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The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an FY 2024 open competition for three distinct regional Youth Ambassadors programs (previously called Youth Leadership Programs) with select countries in East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), and the Middle East and North Africa (NEA). U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to provide participants with four-week exchanges in the United States focused on the primary themes of civic education, leadership development, respect for diversity, and community engagement and to support the implementation of service projects in their home communities. The EAP and NEA programs also will engage approximately 3-5 adult mentors in programming alongside youth participants. Competitively selected U.S. secondary students will join participants in U.S.-based activities on the NEA exchanges. Only one proposal per region will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission per region from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review for the region from that applicant. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Vienna of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to increase understanding of the United States and strengthen support for the transatlantic relationship and our common goals among young, emerging voices in Austrians. Please follow all instructions below. Although Austrians – especially the younger generations – tend to be eager consumers of American technology and popular culture, and view America’s economic prowess and entrepreneurial spirit as world class, there is skepticism toward U.S. global leadership, including the impression that the United States acts unilaterally on the world stage, concern about the stability of democracy, societal divides, and polarization in the United States. U.S. Embassy Vienna invites proposals for a Youth and Education Exchange to be carried out between September 2024 and December 2025. In times of increasing discord and mis- and disinformation, this program promises to contribute to coming generations of Austrian leaders’ understanding of the United States. Priority Region: None Program Objectives: This exchange program will focus on U.S. culture, shared values, disinformation, DEIA, and the contemporary American political and media landscape. The goal is to reinforce the power of shared democratic values, provide a first-hand look at the U.S. political process and the role of civil society, and enhance people-to-people ties between young Austrians and Americans. The program will reduce stereotypes and produce informed young Austrians who can act as citizen ambassadors, thus benefiting the Austrian-American relationship in the years ahead. As this will be a cooperative agreement, U.S. Embassy Vienna will have substantial involvement in this effort including participant selection and approval of the program structure and content of the U.S. component. The Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy is providing maximum flexibility for applicant organizations to offer program models that effectively meet the overall goals of the program. In addition to those listed above, required elements of the program are as follows: - Participants should learn about the essential elements of contemporary American life, in particular leadership, civil society, community engagement, and politics and how these elements inter-relate. Participants should have the opportunity to experience these elements in a local U.S. community through interactive, hands-on training, which might include, for example: formal presentations, meetings with stakeholders, discussions, and cultural or social events. - Participants should have interaction with policy experts, media professionals, civil society representatives, and academics and students in both countries. - The program should include elements for post-program engagement with the Austrian participants that include mentoring and supporting participants as alumni of this program. - The recipient will identify specific and measurable outputs and outcomes based on the project specifications provided in the solicitation. Additional program goals include: - Promote future Austrian leaders’ awareness of the American political process and the resilience of U.S. democracy. - Encourage identification of the United States as a destination for future academic, business, or other partnerships, and ongoing education. - Foster professional and personal ties with participants and U.S. citizens in the local community. - Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Austria. Participants and Audiences: Target audience and participants are 10-15 Austrian university students and young professionals, between age 21 and 28 and residing permanently in Austria, with demonstrated leadership capacity to participate in a tailored and compact hybrid (with a virtual pre-program phase) program in Austria and the United States, focusing on education and leadership. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 12 to 24 months Number of awards anticipated: 1 award (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $150,000 Total available funding: $150,000 (pending availability of funds) Type of Funding: FY24 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds Anticipated program start date: September 15, 2024 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements and some FAAs are different from grants in that bureau/embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation (“Substantial Involvement”). U.S. Embassy Vienna will have substantial involvement including participant selection and approval of the program structure and content of the U.S. component. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 24 months or less. Optional: The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: · Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations · Public and private educational institutions · For-profit organizations CANNOT apply. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching U.S. Embassy Vienna encourages cost-sharing, which may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition, but a very competitive application will include cost sharing that allows for more participants. The recipient of an assistance award must maintain written records to support all allowable costs which are claimed as its contribution to cost participation, as well as costs to be paid by the federal government. Such records are subject to audit. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. For the following sections please see the attached A2A FY24 NOFO Youth and Education Exchange document D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: ViennaGrants@state.gov H. OTHER INFORMATION

