[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35481-35489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16836]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3716]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: Open Grants Competition

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 1.501 [c] 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.
    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 ECA/PE/C-02-1. 
Please refer to title and number in all correspondence or telephone 
calls to the Office of Citizen Exchanges.

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.

Program Information

    We welcome proposals that directly respond to the following 
suggestions in each of the following countries. Given budgetary 
considerations, projects in other countries and for other themes will 
not be eligible for consideration.
    Applicants should carefully review the following recommendations 
for proposals in specific geographical areas:

Africa (AF)

    Proposals are requested for projects that would advance sustainable 
democracy by building human capital in Sub-Saharan 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.
    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, or for which 
exchange activities would complement--not duplicate--current programs.
    ECA seeks programs for Sub-Saharan Africa that address the 
following themes:

1. Joining Forces to Combat HIV/AIDS
2. Education for Democracy
3. Conflict Management and Resolution
4. Trade and Investment; AGOA
5. Strengthening an Independent Media
6. Environmental Protection; Environmental Education; Wildlife 
Conservation
    (Please note: A separate Request for Grant Proposals will be 
published by the Office of Citizen Exchanges for projects addressing 
governance partnerships in Sub-SaharanAfrica.)

1. Joining Forces To Combat HIV/AIDS

    The Bureau welcomes proposals for creative community-based 
initiatives that will promote better health care and prevent the spread 
of HIV/AIDS. Projects should explore the need to develop and reward 
leadership in these efforts, to improve community health education, and 
to remove barriers that impede a cooperative multi-sectoral response to 
HIV/AIDS. Projects should address some of following topics: Prevention 
and stigma reduction strategies for people living with HIV/AIDS, 
especially women and youth; engagement of political, religious, 
cultural and other leaders in public education efforts; grassroots 
mobilization and advocacy. Of special interest to the Bureau would be 
projects addressing the link between cultural practices, the 
empowerment of women and girls, and the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

2. Education for Democracy

    The Bureau welcomes proposals that strengthen civic education in 
Africa. Proposals should include development of curricula (in close 
cooperation with African partners), as well as training of teachers in 
participatory classroom methodologies. Curricula should focus on the 
role that individuals (in particular, youth) should and can play in a 
democracy. 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 decision-making, etc. The 
exchange should encompass both the theoretical and the experiential, 
with participants working with and learning from American teachers and 
young leaders. Of special interest to ECA are curricula that focus on 
leadership development for at-risk youth. Another special interest is 
school-based programs aimed as inculcating a culture of lawfulness that 
counters crime and corruption by educating young people on their civil, 
moral, and legal obligations to society.

3. Conflict Management and Resolution

    If peace is to have meaning, citizens of the region must address 
one another in constructive ways, overcoming the

[[Page 35482]]

fears and resentments that have built up over time. A project should 
include stakeholders from different nations, ethnic groups, or 
religious communities in an effort to expand the dialogue for 
coexistence. The Bureau is especially interested in proposals that 
highlight the role of civil society--including women and young 
leaders--in resolving conflicts and participating in negotiations for 
implementation of peace accords.

4. Trade and Investment; AGOA

    The African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), signed into law in 
May of 2000, offers qualifying African countries (there are 35 as of 
this time) preferential access to U.S. markets for their industries. We 
invite proposals to `jumpstart' the AGOA process by providing medium 
and small African business entrepreneurs and members of business 
association's exposure to AGOA and to the American market in order to 
increase capacity to develop new African-U.S. trade linkages. Proposed 
programs should include activities to enhance participants' 
understanding of American business norms and actual practices, provide 
them with knowledge of U.S. customs operations, product distribution 
and retailing, and, finally, help them develop business linkages and 
relationships with manufacturers and businesses in their respective 
sectors.

5. Strengthening an Independent Media

    We invite proposals to build 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. Concomitantly, attention must 
be given to laws that constrain freedom of information and to forces 
that urge journalists, editors, producers and publishers to censor 
themselves, lest governments punish the media for having conveyed the 
message. Program activities should emphasize hands-on activities such 
as professional internships, small group training and specially 
tailored projects, rather than academic seminars. Of special interest 
are programs on political reporting in a multi-party democracy.

