(Offre en anglais) La section des affaires publiques de l’ambassade américaine à Tunis lance un appel à projets عودة إلى الفرص

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tunis offers limited funding for proposals that advance Embassy goals related to democratic consolidation, security capacity, and the economic development of Tunisia. In addition to promoting Embassy goals, all PAS projects must boost people-to-people ties between the United States and Tunisia and/or contribute to Tunisians’ understanding of the United States (policies, society, government, culture, history, etc.). This can be accomplished in many ways including, but not limited to, the participation of American citizens, organizations, and institutions in the proposed project, and the use of American texts, films, art, research, curriculums, or methodologies in the proposed project.

• Democratic Consolidation: Potential projects include media initiatives related to the development of investigative journalism, media ethics, and media literacy; proposals that provide public affairs training for civil society and the public sector; projects that raise awareness among Tunisians of new constitutionally guaranteed rights; and projects that foster more inclusive participation in Tunisian democracy.
• Security Capacity: Potential projects include initiatives that seek to counter violent extremism among youth through the arts, sports, community service, debate/dialogue, and/or the development of practical skills.
• Economic Development: Potential projects include initiatives that promote innovation and STEM entrepreneurship, especially among youth and women; entrepreneurship education, training, networking, mentorship, strategic planning, and marketing; projects that address youth unemployment through the cultivation of marketable skills, including soft skills; proposals focused on community revitalization through the arts and cultural heritage preservation; and projects that foster the business development skills of artists and creative entrepreneurs.

Please note that our funds are limited. Unfortunately, we are not able to support all of the great ideas proposed to us.

FUNDING LEVELS

• The PAS Small Grants Committee (from now on referred to as “the committee”) meets on a quarterly basis to review proposals received during the previous quarter for support at the level of $10,000 or less. To submit a proposal for funding of $10,000 or less send your complete proposal by e-mail to PASTunisSmallGrants@state.gov
• The Embassy Grants Advisory Committee reviews proposals for funding above $25,000, if funds are available. Proposals are reviewed and decisions are announced on a quarterly basis. To submit a proposal for funding support of $25,000 or more, send your complete proposal by e-mail to PASTunisLargeGrants@state.gov

The same rules and criteria apply for both grants competitions. The Small Grants Committee and Embassy Grants Advisory Committee will consider partially funding projects.

Complete proposals for small and large grants MUST be received by the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section at least 3 months (one quarter) prior to the implementation of the project. We will not announce decisions on proposals outside of the published timeframes.

Fiscal Year 2019 Application Deadlines:                                Award Announcements:
March 30, 2019                                                                            April 15, 2019
June 30, 2019                                                                              July 15, 2019
December 31, 2019                                                                     January 15, 2020

THE GRANT PROPOSAL

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 documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

All grant proposals MUST include all of the following:

Mandatory Documents

A. SF424 Forms: Please make sure to submit all three SF424 forms.

• Form SF424

Form SF424 (Application for Federal Assistance for organizations) if applying as an organization
SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance for individuals) if applying as an individual.

• Form SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)
• Form SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs)

B. Written description of the activity/program, which addresses the following:

1. Description of the activity/program;
2. Intended outcomes/results of the activity/program and how it promotes Embassy goals and builds ties between the United States and Tunisia. Please note that all grant activities must include an easily recognizable American element;
3. Intended audience for the activity/program;
4. Measurable deliverables or outputs of the activity/program;
5. Method of performance measurement;
6. Methods of implementation;
7. Information about the proposing individual or organization and any partners in the program/project;
8. Intended time frame and location for the activities.

C. Detailed proposed budget for the program/project/activity noting for which portion of the budget you are requesting our support. There is no specific format for a budget proposal, but it should detail the points below as applicable.

Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. Supplies must cost less than $5,000 per unit. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.

“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.

D. 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 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.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

All proposals will be reviewed with the following factors in mind:

• Level to which the proposed activity advances the mission of the Public Affairs Section of U.S. Embassy Tunis (see text above);
• Availability of funds in the PAS budget at the time of the proposal;
• Compliance with U.S. laws, policies or regulations governing the use of Department of State Public Affairs funding.

All proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
• Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 15 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.
• Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 25 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
• Budget – 10 points: The budget justification is 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.
• Monitoring and evaluation plan – 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal, as appropriate. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured.
• Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have a positive impact after the end of the program.

DECISION TIMELINES

PAS will not announce decisions on proposals outside of the published timeframes.

Proposals that do not advance the mission of the Public Affairs Section of U.S. Embassy Tunis (see text above) or comply with U.S. laws, policies, or regulations governing the use of Department of State Public Affairs funding will not be considered. Grants are contingent on the availability of funding.

Please contact the Embassy through one of the appropriate email addresses listed above if you have questions.

Thank you for your interest in partnering with the U.S. Embassy in Tunis!