[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 150 (Thursday, August 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47809-47817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19572]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3380]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; International 
Education and Cultural Activities Open Grant Program; Request for 
Proposals

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, announces an open 
competition for an assistance award program. U.S. public or private 
non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS 
regulation 26 CFR 1.501c may apply to develop projects that link their 
international exchange interests with counterpart institutions/groups 
in ways supportive of the aims of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs.
    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, 
Public Law 87-256, also known as the Fulbright Hays Act.
    The purpose of the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United 
States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the 
United States and the people of other countries * * *; to strengthen 
the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the 
educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of 
the people of the United States and other nations. * * * and thus to 
assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful 
relations between the United States and the other countries of the 
world.'' Proposals for exchange projects that address issues of crucial 
importance to the United States and to proposed partner countries but 
that do not respond specifically to themes included below will also be 
considered. Programs and projects must conform with Bureau requirements 
and guidelines outlined in the Application Package. Bureau projects and 
programs are subject to the availability of funds.
    Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register 
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has 
passed, the Office of Citizen Exchanges may not discuss this 
competition in any way with applicants until after the Bureau program 
and project review process has been completed.
    Announcement Name and Number: All communications concerning this 
announcement should refer to the Annual Open Grant Program. The 
announcement number is E/P-01-1. Please refer to title and number in 
all correspondence or telephone calls to the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received by the Bureau 
of Educational and Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on 
Friday, October 27, 2000. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any 
time. Documents postmarked by the due date but received at a later date 
will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of each grant applicant 
to ensure that proposals are received by the above deadline. This 
action is effective from the publication date of this notice through 
October 27, 2000, for projects where activities will begin between 
March 1, 2001 and December 31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Interested organizations/institutions 
must contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Room 216, 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 
301 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547, (202) 619-5348, to request 
detailed application packets which include award criteria; all 
application forms; and guidelines for preparing proposals, including 
specific criteria for preparation of the proposal budget.

TO DOWNLOAD A SOLICITATION PACKAGE VIA INTERNET: The Solicitation 
Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's website at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before 
beginning to download.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The original and 10 copies should be sent to: U.S. Department 
of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref: E/P-
01-1 Annual Open Grant Competition, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, 301 
4th Street, SW, Room 336, Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants must also submit to E/XE the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of each proposal on a 3.5" diskette, 
formatted for DOS. This material must be provided in ASCII text (DOS) 
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. The Bureau will 
transmit these files electronically to U.S. embassies overseas for 
their review, with the goal of reducing the time it takes to get the 
respective Embassy's comments for the Bureau's grants review process.

Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, projects must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
adhere to the advancement of this principle both in program 
administration and in program content. Please refer to the review 
criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section for specific 
suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal. Public 
Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and 
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom 
and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide 
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and 
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should account for 
advancement of this goal, in their program contents, to the full extent 
deemed feasible.

Overview

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges works with U.S. private sector, 
non-profit organizations on cooperative international group projects 
that introduce American and foreign participants to each others' 
social, economic, and political structures and international interests. 
The Office supports international projects in the

[[Page 47810]]

United States or overseas involving leaders or potential leaders in the 
following fields and professions: urban planners, jurists, specialized 
journalists (specialists in economics, business, political analysis, 
international affairs), business professionals, NGO leaders, 
environmental specialists, parliamentarians, educators, economists, and 
other government officials.

Guidelines

    Applicants should carefully note the following restrictions/
recommendations for proposals in specific geographical areas:

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States (NIS)

    Requests for proposals involving the following countries will be 
announced in separate competitions: CEE--Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia; NIS--
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, 
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Proposals 
involving these regions will not be accepted under this competition.

Western Europe (WEU)

    Proposals involving this region will not be accepted under this 
competition.

East Asia and the Pacific (EAP)