6. Environmental Protection; Environmental Education; Wildlife 
Conservation

    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; eco-tourism; agricultural 
productivity; the rational management of natural resources). 
Environmental protection and conservation 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 
interest are projects that would build the capacity of national park 
systems, strengthen local economies, and promote regional/cross-border 
cooperation in the Great Lakes region (Rwanda, Uganda and the 
Democratic Republic of Congo), as well as projects to clean up major 
cities in other countries.
    Contact for AF programs: Curtis Huff, 202/619-5972; e-mail 
[email protected] or James Ogul, 202/205-0535; e-mail: 
[email protected].

East Asia and the Pacific (EAP)

For China

    1. Rule of Law: Projects, which include the development of an 
independent judiciary, the enforcement of laws concerning intellectual 
property rights (IPR), government accountability and alternative 
dispute resolution (ADR). The objective is to expose officials, 
journalists, lawyers and other relevant professionals to the concepts 
and practice of law in the U.S.
    2. WTO Implementation: Projects, which include TRIPS compliance, 
IPR enforcement, regulatory transparency, sector reforms and measures 
that government and business can take to ease the displacement of 
workers in the process of economic liberalization.
    3. Volunteerism: Projects which emphasize the role that volunteer 
groups play in giving voice to citizens' concerns and how U.S. 
organizations have succeeded in developing effective volunteer networks 
in the U.S.
    4. Women in Society: Projects which foster a dialogue on 
effectively addressing the common challenges women face in both 
countries, including the combating of family violence, a rapidly 
growing concern in China.
    The need to involve individuals and organizations in the Western 
region of China's vast interior should be reflected in successful 
proposals, particularly in the Rule of Law and WTO proposals.

For Indonesia

    1. Conflict resolution: Projects focused on the promotion of 
cultural and religious tolerance in an ethnically diverse society. 
Activities located in regions outside of Java, such as Aceh, Maluku, 
Irian Jaya/Papua are especially welcomed, as are those emphasizing the 
role of the media in promoting tolerance and the resolution of 
conflict.
    2. Media: Projects, which emphasize the role that a free and 
professional media play in a democracy. Activities taking place outside 
of Jakarta are recommended, as is the involvement of media 
organizations such as the Press Council, the Alliance of Indonesian 
Journalists and Media Watch.
    3. Rule of Law: Projects concentrated on the use of the legal 
system to improve the protection of human rights. Potential 
participants include: members of the Constitution Drafting Committee on 
the development of human rights law; lawyers and/or judges on the use 
of the court system to protect human rights; a human rights NGO on the 
provision of legal services for the indigent. Also favorably looked 
upon would be a project on the issues of reconciliation and justice, 
with the need for both.

For Malaysia

    1. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Projects to design courses 
on recent developments in IPR law and cyber law. Malaysia, according to 
the USTR, is a main producer and exporter of pirated products, 
partially due to its lack of expertise in IPR law and low prosecution 
rates for IPR offenses. An institutional affiliation with the 
University of Malaya Law Faculty, including faculty exchanges and a 
possible distance education component, would help confront rampant IPR 
piracy and also contribute to a greater understanding of the U.S. legal 
system. Projects that incorporate workshops and training on these 
issues for staff of the Attorney General's office and the judiciary are 
also welcomed.
    2. Judicial Reform: Projects to aid in the implementation of recent 
legal reforms, especially alternative dispute resolution and case 
management. Other high priority projects relate to judicial 
accountability, including training on the role of an independent 
judiciary, appropriate conduct for judges and institutional mechanisms 
for ensuring judicial independence and impartiality.
    3. Mutual Understanding: Projects designed to strengthen meaningful 
exchange between young Malaysians and Americans, especially on issues 
pertaining to globalization, human

[[Page 35483]]

rights and democracy. Because the numbers of Malaysians studying in the 
U.S. have recently and dramatically decreased, a generation of young 
professionals will soon have no direct knowledge or understanding of 
U.S. society. However, there is also growing interest in the Islamic 
community in the U.S.; thus a project focused on Islam and interfaith 
dialogue would help dispel what is perceived as the USG's ``anti-
Islamic'' agenda.

