Reimagining the Transatlantic Relationship
The U.S. Embassy Berlin, Public Affairs Section (PAS) is pleased to announce an open competition for funding through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The projects to be funded will encourage youth in Germany to consider the transatlantic relationship and reimagine it for the future. This NOFO outlines PAS's funding priorities, strategic focus, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Pending the availability of funds, it is U.S. Embassy Berlin's intent to award cooperative agreements for successful proposals proposing activities costing no more than $15,000 over the course of one year or less, depending upon the successful completion of goals. Program Description The U.S.-German transatlantic relationship has been a cornerstone of stability and prosperity for nearly a century. It was built on shared values such as democratic freedom, rule of law, and self-determination, to name just a few. However, today's youth have little personal, lived experience with the conditions, dynamics, and issues that forged this critical bilateral relationship. In addition, today's youth expects any relationship to address issues they find pressing such as climate change, environmental justice, diversity, jobs, and quality of life. Engaging young German audiences on the meaning, importance, and shared values underpinning German-American friendship, and how they impact issues important to youth, is an important endeavor in securing our collective future. With this funding opportunity, the Embassy is supporting projects designed to engage youth audiences in Germany on the role and significance of the past and present-day transatlantic relationship, and seek ways to invigorate the German-American partnership for decades to come. A successful program will prompt youth to re-envision and redefine the values, goals, and institutional ties of our shared relationship, finding relevance is the issues important to them. Eligible projects may feature a wide range of formats, including, but not limited to workshops, (virtual) speaker events and panel discussions, conferences, and people-to-people exchanges. Projects should prioritize designing inclusive, engaging, and interactive programs above all, encouraging youth to critically assess the current state of the transatlantic relationship, and enable them to define their expectations and hopes for its future. Participants should be drawn from diverse backgrounds, ideally also involving teenagers who have had little prior contact with the United States, transatlantic-, or political youth organizations. Through program involvement, participating youth will (1) learn about and reflect on the shared values and mutual ties between Germany and the United States, (2) critically interrogate the status quo of our relations, and based on this analysis (3) articulate a vision for the coming years of our shared path based on issues important to them. Whenever possible and requested, the Embassy will aim to provide opportunities for hands-on experiences through briefings with diplomats and participation in Public Affairs programs for project participants. The successful applicant (from hereon implementer) will be tasked to design program formats and a project curriculum to the aforementioned specifications, identify and recruit participants, and define and measure indicators of project quality. There are no specific requirements for format, audience, program structure, specific materials to be distributed, or policy issues to be addressed. Innovative approaches are encouraged. Methodologically, implementers must prioritize engaging and interactive approaches over frontal instruction. The implementer should engage in these activities strategically and with a clear and concise theory of change in mind. The Embassy will give special consideration to applicants demonstrating a clear effort to identify particularly worthwhile (sub)audiences and program sites. Sustainable project designs seeking to maximize project impact beyond the period of performance are highly appreciated. Program Objectives Put the future of the transatlantic relationship back on the map This funding opportunity is seeking projects fortifying the transatlantic relationship by: encouraging the younger generation to actively explore the history and long mutual ties of our shared relationship, but more importantly enabling participants to assess our bond's substance and value in today's political and geopolitical environment; encouraging them to define their own key issues, requirements and criteria for the partnership's success for the future; and in the process conveying the benefits of a pluralistic model of political participation that encourages dialogue, different viewpoints, innovation, and discursive, rules-based dispute resolution models Generate Insights and Measure Success The Embassy expects the project to produce actionable insights on the demographics and attitudinal profiles of participants as well as data about the project's effectiveness. Participants and Audiences The applicant may define audiences for the proposed project based on a sound theory of change, as long as they fit the age profile between 13 and 26 years old. Implementer Responsibilities The implementer will: design a varied project for the target audience to the specifications outlined; define and recruit project participants and organize, host, and lead program sessions measure and evaluate project effectiveness throughout the project's lifecycle Please refer to the full Notice of Funding Opportunity in the attachments. FAQ What award amounts may applicants apply for? Applicants should apply for the award amount that they need to successfully implement their project provided it is no higher than the $30,000 in available funding. How are indirect costs budgeted when the applicant does not have a NICRA? We will budget the de minimis rate of 10% of the modified total direct cost. Modified total direct cost is the total award cost excluding equipment expenses, capital expenditures, rental costs, scholarships and fellowships, and subawards in excess of $25,000. The sum of modified total direct costs and indirect costs must not exceed the maximum award amount. Is it possible to reallocate funds from one position to another? It is possible to be flexible with award funds if the conditions necessitate. Reallocations must be reasonable and justifiable and must be communicated to the grants officer in advance. Can you clarify which cost items are permissible? We prefer to identify and strike out non-permissible cost items after assessing all applications' merits. Including such cost items will not disadvantage the applicant in the evaluation of their proposal provided they don't make up a majority of the funds requested. What is the currency conversion rate for conversions from local currencies to USD to be used in the budget? You may select a conversion rate that is reasonably close to the current market exchange rate. What impact does the fiscal year end in September 2021 have on fund calls, disbursements, or even spending deadlines for approved funds? Can project activities also take place and be accounted for later, i.e. after September? The fiscal year cycle imposes no financial or programmatic restrictions onto the implementer. Can application documents be submitted late? No. Please submit the full application by the indicated deadline. Can the SAM.gov registration be obtained after the application deadline Yes, this is possible. However, issuance of this federal award is conditional on the applicant having an active SAM.gov registration. The registration must be obtained before obligation of the award funds.