    For all of EAP: We welcome proposals that directly respond to the 
following suggestions in each of the following countries. Given 
budgetary consideration, projects in other countries and for other 
themes will not be eligible for consideration.
    For China: We welcome proposals in the following fields:
    (1) Rule of Law: Projects focussed on the protection of 
intellectual property rights, judicial reform and court administration 
are encouraged as well as projects designed to assist in the 
development of China's economic legal framework to support the 
implementation of membership in the WTO.
    (2) NGO Development: Projects designed to strengthen the role of 
NGOs in Chinese society and the Chinese Government's cooperation with 
NGOs through an exchange of representatives from NGOs and public-sector 
organizations cutting across fields such as legal aid, consumerism, 
family issues, and environmental protection to examine the role of NGOs 
and public-private sector cooperation in the U.S.
    For Indonesia: We welcome proposals in the following areas:
    (1) Political Leadership: Projects that focus on meeting the 
challenges and responsibilities of public office; specifically, 
projects on rule of law; transparency in government, and funding and 
regulatory processes.
    (2) Strengthening Grassroots Democracy: Projects that include 
training NGO leadership and addressing organizational governance 
issues; building locations, networking, lobbying elected officials; 
media strategies needed for the above, volunteerism; addressing civic 
values; civic education/human rights education; the role of NGOs in 
mediating conflict in the community.
    (3) Local Governance: Projects designed to strengthen local 
governments and make them more responsive to local needs with emphasis 
on local government administration, including budget development, 
financial management, tax policies and mechanisms; election practices, 
management of municipal services, committee and staff structures; 
drafting of legislation and relationship with regional and national 
governments.
    (4) Media: Projects to provide training in media ethics and 
investigate journalism. Ideally, the project in investigative 
journalism would primarily take place in the U.S. and the project on 
media ethics would primarily take place in Indonesia.
    For Korea: We welcome proposals in the following fields:
    (1) The Role of a Free Press in a New Democracy: Projects designed 
to put Korean Media Associations in direct contact with both Schools of 
Journalism and media professionals in the U.S. to discuss the proper 
relationship between the Government and media with emphasis on 
standards of objectivity and the distinction between editorializing and 
factual reporting.
    (2) NGO Development: Projects will provide support for democratic 
processes, assisting NGO development and increasing citizen 
participation with emphasis on teaching practical management and 
administrative skills relevant to NGOs and to share techniques 
appropriate to Korea for conducting outreach, education, and 
fundraising. The training should focus on NGOs dedicated to increasing 
citizen participation, particularly the role of women in politics. The 
project's objective would be to improve specific skills of the target 
NGOs and to support a demonstrable increase in citizen/female political 
participation.
    (3) Local Autonomy: In Korea, the devolution of responsibility from 
the Central Government to autonomous local bodies continues. The most 
fundamental problem hampering this process is defining the proper 
relationship between the Central Government and local bodies. Project 
submitted under this category should include an element that provides 
the Korean participants with the direct experiences with the working 
level local government officials in the U.S. and access to the latest 
academic research in the field of public administration. Funded 
projects must be designed to teach participants ideas and concepts that 
have practical application within the political, economic and societal 
realities of Korea; identify participants from among local government 
officials whose work will have a continued impact on their community; 
consist of modest objectives with a timeframe that is realistic and 
achievable; provide continuity independent of USG funding.
    For Thailand: We seek proposals that address the issue of higher 
education reform with specific emphasis on the following themes: (1) 
Definition of the university's relationship with the society and the 
State with emphasis on the role of the university as innovator; (2) 
Improvement of the quality of professional education; (3) Stimulation 
of scientific and technological research within the university to 
promote local and regional development; (4) Consolidation of the 
university's role in supporting national culture; (5) Strengthening 
bonds between the university and the private sector; (6) 
Rationalization of resources and diversification of financing of the 
university; (7) Incorporation of new systems of academic and 
administrative management.
    For Vietnam: We welcome proposals on the following themes:
    (1) Market Economics: Projects designed to assist in furthering the 
development of a free market and economic reform in Vietnam with 
emphasis on the role of privatization and decentralization within the 
economy.
    (2) International Trade: Projects focused on promoting the 
development of Vietnam's economic legal framework to support the 
implementation of the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade agreement.
    ECA contact for EA programs: Raymond Harvey, 202/260-5491; E-Mail 
([email protected])

Western Hemispheric Affairs (WHA)

    The Office of Western Hemispheric Affairs includes the countries of 
Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

[[Page 47811]]

    For all of WHA: We welcome proposals which contribute to 
strengthening democratic institution building; administration of 
justice, including exchanges of judges and prosecutors and between 
associations and NGOs promoting justice; law enforcement, including 
community-based anti-gang or anti-drug organizations; and economic 
reform, free trade and regional economic integration, sustainable 
development, environmental education, public administration, and 
municipal government for all countries in the region. For the countries 
mentioned below, some preference may be given to proposals that track 
closely the following suggestions:
    For Mexico: We welcome proposals that would create opportunities 
for Mexican and U.S. public administration practitioners and 
academicians to work together. Project activities might focus on such 
local government issues as responding to the needs of the people it 
serves; interacting with other levels of government, implementing 
experimental ideas, and how city administrators communicate with each 
other. Participants should have opportunities to meet with academics, 
practitioners, and with NGOs dedicated to improving governance.
    For Brazil: We welcome proposals in the field of women and 
political leadership. Project activities should focus on running for 
elective office and/or managing electoral campaigns; developing a media 
strategy; public speaking/communication skills; meeting challenges and 
responsibilities of public office once elected. Competitive proposals 
should include a two-week U.S. study tour for at least five Brazilians 
from five regions (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, the south, centerwest, 
and northeast) as well as a two-week in-country program for American 
trainers.
    For Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama: We welcome 
proposals in the field of environmental education. Competitive 
proposals should involve participants in developing pilot environmental 
education programs in schools and/or with selected municipalities, 
capitalizing on the new interest of fledgling NGO environmental groups. 
Hurricane Mitch's destruction raised awareness throughout Central 
America of the potential for deforestation to intensify the severity of 
natural disasters. A particularly vulnerable area is the Panama Canal 
Watershed, whose protection is vital to ensuring adequate water supply 
for the functioning of the Canal. In El Salvador as well as Panama, 
there is growing public awareness that the time for action is now and 
that education is the key. Therefore, for both Panama and El Salvador, 
we welcome proposals that focus on environmental education in the 
public schools as well as community-based projects on recycling, 
resource conservation, and sustainable development.
    For Nicaragua and Guatemala: We welcome projects that work to 
strengthen institutions of government whose work has a direct impact on 
the quality of a country's democracy and to increase their 
transparency, accountability, and responsiveness, and effectiveness of 
operations. Especially welcome would be proposals that address anti-
corruption methods. Projects might focus on local government or 
elements of executive branches, legislatures, or judicial systems. One 
example might be an exchange for local mayors to see innovations in 
city government and citizen participation in municipal affairs, with a 
return visit by a group of U.S. mayors and city managers and municipal 
experts to hold larger workshops on the same theme.
    For Peru: We welcome proposals on decentralization and resource 
management issues for local government. Competitive proposals should 
include an exchange for a group of local mayors and other 
decentralization specialists who would meet with U.S. local government 
representatives, businesses and neighborhood groups in order to gain a 
more in-depth understanding of local government in the U.S.
    For Haiti: We welcome proposals for the strengthening of civil 
society organizations.
    ECA/PE/C/WHA/EAP contact for WHA programs: Laverne Johnson, 202/
619-5337; E-Mail {[email protected]}