For Mongolia

    1. Media in a New Democracy: Projects that emphasize the role of a 
free and independent press in strengthening a new democracy and media 
strategies to accomplish that goal. Upgrade professional skills of 
journalists in order to bolster their role in the building of 
democracy. Training could emphasize standards of objectivity and media 
ethics and issues such as anti-corruption.
    2. Promoting Democratic Government: Projects that demonstrate how a 
democratic government functions from the community to the national 
level. Designed for mid to upper level government officials and 
Parliamentarians relatively unfamiliar with the democratic process, 
these programs should focus on such issues as deregulation, the role of 
the media in a democracy, separation of powers and the government's 
role in social and economic development.

For the Philippines

    1. Projects focused on the Philippines' capacity to assess and 
remedy environmental problems and on the formulation and enforcement of 
regulations that protect threatened land, coastal and marine resources. 
Since the Philippines has received international priority for 
assistance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, projects that promote 
the use of clean fuels and renewable energy to improve efficiency in 
energy generation, transmission, distribution and usage are also 
welcomed.
    2. Economic Prosperity: Projects focused on increasing market 
access through the liberalization of trade and investment and on 
expanding awareness of the potential benefits of globalization and the 
interconnectedness of the world economy are welcomed. As the poorest 
market economy in the region, the Philippines would benefit from 
improved economic access to the American market and U.S. exports and 
investments in the Philippines would also benefit. Projects that assist 
in the design and funding of a social welfare net for those at the 
bottom of the economic ladder are also solicited.

For Vietnam

    1. Bilateral Trade: Proposals in the public administration of trade 
regimes, such as training for customs officials, product promotion of 
both exports and imports, port administration, accountability, tracking 
systems development, etc.
    2. Public Health Administration: Projects that support low-cost 
sanitation efforts and basic health education.
    ECA contact for EA programs: Steve Lebens, 202/260-5485; 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 be considered Near East, North Africa, 
and South Asia. Not all countries listed in parentheses as potential 
participants under the theme must be included in the exchange, and 
proposals for single-country projects will receive full consideration. 
Project proposals that bring together representatives from three or 
more countries will receive priority consideration. Additionally, not 
all components mentioned in relation to a given theme must be addressed 
in a proposal; the paragraphs below are intended as a stimulus to 
critical thinking, not as immutable frameworks.
    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

1. Citizen Participation and Advocacy (Building and Strengthening Non-
governmental Organizations)

    For India; Bangladesh; Pakistan; Nepal; Egypt; Morocco; Israel, the 
West Bank and Gaza; Lebanon; Syria; Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; the UAE:
    Social and political activism, encouraged, focused, 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, about 
facilitating Internet communication and about 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.

2. Women's Activism, Organizational Skills, and Political Leadership

    For Egypt; India; Israel; Lebanon; Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; UAE; 
Bahrain; Oman; Qatar; Yemen:
    This theme is also appropriate for 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, at either 
the state or the national level, 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? 
Elected women need skills training in budget, human resource 
management, policy analysis, legislative drafting, and fighting 
corruption.

3. Environmental Protection; Environmental Education; Urban Environment

    For Egypt; Israel; the West Bank and Gaza; Lebanon; Bahrain; India; 
Nepal:

[[Page 35484]]

    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; the balance 
between industrial growth and environmental concerns, especially in 
urban areas). 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, that 
engage municipal officials, planners, and service providers, 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.

4. Professionalism in Media and the Strengthening of Journalistic 
Independence

    For Israel; Jordan; the Wet 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.

