The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade announces an open competition for individuals and organizations to submit applications for the Serbian-American Cooperation Grants Program.
Objectives
PDS welcomes proposals from non-government organizations, governmental institutions and individuals to administer creative, engaging projects that strengthen the Serbian-U.S. relationship and explain U.S. culture, society, values, and policies to Serbian audiences. The Embassy is also working with Serbia’s government, civil society, business community, and other partners on promoting economic development and fighting brain drain; strengthening democracy, including through supporting civic participation, encouraging a free press and human rights, and advancing regional stability and cooperation.
Projects funded through this NOFO must include an American element. That could involve a connection or partnership between Serbian and American organizations or institutions; inviting an American expert to take part, in person or virtually, in your project; hosting a program to examine shared Serbian-American values, national interests, etc.; or incorporating a U.S. approach or method for addressing a challenge facing your community, institution, or profession.
Grant activities may take the form of academic competitions, summer camps (focused on language study, sports, etc), cross-border exchanges, conferences, workshops, courses, curriculum development, exhibits, hackathons or app development, online projects, mock trials or moot court competitions, simulations and role-playing activities (e.g., Model Congress, Model United Nations), film or theater festivals, performances, or other activities.
Program Themes
The Embassy seeks applications focusing on the themes. They have included ideas about what your project could do, but they welcome creative approaches and activities.
Fighting Brain Drain: Through Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and/or Tourism Promotion.
Equal Opportunity for People With Disabilities (PWDs): Inclusion and Advocacy in Education, Workforce, Civic Participation, and Social Interaction.
Human Rights. PDS welcomes projects focused on women’s rights and on promoting equality for ethnic and religious minorities, the LGBTQI community, refugees and migrants, and other disadvantaged or vulnerable populations.
Serbian-American Ties. PDS welcomes projects that inform and educate audiences in Serbia about historical, cultural, scientific, and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Regional Cooperation / Finding Joint Solutions to Common Problems.
Education. Promotion of innovative or interactive teaching methods, student-based or project-based education, inside or outside the classroom, and/or development of educational TV, radio, online, and video game programs, that focus
Funding Information
Length of performance period: Up to 18 months (including your evaluation or assessment period)
Number of awards anticipated: up to 12 awards (dependent on amounts)
Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum (floor) of $3,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $50,000.
Total available funding: $200,000
Priority Region: Serbia
Participants and Audiences: The goals and objectives of the project will determine the audience. PDS is seeking to support projects that strategically target audiences that will have the greatest impact and can work for the most positive change in communities in Serbia. In addition to primary audiences (e.g., teachers) projects may also have secondary audiences or beneficiaries (such as students who will benefit from the teachers’ training).
Eligibility Criteria
Businesses and other for-profit organization may not apply for funding under this NOFO. The following entities, from Serbia or from the United States, are eligible to apply:
Not-for-profit organizations, including educational and cultural institutions, civil society organizations or non-governmental organizations, think tanks, professional associations, media outlets, etc.
Governmental institutions.
Individual citizens, including alumni of U.S. Government (USG) exchange programs, who have a demonstrated capacity or proven track record to carry out the proposed activities.
To be eligible for consideration, every Serbia-based applicant organization must be registered in the territory of the Republic of Serbia with the Agencija za privredne registre (APR), or a relevant court.