Africa (AF)

    Proposals are requested for projects that would advance sustainable 
democracy by building human capital in Africa and strengthening 
partnerships between the United States and Africa in the thematic 
categories delineated below. These themes are presented in order to 
stimulate thinking and planning in areas important to the Office of 
Citizen Exchanges, but no guarantee is made or implied that grants will 
be made in all categories. Projects that foster networking across 
political as well as government-civil society divisions are encouraged.
    Proposed activities will be supported only in those countries in 
which there is a Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy. 
Currently there is no PAS in Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Gambia, 
Burundi, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome 
and Principe, Djibouti, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, or 
Mauritania.
    Proposals for single country, sub-regional and regional projects 
will be accepted. The Bureau encourages applicants to consider 
carefully the choice of target countries. In order to prevent 
duplication of effort, applicants should research the work of 
development agencies on the target themes, and select countries for 
which there has been limited investment on the issue. Applicants are 
welcome to contact the Public Affairs Sections in U.S. Embassies in 
Africa, or the Office of Citizen Exchanges, to discuss proposed 
activities and their relevance to mission priorities.
    Proposals will be strengthened if partner organizations and 
individuals in Africa are identified and their commitment demonstrated. 
Previous cooperative programming and contacts with partners should be 
described. Specific information about the African organizations' 
activities and accomplishments is required and should be included in 
the section on ``Institutional Capacity.''
    ECA seeks programs that address the following themes: *

1. Equal Treatment of Women Under the Law
2. Joining Forces to Combat HIV/AIDS
3. Post-Election Training for Legislative Staff
4. Professionalism in the Media and Strengthening Journalistic 
Independence
5. Religious and Inter-Ethnic Conflict: Anti-Incitement and the 
Search for Common Ground
6. Transparency in Democratic Governance
7. U.S.-Africa Economic Partnership
8. Urban Environment
9. Women and Political Leadership
10. Women as Economic Partners in Nation Building
11. Young Leaders and the Building of Civil Society

    * Funding for select projects may be provided by the Education 
for Development and Democracy Initiative.
Equal Treatment of Women Under the Law
    We invite proposals for single-country or regional programs 
focusing on women's leadership in combating bias against women in the 
political, judicial and social sectors. Topics may include educating 
women about existing anti-discriminatory laws, including domestic 
violence legislation; understanding legal rights and options; 
addressing attitudes of the judiciary; building community support to 
combat violence against women, and/or education on the prevention of 
trafficking in women and girls.

[[Page 47812]]

