics

Topic 1: Equal Rights for Marginalized Communities

Projects under this funding opportunity should support the efforts of empowering marginalized communities, which include groups that have been traditionally discriminated against because of their identity (race, nationality, gender and gender identity, religious affiliation, disability and socioeconomic status, marital status, and ethnicity) or are particularly vulnerable to marginalization. Competitive projects will clearly identify the challenges facing a marginalized group and sustainable efforts to help advocate for, secure, or exercise their rights.

Project Goal

Empower marginalized and vulnerable communities to exercise their human rights by increasing the capacity of civil society and independent media organizations to implement prevention, education, and response efforts in combatting GBV and DV.

Project Objectives

Each project should achieve one or more of the following objectives:

Increase the ability of civil society organizations and advocacy groups to implement and advocate for initiatives combatting GBV and DV through capacity building training. Training topics may include but are not limited to advocacy campaign planning, digital communication tools, messaging best practices, and media engagement strategies.

Raise awareness among the Tajik general public of the prevalence, impacts, and consequences of GBV and DV, or discrimination of other marginalized communities, within Tajik society in culturally sensitive and appropriate ways.

Facilitate collaboration between civil society organizations, independent media firms and the government bodies to identify and address gaps in existing laws and policies related to GBV/DV prevention or other forms of discrimination through policy dialogues and roundtable discussions.

Examples of activities include but are not limited to: 

Enlisting men as allies in an information campaign to dismantle harmful, violent behavior, and raise awareness among vulnerable women about laws concerning early marriage, domestic abuse, harassment, divorce, alimony, and other civil rights related to women in the family.

Conducting educational/outreach/raising awareness activities on the topics related to DV, human trafficking, gender equality, laws related to early marriage, harassment, divorce, and other human rights violation.

Training advocacy groups to more effectively work with government, local authorities, or well-defined audiences to end discrimination, hostility, or violence against marginalized communities, such as persons with disabilities.

Project Audience(s)

The primary target audience for these projects should be men and women from religiously or socially conservative communities; youth and emerging leaders (14-35 years old); spouses or families of labor migrants; families, government bodies; civil society or advocacy groups; and/or independent media. Projects that support other well-defined marginalized groups and/or with a nexus to family members of radicalized individuals will also be considered.

Topic 2: Enabling Environment for Media and the Free Flow of Information

Project Goal

To contribute to press freedom, the dissemination of accurate information, and the safeguarding journalists including citizen journalist rights by increasing the capacity of journalists and media professionals to produce quality and accurate content that counters misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda.

Project Objectives

Each project should achieve one or more of the following objectives:

• Strengthen the ability of media associations and organizations to adopt measures that protect their employees and affiliated media professionals from censorship or cyber threats such as hacking, phishing attempts, and website defacement.
• Equip media associations and organizations with the ability to develop and implement sustainable funding models or revenue strategies that ensure their survival and long-term viability.
• Improve the reporting of journalists, citizen journalists, bloggers, social media influencers, and other information professionals with regards to ethical reporting practices, investigative journalism, and the use of data analysis tools.
• Increase media professionals’ knowledge and awareness about the prevalence and common tactics used in the spread of misinformation, including but not limited to the widespread use of headlines and manipulated content.
• Strengthen media professionals’ ability to identify and counter misinformation by providing training in fact checking techniques, ethical reporting practices and source verification methods.
• Increase media professionals’ knowledge and awareness on the capabilities and application of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and techniques in journalistic reporting, showcasing both their benefits and potential risks, such as content generation and manipulation.

Examples of activities include but are not limited to: 

• Inviting U.S. or other subject matter experts to train Tajik media professionals and/or advocacy organizations or offer peer to peer mentoring programs.
• Training Tajik journalists, editors, and media professionals in fact-checking, confirming sources, authenticating images, and identifying bots and AI-produced media.
• Offering training for bloggers, social media influencers, or amateur citizen journalists with a U.S. expert or other subject matter expert in creating documentary stories for digital media; this could include audio or podcasted stories, short films, or articles that cover issues of local or public interest.

Project Audience(s)

Early to mid-career professional journalists, bloggers, social media influencers, and media experts in Tajikistan. Projects to promote and defend media independence and freedom of expression could include media organizations, advocacy groups, managers/editors of media outlets and other influential voices.