5. Rule of Law/Administration of Justice

    For Nepal and Egypt:
    A well-trained, independent judiciary is fundamental to a 
democratic political and social system. The integrity of the judicial 
process, affecting public confidence in the ability of the judicial 
process to deliver justice, must be protected from political 
interference. Public perception of unequal and unfair treatment before 
the bench of women, members of ethnic minority communities and the poor 
is widespread. 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 alternate 
dispute resolution, early neutral evaluation, case management, the 
acceptance of guilty pleas, continuous trial proceedings, and 
arbitration/mediation.
    For Pakistan or South Asia Regional:
    In many countries the legal profession is itself a major impediment 
to legal reform.
    Members of the bar take to the streets in semi-violent protest when 
the judiciary suggests reforms. Local bar associations function more as 
clubs than as professional institutions. Judges feel vulnerable to the 
legal profession and cannot formally relate to its practitioners. 
Proposals are sought from American institutions with experience in 
training members of the bench and the bar to work together to resolve 
such issues as performance standards (efficiency; competence; fairness 
of administration), ethical standards (impropriety; corruption; 
discrimination against specific groups, such as women or minorities), 
and other related concerns. The goal of such a project would be to 
enhance the professionalism of the judiciary, the quality of the 
relationship between the judiciary and the bar, and, by extrapolation, 
to raise the quality of the administration of justice.
    For Jordan:
    A project is sought to institute private sector or university-based 
programs to train paralegals and court administrators. Participants 
might be unemployed or underemployed university graduates. It would be 
essential to work with the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, and the 
bar association to assure that the trained graduates could be 
integrated into the court system, with the goal of contributing to the 
more efficient functioning of the judicial process.

6. Public Health

    Issues of public health are central to the social well-being and to 
the economic productivity and stability of a country. Some such issues 
are directly related to the physical environment; others are more 
appropriately addressed through the introduction of programs or the 
institution of educational/training designed to modify the behavior of 
individual citizens.
    For India:
    Programs are sought that will result in the modification of current 
practices having a deleterious impact on public health, such as 
inadequate or nonexistent to water treatment and purification, 
inadequate exhaust standards, food processing facilities, waste 
collection and disposal (including biomedical waste), unsterile 
practices at hospitals, the absence of screening at blood banks, the 
operation of aging smokestack industries, etc.
    For Israel; the West Bank and Gaza:
    Statistics in Israel indicate an alarming increase in incidents of 
violence in Israeli society, particularly school violence and domestic 
violence. Similar patterns appear to exist in the West Bank and Gaza. 
Educators posit that the overall violence of the Israeli-Palestinian 
confrontation has a spillover effect, with students acting out in the 
schools what they witness in the streets and at home. An exchange both 
to investigate the causes of increased in-school violence and to 
develop educational programs focused on youth and young adults--the 
most common perpetrators and victims of the violence--would be 
welcomed.

7. Combating Narcotic Abuse and Developing Positive Approaches to 
Rehabilitation and Re-integration

    For Israel; Jordan; India:
    Narcotics trafficking and abuse is an increasing problem for 
countries in the Near East and South Asia. There is a need for a 
regional project, to include educators, community leaders, medical 
practitioners, and drug rehabilitation experts, to work with American 
counterparts in building a strategy to contain the spread of drug use. 
Emphasis should be placed on dealing with the issue on a community 
level, and there should be a focus on rehabilitation and the re-
integration into society of former addicts through such undertakings as 
job skills training programs and family and community support efforts 
including initiatives and mechanisms for minimizing the likelihood of 
relapse.
    For India:
    NGO's in India dealing with substance abuse have adopted diverse 
approaches to treatment, follow-up, aftercare, and rehabilitation. The 
greatest problem they face is the relapse of recovering addicts. The 
three major NGO's in this field in Calcutta are interested in working 
with American specialists who can provide updated

[[Page 35485]]

strategies of relapse prevention. Similarly these NGO's need to develop 
low-cost but effective ``care and support'' programs for HIV positive 
individuals, including counseling training.

8. Good Governance

    For Morocco and Nepal:
    Although concepts such as good governance and ethics, transparency, 
responsiveness, and the fight against corruption play an increasing 
role in public debates, in the media, and in regional conferences, 
there is little evidence of reform. The populace, experiencing abuses 
of power and corruption on a daily basis, lacks confidence in its 
institutions. A proposal is sought that would assist in the development 
of mechanisms of control to counteract corruption. The American NGO 
would work with indigenousNGO's, citizens' rights groups, journalists, 
human rights organizations, and government officials to determine how 
best to expose and combat corruption. Success in making government at 
all levels accountable and transparent would contribute greatly toward 
the development of democratic institutions and civic responsibility and 
would encourage increased foreign investment.
    For India and Jordan:
    With the creation of new governmental units in some countries and 
the increasing need for more sophisticated knowledge and skills among 
legislators and professional parliamentary staff in others, there is a 
need for training both elected officials and professional staff in 
management and research skills, legislative drafting, program analysis, 
and computer skills.