Joining Forces To Combat HIV/AIDS
    The Bureau welcomes proposals for creative community-based 
initiatives that, through public education, will promote better health 
care and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Projects should explore the 
need to develop and reward leadership, and to remove barriers that 
impede a cooperative multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS. Citizen 
exchange projects should address some of following topics: Prevention 
and stigma reduction strategies, especially for women and youth; 
engagement of political, religious, cultural and other leaders in 
public education efforts; support for orphaned children; voluntary 
counseling; grassroots mobilization and advocacy. Of special interest 
to the Bureau is the link between cultural practices, the empowerment 
of women, and the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Post-Election Training for Legislative Staff
    With national and local elections scheduled for many African 
countries in the year ahead, the Bureau is interested in programs that 
will enhance legislative staffers' management skills. Applicants must 
demonstrate expertise and knowledge of the political landscape and how 
the legislature functions in the target country. Programs may include a 
combination of U.S.-based internships, in-country workshops, 
roundtables, panel discussions, case studies and specially tailored 
projects. Training topics may address accountability to and 
communication with constituencies; working with the press; negotiation 
skills; conflict resolution; consensus building; coalition building 
(particularly related to bloc or partisan communications); ethics in 
government; working with diverse populations; conducting issue-related 
casework; drafting legislation and implementing policy.
Professionalism in the Media and Strengthening Journalistic 
Independence
    Professionalism in the media--i.e., gaining an appreciation of and 
skill for objective reporting; developing subject specialization (e.g. 
justice/legal issues); giving fair coverage to positive as well as 
negative news; separating comment from news coverage; avoiding 
inflammatory presentations; maintaining independence from special 
interests; etc.--remains an area requiring serious development if the 
fourth estate is to fulfill its potential as a pillar of democratic 
society. Concomitantly, attention must be given to laws which constrain 
freedom of information and to forces which urge journalists, editors, 
producers and publishers to censor themselves, lest governments punish 
the media for having conveyed the message. We welcome proposals for 
exchange programs that improve professionalism generally in the media 
and strengthen specific efforts of individuals and organizations that 
report on issues of importance to national and/or regional development.
Religious and Inter-Ethnic Conflict: Anti-Incitement and the Search for 
Common Ground
    The problems of incitement to hatred and violence, as well as those 
of ethnic/religious stereotyping, must be addressed as a key component 
of the consolidation of democracy in Africa. If peace is to have 
meaning, citizens of the region must address one another in 
constructive ways, overcoming the fears and resentments that have built 
up over time. A project that includes stakeholders from different 
nations, ethnic groups, or religious communities is solicited in an 
effort to expand the dialogue for coexistence. Two major components of 
any effort to focus on anti-incitement are the media and the 
educational establishment. One of the most important areas for the 
promotion of dialogue and mutual respect as well as the management of 
conflict is the media. Any effort in this area would need to involve 
expertise in conflict resolution as well as in professional journalism 
ethics and the addressing of problems of prejudice, discrimination, and 
outright incitement to violence. Incitement via curriculum and teacher 
prejudice is also a legitimate focus. A regional project to examine how 
contentious historical events are treated, how former enemies are 
portrayed, and how curricula can help advance tolerance and peace is a 
high priority.
Transparency in Democratic Governance
    Proposals should work to strengthen institutions of government 
whose work has a direct impact on the quality of a country's democracy 
and to increase their transparency, accountability, responsiveness, and 
effectiveness of operations. Especially welcome would be proposals that 
address anti-corruption methods and ethics in government. Projects 
might focus on local government or elements of executive branches, 
legislatures, or judicial systems.
Urban Environment
    The quality of life in urban areas throughout Africa is 
deteriorating rapidly due to unchecked population growth, the 
byproducts of industrialization, economic exploitation, conflict, and 
unprecedented--and unsatisfiable--demands on social infrastructure and 
natural resources. This undermines the viability of Africa's cities 
both as places to live and as commercial centers, and has become a 
serious threat to biodiversity. A project is needed which will bring 
together community activists, city officials, and industry and business 
representatives to address such urban environmental issues as the need 
for clean air, clean water, effective waste management, and recycling. 
Communities should be mobilized to practice environmental stewardship 
while supporting sustainable development, thereby creating a more 
hospitable environment for human habitation and for regional and 
international trade and investment.
U.S.-Africa Economic Partnership
    The Bureau welcomes proposals that would encourage the creation of 
free trade areas through reduced tariff and non-tariff barriers. Such a 
project might be carried out with regional chambers of commerce and/or 
the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat. 
Proposals on free trade areas also would be of interest to posts in 
West and East Africa. Projects should foster an understanding of and 
commitment to policies and practices that support economic growth in a 
democratic framework through the private sector and international 
trade. Especially encouraged are proposals that focus on creating an 
``enabling environment'' supportive of these goals. Related issues 
might include intellectual property rights, trade liberalization (e.g., 
tax and investment laws, along with other incentives), mechanisms of 
transparency and accountability, the role of business associations, and 
regional economic cooperation/integration.
Women as Economic Partners in Nation Building
    In many countries in Africa, women are the backbone of the economy 
and yet they remain relatively unorganized and unconnected from one 
another. The organizations for businesswomen that do exist currently 
have the capacity to effect little systemic change, but have the 
potential to have a profound impact on the economy. Priority will be 
given to proposals that offer African

[[Page 47813]]

