Democracy Commission Small Grants Program

The U.S. Embassy Ashgabat Public Diplomacy (PD) Section of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through the Embassy’s Democracy Commission Small Grants Program. This program supports the development of the country's democratic institutions and civil society by competitively awarding small grants to nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and associations, to nonprofit civil society organizations (CSOs), and to independent local media organizations in Turkmenistan. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit joint proposals with another NGO, such as a regional NGO collaborating with an Ashgabat-based organization, to build partnerships and strengthen civil society capacity. Background: The PD Section of the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan is soliciting Statements of Interest for grants from Turkmen civil society, economic union and independent media organizations that focus on the priority theme specified below. Applicants should pay close attention to PD priority goals, program areas, target audiences, and geographic location when developing their proposals. Statements of Interest, including the short budget proposal, cannot exceed three pages. Note: A specific goal and objectives for the theme are listed below. Please ensure you pay close attention to each of the goals, objectives, and target audiences when developing your proposal. Priority Themes: Development of a new generation of civil society leaders The Turkmen NGO sector is a developing sector, and many NGOs, especially in rural areas, are in need of certain skills in order to maximize their impact. Previously funded projects have focused on encouraging cooperation between local governments and civil society, strengthening advocacy efforts and raising awareness around universal human rights, especially among vulnerable and marginalized populations. This funding opportunity seeks to promote youth interest in civil society sector development, train youth in project management and fundraising skills, increase cooperation between existing NGOs and create new civil society organizations. The U.S. Embassy is seeking proposals that focus on addressing the following challenges: Increase knowledge on the importance of rule of law, civic engagement, civil society, and advocacy. Increase NGO capacity in strategic planning, project design and management, monitoring and evaluation, public relations, and organizational communications, building partnerships, and organizational and financial sustainability, especially in rural areas; and/or Increase cooperation between rural and urban civil society and local government. Project Goal: Create strong, diverse, and independent groups of youth representatives that will go on to engage government and all institutions, deter corruption, and increase civil society’s ability to respond to the needs our different groups in Turkmenistan. Project Audience(s): Potential and current urban and rural NGOs, including youth organizations, rural and urban youth and university students aged 14-28, community leaders, and local and state government officials. 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.) Within 12 months: 1) Increase number of registered NGOs in Turkmenistan by improving organizational capacities of institutions engaged in the civil society sector, including assessment of institutional development needs of local organizations, providing training to strengthen organizational system capacities, guidance on budgets, strategic planning, communications, and policy and program infrastructure, etc. 2) Build awareness of civil society career opportunities among at least 60 secondary school students or university students through activities like debate, advocacy, speaker programs, and rule of law and leadership programs 3) Promote youth participation for a minimum of 60 high school students in civic, social, and economic life that promote sustainable civic education practices, engagement, and leadership and contribute to the development of their families and communities. 4) Establish long-term partnerships with local CSOs. 5) Encourage youth decision-making and contribution to governance that address environmental challenges and/or governmental accountability through at least seven regional youth leadership initiatives in partnership with local self-governments and local councils. 6) Improve skills of at least eight rural (or relatively low capacity) CSOs to utilize traditional and social media for outreach campaigns (e.g., establishment of robust communication plans and strategies) that support of program goals; and/or 7) Develop better connectivity between a minimum of eight rural NGOs working with youth, women, and other underserved groups and local government bodies, that include continued engagement strategies that were the outcome of associated networking and mentoring programs. C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION The following organizations are eligible to apply: ■ Not-for-profit organizations, ■ Civil society/non-governmental organizations, ■ Economic unions, ■ Media organizations. For this announcement, only organizations based in Turkmenistan are eligible to apply. Organizations unique to Turkmenistan will be prioritized over local branches of international NGOs/CSOs.