Alumni Support for the local communities Fund (2024-2025).docx

ALUMNI SUPPORT FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES FUND (2024-2025)

U.S. EMBASSY AZERBAIJAN

Notice of Funding Opportunity Funding Opportunity Title: Alumni Support for Local Communities Fund (2024-2025) Funding Opportunity Number: PDS-AZERBAIJAN-FY24-05 Application Deadline: July 15, 2024 CFDA Number: 19.900 Total Amount Available: $30,000 The Embassy of the United States in Azerbaijan is pleased to announce an open competition for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications for the Alumni Support for the Local Communities Fund (2024-2025). The program aims to empower alumni teams in creating and implementing their public service-oriented projects to make a positive difference in their communities. Alumni should submit proposals to BakuPASalumni@state.gov by July 15, 2024, 23:59 (Baku time).

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This year, the Alumni Support for the Local Communities fund will support the United States Government commitment to Adaptive Solutions: Developing Infrastructure for Climate Resilience in honor of Baku's hosting of COP29.

The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan will accept public service projects that support themes such as:

Economy: Projects that revive the economy, improve the business climate, entrepreneurship, innovation, and corporate social responsibility.

Civil Society: Projects that promote civil society and inclusion by supporting gender equality, women empowerment, diversity, and social inclusion and that can improve the lives of at-risk youth, women, or marginalized communities.

Education: Projects that actively promote inclusive education for underserved communities, which may include helping teachers or students to reinvent themselves using technology, accessible methodology, and other tools.

Environment: Projects that raise awareness about the importance of clean air and water, protection of the environment, natural preservation, etc.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Application opening date: June 12, 2024 Closing date for applications: July 15, 2024, 23:59 (Baku time) Expected size of individual awards: $5,000 to $30,000.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in a 12-month timeframe or less.

Virtual Info Session date:

Register here:

A confirmation email will be sent to all participants containing a meeting link.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

The following individuals are eligible to apply:

Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program.

List of programs here: List of Exchange Programs | International Exchange Alumni (state.gov) and Home Page - BridgeUSABridgeUSA (state.gov) Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.

Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni. Not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions are not eligible to apply in the name of the organization but can serve as partners for implementing project activities.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Application and budget templates are available upon request at BakuPASalumni@state.gov Content and Form of Application Submission Applications and budgets must be submitted using the official AEIF 2024 application and budget forms. Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Please ensure:

· The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity.

· All documents are in English

· All budgets are in U.S. dollars.

· All pages are numbered

· All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required: (available from BakuPASAlumni@state.gov)

a. Proposal (6 pages maximum) (word): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant proposes to do.

b. Budget form (excel): Each budget item should have a budget narrative.

c. Federal forms:

· SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals)

· SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

· SF424B (Assurances-Non-Construction Companies)

· Attachments:

· 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

· Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

· If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file.

· Official permission letters if required for program activities

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (NOTE: This section is required and not optional, except for NOFOs targeting applications from individuals instead of organizations)

If you are interested in applying to the Alumni Outreach and Capacity Building Fund 2024-2025, please request a proposal, budget template and relevant Federal forms from BakuPASalumni@state.gov

Applications should be emailed to BakuPASalumni@state.gov by July 15, 2024, 23:59 (Baku time). Please be sure to send all attachments in one email message and include your first name, last name, and program name in the subject line of the email.

PROPOSAL SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:

Project Team Information: At least two exchange alumni team members are required for a project to be considered for funding. Applications need to provide the name and contact information, describe the role each team member will have in the project, and their experience, qualifications, and ability to carry out that role. Applicants need to indicate what proportion of the team member’s time will be used in support of the project.

Proposal Summary: A short narrative between 150-200 words which outlines the proposed project, including challenge(s) to be addressed, project objectives, and anticipated impact.

Project Goals and Objectives: The goal(s) of the proposed project need to describe what the project is intended to achieve and include the objectives which support the goal(s). Objectives should be specific, measurable, and realistically achievable in a set time frame.

Project Methods, Design, and Timeline: A description of how the project is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal(s). This should include a description of the project’s direct and indirect beneficiaries as well as a plan on how to continue the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. The proposed timeline for the project activities should include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Applicants may also submit proposed workshop or training agendas and materials.

Local Project Partners: A list of partners who will support the proposed project, if applicable.

Communication Plan: The communication plan should include a communication and outreach strategy for promoting the proposed project. It may include social media, websites, print news, or other forms of media intended to use to share information about the project to beneficiaries and the public. Communications should include ExchangeAlumni and U.S. Embassy branding.

Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: The Monitoring and Evaluation component of the proposal should outline in detail how the proposal’s activities will advance the program’s goals and objectives. This should include any outcomes showing a change in knowledge, awareness, and attitudes; improved quality of services; increased capacity at a school, group; etc. Proposals should also include how the grantee will measure the impact of planned activities.

Budget Justification Narrative: Applicants must submit a detailed budget and budget narrative justification utilizing the template provided. Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. Budgets shall be submitted in U.S. dollars and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars.