businesswomen the opportunity to interact with U.S. women-owned 
businesses and interest groups, and to see first hand the work they do 
to enable businesswomen to network and profit from relationships they 
create, both domestically and internationally. Successful proposals 
will expose business leaders to democratic, team-centered approaches to 
organizational management appropriate to democratic, civil societies. 
Proposals may also encourage the development of self-help/micro-
enterprise programs for women in disadvantaged communities, by 
providing training and counseling to loan recipients.
Women and Political Leadership
    ECA welcomes proposals for single-country or regional programs with 
a focus on political leadership for women. Specifically, the program 
should combine elements such as leadership fundamentals, the 
introduction or improvement of skills associated with campaign 
management, accountability to constituencies, lobbying, surveying, 
polling, advocacy, voter outreach, networking, message development, 
working with the media, fundraising, and meeting challenges and 
responsibilities of public office once elected. Proposals must indicate 
a practical and sophisticated knowledge of the political and 
legislative environment in the target African country.
Young Leaders and the Building of Civil Society
    Proposals should focus on the role that young African leaders 
should and can play in building civil society. Participants would be 
emerging leaders--recent graduates--who appear to be on a trajectory to 
prominent positions in their societies and/or work with youth 
organizations and non-governmental organizations. Issues to be 
addressed would include the meaning of civil society, the separation of 
powers, the role of non-governmental organizations, components of 
democracy, issues of national identity, democratic and team-centered 
approaches to organizational management, etc. The exchange should 
encompass both the theoretical and the experiential, with participants 
working with and learning from American young leaders active in the 
development and strengthening of civil society through civic education 
and grassroots mobilization. Of special interest to ECA are programs 
that focus on leadership programs for at-risk youth, and the 
reintegration of child soldiers into civil society.
Additional Guidelines for Africa
    Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities: The Bureau is 
particularly interested in projects that focus on or include persons 
with disabilities in any of the above-listed themes.
    Opportunity for Small Grants Programming: Program plans for 
projects in any of the above themes may include a component for a Small 
Grants Competition (often referred to as ``seed'' grants). This 
requires a detailed plan for recruitment and advertising; sample 
application; description of the proposal review and award mechanism; a 
plan for how the grantee would monitor and evaluate small grant 
activity; and a proposed amount for an average grant. Funds for the 
Small Grants Competition should be no more than 25 percent total 
requested from the Bureau.
    Content-Based Internet Training: The President has recently 
extolled the virtues of using the Internet to lift countries out of 
poverty. The Bureau therefore encourages applicants to use the Internet 
to assist African counterparts in conducting research, networking, and 
communicating on the above-listed priority issues. The purpose of the 
training is not to instruct in Internet technology and use, but to 
encourage citizen participation in workshops, fora, chats, and/or 
discussions via the Internet that will stimulate communication and 
information sharing on relevant topics. Proposals that include content-
based Internet training must reflect knowledge of the opportunities and 
obstacles that exist for information technologies in the target country 
or countries, and, if needed, provide hardware, software and servers, 
preferably as a form of cost sharing.
    Contact for ECA/PE/C/AF programs: Orna Blum, 202/260-2754; E-Mail 
{[email protected]}

Near East and North Africa (NEA)

South Asia (SA)

    Proposals that respond to the following suggested themes and 
organizational approaches will receive priority consideration in the 
awarding of grants for exchange activity in the Near East, North 
Africa, and South Asia. While not all countries suggested as 
participants for each project must be included in the exchange, and 
proposals for single-country projects will receive full consideration, 
projects bringing together representatives from three or more countries 
will be given priority consideration. Proposals for exchange projects 
that address issues of crucial importance to the United States and to 
proposed partner countries but that do not respond specifically to the 
themes included below will also be considered. The countries/entities 
comprising the NEA and SA AREAS are listed below. Currently there is no 
U.S. mission in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, or Libya. Please consider 
countries listed (specific interest) as potential exchange partners in 
projects that address the theme, but recognize that all themes may be 
appropriate for region-wide (any country or group of countries) 
consideration.
Countries/Entities of the Near East and North Africa
Algeria; Bahrain; Egypt; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; 
Libya; Morocco; Oman; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Tunisia; the United 
Arab Emirates (UAE); the West Bank and Gaza; Yemen
Countries of South Asia
Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Bhutan; India; the Maldives; Nepal; Pakistan; 
Sri Lanka
Citizen Participation and Advocacy (Building and Strengthening Non-
Governmental Organizations)
Of specific interest for India; Bangladesh; Pakistan; Nepal; Egypt; 
Morocco; Israel; the West Bank and Gaza; Lebanon; Syria; Saudi Arabia; 
Kuwait; and the UAE

    Social and political activism, encouraged, focussed, and channeled 
through non-governmental organizations, is a basic underpinning of 
democratic society. Strengthening NGO advocacy skills, management, 
grassroots support, recruitment and motivation of volunteers, 
fundraising and financial management, media relations, and networking 
for mutual support and reinforcement will strengthen democratic/civil 
society trends in the region. Among other emphases, this project should 
focus on answering questions about the proper role of NGO's, 
facilitating Internet communication and on developing cooperation 
between educators and NGO's and between government agencies and NGO's 
for community action. It is essential that organizations submitting 
proposals in this category recognize that democratic activism is viewed 
with distrust by some of the governments in the area and that foreign 
involvement with local NGO's must be carefully thought out and 
approached with subtlety and sensitivity, as such involvement may be 
viewed with suspicion. Close consultation with American Embassy/
Consulate officers is critical.

[[Page 47814]]

Women's Activism, Organizational Skills, and Political Leadership
Of specific interest for Egypt; Israel, Lebanon; Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; 
UAE; Bahrain; Oman; Qatar; Yemen.