BER-NOFO-FY21-002B Department of State US Embassy Berlin
4/13/21 2/12/21 Transatlantic Democracy Innovation Fund
The Transatlantic Democracy Fund supports collaboration and exchange between Germany and the U.S. to expand, deepen, and diversify the range of transatlantic encounters, to fully utilize our joint expertise and deep innovative potential, and to implement solutions to cooperatively shape the future of our democratic societies. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlines funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedures for the submission of requests for funding. Submitted applications will be considered on a rolling basis. This document contains both general priorities for Germany-wide projects as well as regionally-focused projects in Berlin/Brandenburg and from each of Mission Germany's five consular districts. If your organization is considering an application for a regionally focused project, please consult the specific Consulate's priority program areas in this document. The submission of a concise Statement of Interest (SOI) is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a short, concise project concept (no longer than 1,000 words) designed to clearly communicate program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decision are made. Eligible programs include but are not limited to workshop series and experiential learning events, speaker events, exchanges, and awareness campaigns. All proposed programs must include an American perspective, societal or cultural element, and/or connection with American experts, organizations, or institutions in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and viewpoints of American citizens. Additionally, programs must include public outreach components, such as livestreaming, traditional media, digital outreach, or events open to the public. Special consideration will be given to proposals targeting audiences with little exposure to the U.S. Applicants can request Embassy participation.
BER-NOFO-FY23-001 Department of State US Embassy Berlin
4/26/23 2/15/23 FY21 Annual Program Statement
This is an Annual Program Statement outlining U.S. Embassy funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Submitted applications will be considered on a rolling basis. This document contains both general priorities for Germany-wide and Berlin/Brandenburg area projects as well as regional priorities from each of the U.S. Consulates General located throughout Germany. If your organization is considering an application for a regionally focused project, please consult the specific Consulate's priority program areas in this NOFO. Please ensure to indicate for which region you are applying by prefacing the application title with one of the codes below and carefully follow the instructions in this document. BER; Berlin; Germany-wide projects, Berlin, Brandenburg DUS; Düsseldorf; North Rhine-Westphalia FRA; Frankfurt; Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Württemberg HAM; Hamburg; Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Hamburg, Bremen LEI; Leipzig; Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia MUN; Munich; Bavaria A. Program Description 1. General Information and Germany-Wide Priorities The U.S. Embassy in Berlin invites proposals for programs that promote bilateral cooperation and highlight shared values. All programs must include an American perspective, societal or cultural element, and/or connection with American experts, organizations, or institutions in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and viewpoints. Additionally, programs must include public outreach components, such as livestreaming, traditional media, digital outreach, or events open to the general public. Examples of Public Diplomacy Grant programs include, but are not limited to: · Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions · Digital and virtual productions, including podcasts and games · Lectures, workshops, and seminars as well as exchanges for professional and academic audiences General Priorities: · Projects that promote climate-smart innovations and energy transformation technologies, policies, and infrastructure to support green growth and transatlantic security; · Projects that support entrepreneurship and economic prosperity, transatlantic innovation, and the digital economy; · Projects that foster proactive approaches to countering racially and ethnically motivated terrorism, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim prejudice, homophobia, and other forms of right-wing extremism that threaten both our shared values and political stability, including, but not limited to: o Civic education programs, particularly those promoting democratic institutions and values or focusing on media literacy and disinformation · Projects that enhance our resiliency when faced with disinformation and regional destabilization; · Projects that promote educational, cultural, and civic exchanges and enhance understanding of our shared values, traditions, and history, or promote transatlantic institutional and/or community linkages, in particular o Engaging youth on the topics of democracy, diversity, and environmental protection, to facilitate new 21st century transatlantic connections shaped by future decision-makers. o Providing support