9. Conflict Management/Resolution

    For Jordan:
    The absence of local or neighborhood dispute resolution centers 
staffed by individuals trained in mediation, minor disputes, often 
within families or between neighbors, may escalate into formal 
conflict, enter the legal system, and evolve into win-lose situations. 
A project is sought to establish and provide support--training; 
administrative skills development--for local alternative dispute 
resolution efforts.
    For Israel; the West Bank and Gaza; India; Pakistan; Lebanon; Sri 
Lanka:
    A community that must expend its time, its energy, and its material 
resources on offensive or defensive combat is unable to develop or 
maintain a civil basis for democratic institutions. Projects are sought 
that will focus on redefining inter-communal conflict in specific 
situations and, through facilitating dialogue--among teachers, 
professionals, businesspersons, journalists, community activists--
promote better understanding among parties in conflict.

10. Human Rights

    For Nepal:
    Following the establishment of democracy, the government of Nepal 
made various commitments to ensure the rights of women and children. 
Diverse organizations are available to work with American specialists 
in the areas of child labor and trafficking in women and children. A 
proposal is sought to work with Nepalese counterparts in combating 
child labor and in promoting the rights of women and children in an 
environment in which trafficking remains a major threat.
    ECA/PE/C/NEA contact for NEA and SA programs: Thomas Johnston, 202/
619-5325;{[email protected]} or Susan Krause, 202/619-5332; 
{[email protected]}

Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)

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

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. In addition, we welcome proposals that improve civil rights 
for Afro-Latino minorities in the region, with special attention to the 
goals of economic development and full participation in their nation's 
democratic institutions and civic life. 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. cities to better understand how effective communities can and 
do resolve problems via strategic planning and implementation. Project 
activities might focus on how municipal teams, including government 
officials, educational leaders, NGOs, business leaders, etc., join 
forces to develop approaches to economic development or solutions to 
major problems (environment, crime, drug use, etc.) Ideally, 
participants will be involved in this kind of strategic committee and 
will share ideas, successes, and challenges from the two countries.

For Brazil

    We welcome proposals for projects designed to work with the 
Brazilian judiciary and legal establishment on implementing alternative 
dispute resolution, particularly mediation, in the country.

For El Salvador

    We welcome proposals that involve participants in development of 
public environmental education campaigns in which the private sector, 
media and NGOs play important roles in the fields of promoting and 
implementing programs on resource conservation, recycling in areas 
outside the major metropolitan areas and sustainable development. 
Special focus should be devoted towards the strengthening of local 
Salvadoran environmental NGOs, many of which do not have the personnel 
or resources to support large-scale public environmental education 
projects. Competitive proposals should emphasize preventive maintenance 
and regular cleaning of water drainage systems during the rainy season 
(May-November).

For Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama

    We welcome proposals that involve participants in developing 
environmental education programs in schools and to the public with use 
of the media 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. InPanama there is growing public 
awareness that the time for action is now and that education is the 
key. Therefore, for Panama 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.

[[Page 35486]]

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 Jamaica

    We welcome proposals that would create opportunities for Jamaican 
communities to better understand how to resolve problems via citizen 
participation and multi-sectoral cooperation. Project activities might 
focus on how municipal teams, including NGOs, civic and educational 
leaders, government officials, business leaders, media, etc., join 
forces to develop approaches to economic development or solutions to 
major problems (crime, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, drug use, 
environment, etc.). Of special interest are programs that encourage 
participation and leadership by women and youth at risk.

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]}

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the NewlyIndependent 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.

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 
review all participant nominations and to accept or deny participants 
recommended by grantee institutions. However, grantee institutions 
should describe in detail the recruitment and selection process they 
recommend. 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.