    This theme is also highly appropriate for a binational India-
Pakistan project, a South Asia regional exchange, or a regional project 
involving the countries of the Arabian Gulf. Throughout the region, 
women exercise disproportionately little political and social 
influence. While some women's groups have organized themselves and 
actively campaign for equal rights and a greater say in local issues, 
women need to learn how to develop consensus on issues and build a 
constituency, mobilize support--both urban/political and grassroots--
raise money at the municipal, state, and national levels, and how to 
win elections. Once elected, how can they most effectively represent 
the interests of their constituents? What can women activists do to 
affect policy as well as practice in the areas of health care, 
education, domestic violence, and equal treatment under the law?
Environmental Protection; Environmental Education; Wildlife 
Conservation
Of specific interest for Egypt; Israel; the West Bank and Gaza; 
Lebanon; Bahrain; India; and Nepal

    Environmental degradation undermines the quality of human life. It 
is closely linked, both directly and indirectly, with issues of public 
health (air and water pollution; solid waste management) and economic 
welfare (preservation of natural sites; ecotourism; agricultural 
productivity; the rational management of natural resources). Pollutant-
laden air and impure groundwater are trans-boundary issues, faced by 
all countries/entities. Projects are sought that enhance public 
awareness of the threat posed by environmental deterioration, that 
facilitate efforts to combat the threat by mobilizing either 
governmental or non-governmental organizations, and that work at 
multiple levels to educate and to develop solutions. Of special concern 
to India is the need for increased awareness and training regarding the 
treatment and disposal of hazardous, often medical/bio-medical, waste.
Professionalism in Media and the Strengthening of Journalistic 
Independence
Of specific interest for Israel; Jordan; the West Bank and Gaza; 
Lebanon; Tunisia; Morocco; India; Nepal; and Pakistan

    The development of professionalism in media--gaining an 
appreciation for the importance of objective reporting; developing 
subject specialization; applying rational management techniques to 
newspaper publishing; etc.--remains an area in which serious efforts 
must be expended if the fourth estate is to fulfill its potential as a 
pillar of democratic society. Concomitantly, laws throughout the region 
constrain press freedoms, and journalists, editors, and publishers are 
forced to self-censor, lest governments punish the media for having 
conveyed the message. Projects are needed to address professionalism 
and to focus on training and advice to individuals and organizations 
devoted to the protection of press freedoms and to the defense of 
journalists and their right to practice their profession with 
integrity.

Judicial Reform and the Administration of Justice or Conflict 
Resolution/Consensual Dispute Resolution

Of specific interest for Egypt; Morocco; Tunisia; Oman; Lebanon; 
Israel; Bangladesh; India; Pakistan

    A well trained, independent judiciary is fundamental to a 
democratic political and social system. The integrity of the judicial 
process and, by extrapolation, public confidence in the ability of the 
judicial process to deliver justice must be protected from political 
interference in legal proceedings and public perception of unequal and 
unfair treatment before the bench of women, members of ethnic minority 
communities, and the poor. Even well qualified and well intentioned 
judges are obstructed in their efforts to deliver justice by case 
backlog, by procedural delay, and by insufficient authority to exercise 
judicial discretion in court management. It is important that judges of 
both lower and higher courts be introduced to the principles and 
practices of U.S. jurisprudence and that such fundamental procedures as 
alternative dispute resolution, early neutral evaluation, case 
management, the acceptance of guilty pleas, continuous trial 
proceedings, and arbitration/mediation be familiar to them. A corollary 
to this issue, to be dealt with in the context of administration of 
justice, is the need to address the unequal treatment of women by 
officers at all levels within the justice system and of the need to 
recognize and seriously to deal with the problem of sexual harassment 
in the workplace.
Civic Education: Educating for Democracy
Of specific interest for Egypt; Israel; the West Bank and Gaza; 
Lebanon; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; UAE

    Enhanced citizen awareness of and increased participation in those 
activities that support democratic goals are a high priority. Regional 
or single-country exchange projects should be designed to assist 
educators, community activists, and journalists teach about and 
demonstrate the efficacy of civic responsibility, citizens' initiative, 
and tolerance while avoiding direct political advocacy for the 
establishment of ``liberal democracy.'' The importance of active 
citizenship and the potent role of democratically oriented institutions 
in social change should be highlighted, with emphasis on average 
citizens sharing a sense of responsibility for their national future, 
voluntarism, and promoting community initiatives for change. 
Participants might include teachers, administrators, curriculum 
planners, Ministry of Education policy-makers, community activists, 
journalists, etc.
Education
Of specific interest for Egypt and Israel

    Curriculum development, textbook writing, teacher training and 
skills enhancement, and the teaching of English in context are all 
areas of strong need and interest. Special interest is expressed in the 
utilization of computers and the Internet to stimulate student 
creativity and to move away from rote learning.
Young Leaders and the Building of Civil Society
Of specific interest for Jordan; Israel; Egypt; the West Bank and Gaza; 
Lebanon; Morocco

    This theme is also very appropriate for a joint India-Pakistan 
project or for a South Asia regional project. Proposals should focus on 
the role young leaders should and can play in building civil society. 
Participants would be emergent leaders--recent graduates--who appear to 
be on a trajectory to prominent positions in their societies and/or 
work with youth organizations and non-governmental organizations. 
Issues to be addressed would include the meaning of civil society, the 
role of a responsible citizenry, the separation of powers, the role--
both in setting social agendas and in providing social services--of 
non-governmental organizations, components of democracy, the centrality 
of human rights, issues of national identity, etc. The exchange should 
encompass both the theoretical

[[Page 47815]]

and the experiential, with participants working with and learning from 
American young leaders active in the development and strengthening of 
civil society.
Economic Policy, Investment, and the Norms of International Commerce
Of specific interest for Tunisia; Morocco; Algeria; and Egypt