for exchange-opportunities for vocational students, first-generation Germans, and underserved youth populations to promote the U.S-German relationship. o Creating long-term relationships with U.S. and German educational institutions in the fields of business, environment, economics, international relations, science, and technology. · Projects that develop STE(A)M, soft skills, and media literacy programs focusing on youth audiences, minority communities, underserved populations, and first-generation Germans; · Programming to support alumni of U.S. government exchange programs. Participants and Audiences: · Youth and underserved communities; · Civil society and non-government organizations; · Academic and cultural institutions; · Entrepreneurs; · Immigrant populations; The following types of programs are not eligible for funding: · Programs relating to partisan political activity; · Charitable or development activities; · Construction programs; · Fund-raising campaigns; · Lobbying for specific legislation or programs; · Scientific research; · Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or · Programs that duplicate existing programs; · Grants to for-profit entities 2. Berlin Consular District: Berlin and Brandenburg Priority Program Areas: Priority program areas as outlined above. Special consideration will be given to proposals featuring an explicit Brandenburg component 3. Düsseldorf Consular District: North Rhine-Westphalia Priority Program Areas: Priority program areas as outlined above. 4. Leipzig Consular District: Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia Priority Program Areas: · Proposals creating student exchanges to the United States with extra weight given to applications from schools in predominantly disadvantaged areas. 5. Frankfurt Consular District: Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Württemberg Priority Program Areas: Priority program areas as outlined above. 6. Hamburg Consular District: Hamburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania Priority Program Areas: · Projects that create exchanges and programs in support of the 2020 Joint Declaration of Intent between the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, Education, and their German counterparts concerning cooperation on apprenticeships, vocational education and training. · Projects that advance the transition to greener technologies, with a focus on Northern German institutions to cooperate on producing hydrogen via renewable energy sources. · Projects that foster entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation via sister city partnerships, such as Hamburg-Chicago, Rostock-Raleigh, and Kiel-San Francisco. 7. Munich Consular District: Bavaria Priority Program Areas: Priority program areas as outlined above. 8. Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding: Funding authority rests in Smith-Mundt and Fulbright-Hays. The source of funding is FY2021 Public Diplomacy Funding. B. Federal Award Information 1. Award Information Length of performance period: Up to 24 months Number of awards anticipated: N/A Award amounts: Up to $12,000 Total available funding: $200,000 Type of funding: FY 2021 Smith-Mundt PD Funds Anticipated program start date: 2021 Funding Opportunity Title: Annual Program Statement Funding Opportunity Number: BER-APS-FY21-001 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.040 CFDA Title: Public Diplomacy Programs Program: N/A Announcement Type: Annual Program Statement Announcement Date: 05/07/2021 Deadline for Submission of Proposals: Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis until August 15, 2021 Agency Contacts: Stefan Koehler | KoehlerS [at] State [dot] gov | +49 (30) 8305-2112 Izaak Martin | MartinIH [at] State [dot] gov | +49 (30) 8305-2547 This notice is subject to availability of funding 2. Funding Instrument Type Fixed Amount Award or Grant 3. Program Performance Period Proposed programs should be completed in 24 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation agreements funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. C. Eligibility Information The following activities and costs are not covered under this announcement: · Social welfare projects; · Paying to complete activities begun with other funds (however, new activities that build from lessons learned as the result of an earlier project are acceptable); · Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns; · One-time events, such as stand-alone conferences and one-off round tables (however, a series of workshops within a larger programmatic concept is acceptable); · Medical research and clinical studies; · Cultural presentations, cultural research, cultural clubs, or festivals, etc. 1. Eligible Applicants The Public Affairs Section considers applications from the United States and the EU, including: · Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations; · Individuals; · Non-profit or governmental educational institutions; · Governmental institutions 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Applicants are not required to include third party funding, but partnering for co-sponsorship will be welcomed. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. [...] Please refer to the attached APS PDF File for the full text including application requirements.