Topic 3: Countering Violent Extremism

Project Goal

• To provide positive and constructive alternatives to those most at-risk of recruitment into extremist groups by increasing government and/or civil society capacity and engagement in this sphere.

Project Objectives

Each project should achieve one or more of the following objectives:

• Raise awareness of target communities and at-risk individuals on the prevalence of violent extremism and recruitment techniques through educational or training initiatives.
• Equip target communities and individuals at-risk of recruitment into extremist groups with vocational and job search skills for the local job market, focusing on sectors with growth potential.
• Increase the ability of credible voices to create high quality content in the Tajik language focused on countering violent extremism or raising awareness about the how terrorism financing occurs (and how to avoid it) and about the consequences of violent extremism through sharing real life stories of victims and survivors on social media platforms.
• Build the capacity of organizations and government in this sphere to take a community-centered approach to address the drivers pushing at-risk individuals to join extremist groups.

Examples of activities include but are not limited to: 

• Organize summer camps where at-risk youth learn goal setting, soft-skills, and vocational skills/job training, and participate in team building activities, learn about healthy conflict resolution, increase their emotional intelligence, and learn how to tolerate diversity in society.
• Train at least 10 well-known Tajik athletes (particularly mixed martial artists, boxers, wrestlers, bodybuilders, and football players) or other influential and credible voices to those at-risk (who have a wide following on social media) on the consequences of violent extremism and how to be effective public speakers on the topic.
• Produce and distribute one documentary video that includes testimony from multiple survivors of violent extremism who share their personal stories.

Project Audience(s): 

The primary target audiences are those at-risk of recruitment (Tajik males (ages 15-35) living in rural Tajikistan and Russia, including labor migrants, who have received limited formal education), civil society organizations and government bodies working on countering violent extremism, and respected and popular figures in society who are considered credible voices by those at-risk (religious leaders, teachers, influencers).

Topic 4: Low Emissions Development Planning for Energy

Project Goal

• Support national and sub-national frameworks for low-emissions development by increasing the use of renewable and sustainable energy sources in Tajikistan.

Project Objectives

Each project should achieve one or more of the following objectives:

• Build expertise and capacity in government, private sector, and civil society organizations to analyze emissions sources, set emission reduction targets, and develop mitigation plans through the use of renewable and sustainable energy sources in Tajikistan.
• Increase collaboration between local, state, and civil society actors/stakeholders to develop practical solutions to combat climate change, advocate for environmental protection legislation, and/or help Tajikistan meet its Global Methane Pledge.
• Increase public awareness and knowledge about the impact of climate change and air pollution in Tajikistan, the causes of these threats, and how to reduce or prevent their effects.
• Increase participation of youth, civil society, and community leaders in educational projects and activities focused on mitigating the effects of climate change through capacity building training that supports implementation of climate-resilient projects and initiatives.

Examples of activities include but are not limited to: 

• Conduct workshops, trainings, and/or exchanges to reach the project objectives. This could include hackathons or pitch competitions for young entrepreneurs or those working in related fields (such as data analytics, tech, etc.).
• Awareness Campaigns – promote awareness of emissions and air quality through social and traditional media, produce short video clips for social media and/or TV about environmental issues.
• Install air quality monitors, test water quality, or improve local capability to conduct data collection, analysis, and reporting on emissions.

Project Audience(s)

• The primary target audience for these projects should be national and subnational government organizations, civil society, media consumers and outlets, young entrepreneurs, and other well-defined key audiences.

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $500,000
• Estimated Award Ceiling: $50,000
• Estimated Award Floor: $10,000
• Length of performance period: 9-12 months
• Number of awards anticipated: 15-20 awards (dependent on amounts)
• Anticipated programs start date: September 1, 2024- October 1, 2025

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• Not-for-profit organizations
• For-profit organizations
• Civil society/non-governmental organizations
• For this announcement, only Tajikistan-based organizations are eligible to apply.
• Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.

Ineligible

This award does not allow:

• Projects relating to partisan political activity;
• Conferences abroad or individual trips abroad;
• Charitable or development activities; including direct social services;
• Construction projects;
• Projects that support specific religious activities;
• Fund-raising campaigns.

Source: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/353942