    The countries of North Africa would welcome proposals to strengthen 
ongoing efforts to establish a degree of regional economic integration, 
to stimulate serious thinking about transnational trade and investment, 
and to link North African business groups with American counterparts. 
Relevant issues to be incorporated into an exchange would be 
decentralization of commercial regulation, support for privatization, 
and competitiveness.
    ECA/PE/CE/NEA contact for NEA and SA programs: Thomas Johnston, 
202/619-5325; E-Mail ([email protected])
Additional Guidance
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages the 
coordination of activities with respected universities, professional 
associations, and major cultural institutions in the U.S. and abroad, 
but particularly in the U.S. Projects should be intellectual and 
cultural, not technical. Vocational training (an occupation other than 
one requiring a baccalaureate or higher academic degree; i.e., clerical 
work, auto maintenance, etc., and other occupations requiring less than 
two years of higher education) and technical training (special and 
practical knowledge of a mechanical or a scientific subject which 
enhances mechanical, narrowly scientific, or semi-skilled capabilities) 
are ineligible for support. In addition, scholarship programs are 
ineligible for support. The Office does not support proposals limited 
to conferences or seminars (i.e., one to fourteen-day programs with 
plenary sessions, main speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It 
will support conferences only insofar as they are part of a larger 
project in duration and scope that is receiving Bureau funding from 
this competition. Bureau-supported projects may include internships; 
study tours; short-term, non-technical training; and extended, 
intensive workshops taking place in the United States or overseas. The 
themes addressed in exchange programs must be of long-term importance 
rather than focused exclusively on current events or short-term issues. 
In every case, a substantial rationale must be presented as part of the 
proposal, one that clearly indicates the distinctive and important 
contribution of the overall project, including, where applicable, the 
expected yield of any associated conference. No funding is available 
exclusively to send U.S. citizens to conferences or conference-type 
seminars overseas; nor is funding available for bringing foreign 
nationals to conferences or to routine professional association 
meetings in the United States. Projects that duplicate what is 
routinely carried out by private sector and/or public sector operations 
will not be considered. The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly 
recommends that applicants consult with host country U.S. Embassies 
prior to submitting proposals.

Selection of Participants

    All grant proposals should clearly describe the type of persons who 
will participate in the program as well as the process by which 
participants will be selected. It is recommended that programs in 
support of U.S. internships include letters tentatively committing host 
institutions to support the internships. In the selection of foreign 
participants, the Bureau and U.S. Embassies abroad retain the right to 
nominate all participants and to accept or deny participants 
recommended by grantee institutions. However, grantee institutions are 
often asked by the Bureau to suggest names of potential participants. 
The grantee institution will also provide the names of American 
participants and brief (two pages) biographical data on each American 
participant to the Office of Citizen Exchanges for information 
purposes. Priority will be given to foreign participants who have not 
previously traveled to the United States.

Additional Guidance

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges offers the following additional 
guidance to prospective applicants:
    1. The Office of Citizen Exchanges encourages project proposals 
involving more than one country. Pertinent rationale which links 
countries in multi-country projects should be included in the 
submission. Single-country projects that are clearly defined and 
possess the potential for creating and strengthening continuing 
linkages between foreign and U.S. institutions are also welcome.
    2. Proposals for bilateral programs are subject to review and 
comment by the Embassy representative in the relevant country, and pre-
selected participants will also be subject to Embassy review.
    3. Bilateral programs should clearly identify the counterpart 
organization and provide evidence of the organization's participation.
    4. The Office of Citizen Exchanges will consider proposals for 
activities that take place exclusively in other countries when U.S. 
Embassies are consulted in the design of the proposed program and in 
the choice of the most suitable venues for such programs.
    5. Office of Citizen Exchanges grants are not given to support 
projects whose focus is limited to technical or vocational subjects, or 
for research projects, for publications funding, for student and/or 
teacher/faculty exchanges, for sports and/or sports related programs. 
Nor does this office provide scholarships or support for long-term (a 
semester or more) academic studies. Competitions sponsored by other 
Bureau offices are also announced in the Federal Register.
    For projects that would begin after December 31, 2001, competition 
details will be announced in the Federal Register on or about June 1, 
2001. Inquiries concerning technical requirements are welcome prior to 
submission of applications.

Funding

    Although no set funding limit exists, proposals for less than 
$135,000 will receive preference. Organizations with less than four 
years of successful experience in managing international exchange 
programs are limited to $60,000. Applicants are invited to provide both 
an all-inclusive budget as well as separate sub-budgets for each 
program component, phase, location, or activity in order to facilitate 
Bureau decisions on funding. While an all-inclusive budget must be 
provided with each proposal, separate component budgets are optional. 
Competition for Bureau funding support is keen. To illustrate, the 
Bureau received 94 grant proposals in response to the FY-2000 Open 
Grants Program. Funding from Bureau resources and Interagency transfer 
supported a total of 26 awards. The selection of grantee institutions 
will depend on program substance, cross-cultural sensitivity, and 
ability to carry out the program successfully. Since Bureau grant 
assistance constitutes only a portion of total project funding, 
proposals should list and provide evidence of other anticipated sources 
of financial and in-kind support. Proposals with substantial private 
sector support from foundations, corporations, and other institutions, 
will be deemed highly competitive. The Recipient must provide a minimum 
of 33 percent cost sharing of the total project cost.
    The following project costs are eligible for consideration for 
funding:

[[Page 47816]]

    1. Travel costs. International and domestic air fares; visas; 
transit costs; ground transportation costs. Please note that all air 
travel must be in compliance with the Fly America Act. There is no 
charge for J-1 visas for participants in Bureau sponsored programs.
    2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of 
using a flat $160/day for program participants or the published U.S. 
Federal per diem rates for individual American cities. For activities 
outside the U.S., the published Federal per diem rates must be used. 
Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the published Federal per diem 
rates, not the flat rate. Per diem rates may be accessed at http://www.policyworks.gov/.
    3. Interpreters: If needed, interpreters for the U.S. program are 
available through the State Department's Language Services Division. 
Typically, a pair of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every 
four visitors who need interpretation. Bureau grants do not pay for 
foreign interpreters to accompany delegations from their home country. 
Grant proposal budgets should contain a flat $160/day per diem for each 
Department of State interpreter, as well as home-program-home air 
transportation of $400 per interpreter plus any U.S. travel expenses 
during the program. Salary expenses are covered centrally and should 
not be part of an applicant's proposed budget. Locally-arranged 
interpreters with adequate skills and experience may be used by the 
grantee in lieu of State Department interpreters, with the same 1:4 
interpreter:participation ratio. Costs associated with using their 
services may not exceed rates for State Department interpreters.
    4. Book and cultural allowance: Foreign participants are entitled 
to and escorts are reimbursed a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per 
person, plus a participant book allowance of $50. U.S. program staff 
are not eligible to receive these benefits.
    5. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide specialized 
expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria generally do not exceed 
$250 per day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which 
case the written agreement between the prospective grantee and 
subcontractor should be included in the proposal. Subcontracts should 
be itemized in the budget.
    6. Room rental. Room rental may not exceed $250 per day.
    7. Materials development. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, 
develop, and translate materials for participants.
    8. Equipment. Proposals may contain limited costs to purchase 
equipment crucial to the success of the program, such as computers, fax 
machines and copy machines. However, equipment costs must be kept to a 
minimum, and costs for furniture are not allowed.
    9. Working Meal. The grant budget may provide for only one working 
meal during the program. Per capita costs may not exceed $5-8 for a 
lunch and $14-20 for a dinner, excluding room rental. The number of 
invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a factor of 
two-to-one. Interpreters must be included as participants.
    10. Return travel allowance. A return travel allowance of $70 for 
each foreign participant may be included in the budget. This may be 
used for incidental expenses incurred during international travel.
    11. Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered under 
the terms of a Department of State-sponsored health insurance policy. 
The premium is paid by the Department of State directly to the 
insurance company. Applicants are permitted to include costs for travel 
insurance for U.S. participants in the budget.
    12. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grant 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct or indirect costs 
per detailed instructions in the Solicitation Package. Note: the 20 
percent limitation of ``administrative costs'' included in previous 
announcements does not apply to this RFP. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines.

Review Process

    The Bureau will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will 
review them for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed 
ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the guidelines established 
herein and in the Solicitation Packet. Eligible proposals will be 
forwarded to panels of Bureau officers for advisory review. All 
eligible proposals will also be reviewed by the program office, as well 
the U.S. Embassy officers for advisory review, where appropriate. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Advisor or by 
other offices in the Department of State. Funding decisions will be 
made at the discretion of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and 
Public Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants 
or cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    The Bureau will consider proposals based on their conformance with 
the objectives and considerations already stated in this RFP, as well 
as the following criteria:
    1. Quality of Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit originality, 
substance, precision, and relevance to the Agency mission.
    2. Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Detailed 
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to 
the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should 
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program objectives and 
plan.
    3. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the 
substantive support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Program 
content (training sessions, resource materials, follow-on activities) 
and program administration (participant selection process, orientation, 
evaluation, resource/staff persons) should address diversity in a 
comprehensive and innovative manner. Applicants should refer to the 
Bureau's Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines on page four of 
the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
    5. Institutional Capacity/Reputation/Ability: Proposed personnel 
and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to 
achieve the program's or project's goal. Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by the Bureau's 
Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past performance of 
prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) which ensures 
that Bureau-supported programs are not isolated events.
    7. Evaluation Plan: Proposals should provide a plan for a thorough 
and objective evaluation of the program/project by the grantee 
institution.
    8. Cost-Effectiveness/Cost Sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept

[[Page 47817]]

as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, 
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the need of the 
program and the availability of funds. Organizations will be expected 
to cooperate with the Bureau in evaluating their programs under the 
principles of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, which 
requires federal agencies to measure and report on the results of their 
programs and activities.

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been fully 
appropriated by the Congress, allocated, and committed through internal 
Bureau procedures.

    Dated: July 26, 2000.
Evelyn S. Lieberman,
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-19572 Filed 8-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P