BER-APS-FY21-001 Department of State US Embassy Berlin
8/15/21 5/7/21 Reimagining the Transatlantic Relationship
The U.S. Embassy Berlin, Public Affairs Section (PAS) is pleased to announce an open competition for funding through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The projects to be funded will encourage youth in Germany to consider the transatlantic relationship and reimagine it for the future. This NOFO outlines PAS's funding priorities, strategic focus, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Pending the availability of funds, it is U.S. Embassy Berlin's intent to award cooperative agreements for successful proposals proposing activities costing no more than $15,000 over the course of one year or less, depending upon the successful completion of goals. Program Description The U.S.-German transatlantic relationship has been a cornerstone of stability and prosperity for nearly a century. It was built on shared values such as democratic freedom, rule of law, and self-determination, to name just a few. However, today's youth have little personal, lived experience with the conditions, dynamics, and issues that forged this critical bilateral relationship. In addition, today's youth expects any relationship to address issues they find pressing such as climate change, environmental justice, diversity, jobs, and quality of life. Engaging young German audiences on the meaning, importance, and shared values underpinning German-American friendship, and how they impact issues important to youth, is an important endeavor in securing our collective future. With this funding opportunity, the Embassy is supporting projects designed to engage youth audiences in Germany on the role and significance of the past and present-day transatlantic relationship, and seek ways to invigorate the German-American partnership for decades to come. A successful program will prompt youth to re-envision and redefine the values, goals, and institutional ties of our shared relationship, finding relevance is the issues important to them. Eligible projects may feature a wide range of formats, including, but not limited to workshops, (virtual) speaker events and panel discussions, conferences, and people-to-people exchanges. Projects should prioritize designing inclusive, engaging, and interactive programs above all, encouraging youth to critically assess the current state of the transatlantic relationship, and enable them to define their expectations and hopes for its future. Participants should be drawn from diverse backgrounds, ideally also involving teenagers who have had little prior contact with the United States, transatlantic-, or political youth organizations. Through program involvement, participating youth will (1) learn about and reflect on the shared values and mutual ties between Germany and the United States, (2) critically interrogate the status quo of our relations, and based on this analysis (3) articulate a vision for the coming years of our shared path based on issues important to them. Whenever possible and requested, the Embassy will aim to provide opportunities for hands-on experiences through briefings with diplomats and participation in Public Affairs programs for project participants. The successful applicant (from hereon implementer) will be tasked to design program formats and a project curriculum to the aforementioned specifications, identify and recruit participants, and define and measure indicators of project quality. There are no specific requirements for format, audience, program structure, specific materials to be distributed, or policy issues to be addressed. Innovative approaches are encouraged. Methodologically, implementers must prioritize engaging and interactive approaches over frontal instruction. The implementer should engage in these activities strategically and with a clear and concise theory of change in mind. The Embassy will give special consideration to applicants demonstrating a clear effort to identify particularly worthwhile (sub)audiences and program sites. Sustainable project designs seeking to maximize project impact beyond the period of performance are highly appreciated. Program Objectives Put the future of the transatlantic relationship back on the map This funding opportunity is seeking projects fortifying the transatlantic relationship by: encouraging the younger generation to actively explore the history and long mutual ties of our shared relationship, but more importantly enabling participants to assess our bond's substance and value in today's political and geopolitical environment; encouraging them to define their own key issues, requirements and criteria for the partnership's success for the future; and in the process conveying the benefits of a pluralistic model of political participation that encourages dialogue, different viewpoints, innovation, and discursive, rules-based dispute resolution models Generate Insights and Measure Success The Embassy expects the project to produce actionable insights on the demographics and attitudinal profiles of participants as well as data about the project's effectiveness. Participants and Audiences The applicant may define audiences for the proposed project based on a sound theory of change, as long as they fit the age profile between 13 and 26 years old. Implementer Responsibilities The implementer will: design a varied project for the target audience to the specifications outlined; define and recruit project participants and organize, host, and lead program sessions measure and evaluate project effectiveness throughout the project's lifecycle Please refer to the full Notice of Funding Opportunity in the attachments. FAQ What award amounts may applicants apply for? Applicants should apply for the award amount that they need to successfully implement their project provided it is no higher than the $30,000 in available funding. How are indirect costs budgeted when the applicant does not have a NICRA? We will budget the de minimis rate of 10% of the modified total direct cost. Modified total direct cost is the total award cost excluding equipment expenses, capital expenditures, rental costs, scholarships and fellowships, and subawards in excess of $25,000. The sum of modified total direct costs and indirect costs must not exceed the maximum award amount. Is it possible to reallocate funds from one position to another? It is possible to be flexible with award funds if the conditions necessitate. Reallocations must be reasonable and justifiable and must be communicated to the grants officer in advance. Can you clarify which cost items are permissible? We prefer to identify and strike out non-permissible cost items after assessing all applications' merits. Including such cost items will not disadvantage the applicant in the evaluation of their proposal provided they don't make up a majority of the funds requested. What is the currency conversion rate for conversions from local currencies to USD to be used in the budget? You may select a conversion rate that is reasonably close to the current market exchange rate. What impact does the fiscal year end in September 2021 have on fund calls, disbursements, or even spending deadlines for approved funds? Can project activities also take place and be accounted for later, i.e. after September? The fiscal year cycle imposes no financial or programmatic restrictions onto the implementer. Can application documents be submitted late? No. Please submit the full application by the indicated deadline. Can the SAM.gov registration be obtained after the application deadline Yes, this is possible. However, issuance of this federal award is conditional on the applicant having an active SAM.gov registration. The registration must be obtained before obligation of the award funds.
BER-NOFO-FY21-002 Department of State US Embassy Berlin
4/5/21 2/4/21