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an FY 2024 open competition for three distinct regional Youth Ambassadors programs (previously called Youth Leadership Programs) with select countries in East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), and the Middle East and North Africa (NEA). U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to provide participants with four-week exchanges in the United States focused on the primary themes of civic education, leadership development, respect for diversity, and community engagement and to support the implementation of service projects in their home communities. The EAP and NEA programs also will engage approximately 3-5 adult mentors in programming alongside youth participants. Competitively selected U.S. secondary students will join participants in U.S.-based activities on the NEA exchanges. Only one proposal per region will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission per region from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review for the region from that applicant. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES: PDS Poland invites proposals to equip the next generation of Polish leaders (aged 15 – 30) to implement impactful civic engagement programs focused on the promotion of human rights, democratic values, and the rule of law. Activities should equip participants with skills to successsfully navigate the complexities of their society, engage constructively, and contribute meaningfully to their community’s development and Poland’s future. Projects should also be designed with the intent of fostering enduring connections and collaboration among participants after the project’s conclusion. PRIORITY PROGRAMMING AREAS: A successful proposal will include a comprehensive calendar of activities up to 36 months that include the following three elements: 1. A series of skills-building workshops and/or interactive trainings; 2. Support for implementation of participant-led community projects; 3. A minimum of 12 months of ongoing mentoring and networking opportunities for participants following the completion of elements 1 and 2 above. All projects must address the development of youth leadership, critical thinking, project management skills, and resilience as well as at least one of below programming areas: · Human Rights Engagement and Problem-Solving: Initiatives promoting human rights and tolerance, focused on active community engagement, including local analysis of challenges and identification of solutions. · Promoting Democratic Participation: Programs that encourage democratic involvement, and increase youth participation in the public policy process, including collaboration with local governments, communities, NGOs, civil society organizations, and/or the private sector. Programs should focus on teaching advocacy skills and the formulation of policy reforms to develop strategies addressing local issues to affect meaningful change. · Inclusive Engagement: Strategies for engaging typically civically inactive youth and ensuring that the needs and rights of minority communities are considered in building safe and tolerant environments. Examples of types of activities that can be included in proposals: 1. Projects organized and carried out by youth (aged 15 - 30) that focus on the themes mentioned above. Initiatives aimed at empowering young people by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively plan and execute community projects. 2. Programs that train educators to equip young people (aged 15 - 30) with the necessary skills (including resilience) to carry out civic engagement projects (this type of activity must include a youth-implemented project) in their communities. 3. Mentoring and networking events. PDS Poland welcomes proposals that incorporate the involvement of U.S. experts, trainers, models, and/or best practices, as appropriate. Participants and Audiences: Proposals should describe both the primary and secondary audiences for the program, including anticipated numbers to be reached. Primary audiences are those who will participate directly in the program, while secondary audiences are those who will be reached by the project’s primary audiences as a result of their participation (For example, a workshop for educators would have teachers as the primary audience and the students in their classrooms organizing a civic engagement project in their local communities as the secondary audience). Programs ensuring gender parity and socio-economic inclusion across all its activities are encouraged. Applicants should be as specific as possible in their proposals about their project’s primary audience and how they will engage them through programming. The principal method of engagement will be through in-person programming. Virtual engagement may be a part of the overall strategy, augmenting in-person programming. Additional proposal elements to note: The grantee is expected to lead recruitment efforts of program participants, ensuring DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and access) principles are promoted in the recruitment process. U.S. Mission Poland will amplify program opportunities on its social media platforms. The language of instruction can be English and/or Polish. The proposal must include detailed information about the project members/coordinators, including CV and other relevant professional experience. The trainers or facilitators of the program should be experienced professionals working in the field. The proposal must include a proposed activity schedule and monitoring and evaluation plan to measure program impact. Marketing and outreach strategies to recruit target program participants are required. Activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to: Projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single party electoral campaigns; Projects that support specific religious activities; Exchange programs; including travel to the U.S. Social welfare projects; Trade activities; fundraising campaigns; commercial projects; scientific research; construction projects; projects whose primary aim is the institutional development of the organization itself; Conferences, lectures, scientific research, studies, etc.; Book publishing or translation for the purposes of publishing a book; Ongoing salary costs of organization staff; Equipment, including but not limited to, cameras and for the office; and Food and drink beyond the cost of coffee breaks and working lunches (alcohol will not be funded).