Guidelines

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges works with U.S. private sector and 
governmental, 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 United 
States or overseas involving leaders or potential leaders in the 
following fields and professions: urban planners, jurists, specialized 
journalists (specialists in economics, business, environmental, 
political analysis, international affairs), business professionals, NGO 
and community leaders, environmental specialists, parliamentarians, 
educators, economists, and other government officials
    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. Projects 
that duplicate what is routinely carried out by private sector and/or 
public sector operations will not be considered. All applicants should 
contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges to discuss program concepts 
prior to proposal submission. In addition, applicants are encouraged to 
contact the Public Affairs Sections in U.S. Embassies to discuss 
proposed activities and their relevance to mission priorities.
    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. Examples of possible 
program activities include:
    1. A U.S.-based program that includes: orientation to program 
purposes and to U.S. society; study tour/site visits; professional 
internships/placements; interaction and dialogue; hands-on training; 
professional development; and action plan development.
    2. Capacity-building/training-of-trainer (TOT) workshops to help 
participants to identify priorities, create work plans, strengthen 
professional and volunteer skills, share their experience to committed 
people within each country, and become active in a practical and 
valuable way.
    3. Seed/small grants to indigenous non-profit organizations to 
support community-based educational projects that build upon exchange 
activities and that address issues of local concern. Projects may 
include a component for a Seed/Small Grants Competition (often referred 
to as `sub-grants' or `secondary grants'). This requires a detailed 
plan for recruitment and advertising; 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. The small grants should be directly linked to exchange 
activities.
    4. Site visits by U.S. facilitators/experts to monitor projects in 
the region and to provide additional training and consultations as 
needed.
    5. Content-based Internet training/ cyber-training to encourage 
citizen participation in workshops, fora, chats, and/or discussions via 
the Internet that will stimulate communication and information sharing 
among key opinion leaders on priority topics as a form of

[[Page 35487]]

cost sharing. Proposals that include Internet utilization must reflect 
knowledge of the opportunities and obstacles that exist for use of 
information technologies in the target country or countries, and, if 
needed, provide hardware, software and servers, preferably as a form of 
cost sharing. Federal standards are under review and their adoption may 
impact on the implementation of these programs.
    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. The Office does support workshops, seminars and training 
sessions that are an integral part of a larger project. 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.

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 that 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 are subject to review and comment by the U.S. Embassy 
representative in the relevant country, and pre-selected participants 
will also be subject to Embassy review and approval.
    3. Programs should clearly identify any counterpart organization(s) 
mentioned in the proposal 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 under this RFGP 
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 otherBureau offices are also announced in the Federal 
Register.
    For projects that would begin after December 31, 2002, competition 
details will be announced in the Federal Register on or about June 1, 
2002. Inquiries concerning technical requirements are welcome prior to 
submission of applications.

Funding and Cost Sharing

    Although there are not set funding limits, proposals for less than 
$165,000 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.
    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:
    1. Travel costs. International and domestic airfares; 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 U.S. Department of State 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 to participant ratio. Costs associated with using their 
services may not exceed rates for U.S. Department of State 
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 
members 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.

[[Page 35488]]

    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 U.S. Department of State-sponsored health insurance 
policy. The premium is paid by the U.S. 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

    All proposals will be forwarded to panels of Bureau officers for 
advisory review. The program office will review each proposal. U.S. 
Embassy officers will also review proposals, where appropriate. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Advisor or by 
other offices in the Department of State. Final funding decisions are 
at the discretion of the Department of State's Acting Assistant 
Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical 
authority for grants resides with the Bureau's GrantsOfficer.

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) that 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 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.

Deadline for Proposals

    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs must receive all 
copies by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, October 5, 2001. 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 5, 2001, for projects 
where activities will begin between April 1, 2002 and December 31, 
2002.

To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet

    The Solicitation Package may be downloaded from Department of 
State's website at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/. 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: ECA/
PE/C/-02-1 Annual Open Grant Competition, Program Management, ECA/EX/
PM, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 534, Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants must also submit to E/XE the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' 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, programs 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

[[Page 35489]]

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.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, 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.''

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. Grant awards will be announced after February 1, 
2002.

    Dated: June 28, 2001.
Helena Kane Finn,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 01-16836 Filed 7-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P