Budget Restrictions: This notice of funding opportunity does not support the following activities or costs, and the selection committee will deem applications involving any of these activities or costs ineligible:

Any airfare to/from the United States and its territories Activities that take place in the United States and its territories Staff salaries, office space, and overhead/operational expenses Large items of durable equipment or construction programs Alcohol, excessive meals, refreshments, or entertainment Academic or scientific research Charitable or development activities Provision of direct social services to a population Individual scholarships Social travel/visits Gifts or prizes Duplication of existing programs Institutional development of an organization Venture capital, for-profit endeavors, or charging a fee for participation in project Support for specific religious activities Fund-raising campaigns Support or opposition of partisan political activity or lobbying for specific legislation

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

Evaluation Criteria: The U.S. Embassy Baku Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) will use the criteria outlined below to evaluate all applications. Panelists will use the criteria below to review and evaluate applications.

Relevance to Application Theme – 15 points The proposal provides sufficient information on how the activities will support the theme(s) of the competition. The narrative explains any relevant local context the D.C. Selection Committee may not be aware of in relation to this project. Proposed project ideas must be public diplomacy in nature (i.e. not development or military).

Purpose and Summary, Description, and Implementation Plan – 20 points When developing the purpose, summary, description, and implementation plan, applicants should aim to make all descriptions clear, concise, and compelling. Reviewers will judge the proposals based on the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the community where it is undertaken. Does the project address an important gap of understanding or need? If the aim of the project is achieved, how will existing knowledge or practice be improved? What audience do the applicants hope to reach with this project? How many will participate? How will they be selected?

Degree of Alumni Involvement – 15 points Projects must include the involvement of at least two (2) exchange alumni. They may be the project team leaders or collaborate directly with PDS in formulating the project. More than two alumni may comprise the team, however, the minimum is two. As the team leaders, the alumni must be closely involved in project planning, implementation, etc. Applicants should ensure that the proposal includes the following information for each alumni team member: first name, last name, e-mail address, exchange program, country of citizenship, and roles and responsibilities.

Participation and Support from Local Partners – 10 points The proposal demonstrates buy-in and support from the community where the project will take place. Local partner involvement is a strong sign that there is community support and that the project will engage a broad array of experts, such as subject matter experts, community centers, academic institutions, businesses, local/national government, non-governmental organizations, American Spaces, etc.

Evaluation and Impact of the Project – 10 points A monitoring & evaluation (M&E) plan is pivotal to project implementation and important tracking progress towards the project’s objectives and goals. An M&E plan should consider the data needed to effectively monitor progress toward specific outputs and outcomes as well as how that data collection will be accomplished. Well-crafted indicators should be used to understand a program’s progress toward the desired results. An M&E plan should be reviewed for the following:

Completion Applicability and logic of objectives and indicators Clear approach to monitoring Adherence to SMART criteria Feasibility of baselines and targets Data quality plan Capacity to implement plan

Communication, Media, and Outreach Plan – 10 points The project should include a clear plan and timeline for how and when the team will share information about the project. It is important to ensure that the U.S. Embassy gets recognition throughout the process, if circumstances permit.

Budget and Budget Narrative – 20 points The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.

OTHER INFORMATION

Guidelines for Budget Justification

Please refer back to Funding Restrictions for costs not supported through the 2024 AEIF.

Venue Costs: Calculate costs for renting space for project-related activities such as workshops or other training activities. Consider looking for donated space first. If donated space is not possible, costs should be reasonable based on the local environment. All expenses must be itemized and explained.

Promotional Items and Advertising: These items aim to amplify your project. All requests should be reasonable and relevant to the project. All expenses must be itemized and explained.

Meals and Beverage: Include reasonable costs for snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and meals if essential to the project. Break down meals by the cost per person per meal.

All expenses must be itemized and explained.

Speaker/Consultant/Training Fees:

Speaker: Maximum of $250 per day for full programming.

Trainer: Maximum of $250 per day or $25 per hour. Consider asking fellow Alumni with expertise to cost-share speaker/training fees.

Consultant: A reasonable consultant fee may be included by Alumni for project management and oversight. However, consider cost-sharing as the AEIF cannot provide salary type expenses. All expenses must be itemized and explained.

Lodging and Per Diem: List per diem rates and hotel costs which directly support the implementation of the project and indicate single or double occupancy. Per diem rates should be calculated according to the U.S. government allowable rates or be adjusted to local prices if appropriate. Please consult with your U.S. Embassy/Consulate. All expenses must be itemized and explained.

Travel: If the program involves travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel. Estimate the costs of travel for this project, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. Costs can include in-country and intraregional air fare or local travel costs required for the actual implementation of the project. Travel between the U.S. and project country is not supported. The AEIF does not support travel in business class or higher. All expenses must be itemized and explained.

Supplies, Materials, Equipment: Include general office supplies, computer software, consumable automotive supplies (i.e. fuel), small equipment such as laptops, projector, etc., and expendable materials (i.e. paper, paint). Rent equipment rather than purchase if it is more cost-efficient. All expenses must be itemized and explained.

Other: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. Commonly cited items are administrative and accounting costs, shipping costs for materials and equipment, and monitoring and evaluation. All expenses must be itemized and explained.

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.

FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about the award application process, please contact: BakuPASalumni@state.gov