2023 Local Grants Program - Annual Program Statement

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Local Grants Program (LGP). This is an Annual Program Statement (APS), outlining our funding priorities and the procedures for submitting requests for funding.

Purpose of Local Grants: This program supports the development of Mongolian civil society by competitively awarding small grants to local non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and associations, to nonprofit civil society organizations (CSOs), and to independent local media organizations.

The U.S. Embassy is soliciting proposals for grants from Mongolian civil society and independent media organizations that focus on one of the priority areas/themes specified below. Applicants should pay close attention to the Public Affairs Section’s goals and priority program areas when developing their proposals.

Overall Program Goals: Increase the capacity of civil society organizations in Mongolia to respond to the country’s social needs and increase citizen participation in governance through effective implementation of reforms and laws on civil society, government transparency and citizen oversight.

2023 Priority Program Areas:

1. Support Participatory Democratic Institutions

Non-partisan support for active civic participation in electoral processes and to bolster inclusive democratic institutions, particularly involving women, youth, and underrepresented communities.

2. Trade & Economic Ties

Improve the investment climate and expand free, fair, and reciprocal bilateral trade and investment to facilitate strong, sustainable, inclusive economic growth for our mutual and regional benefit through programs that promote increased transparency, reduced corruption, and adherence to international-standard regulatory, environmental, and business best practices.

3. Media

Support a free, fair, professional, and accurate media sector in Mongolia as well as public media literacy to ensure balanced coverage during election campaigns and strengthen democracy, good governance, sustainable economic development, public and private sector accountability, human rights, transparency, and fact-checking.

4. Good Governance, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law Civil Society

Support good governance, human rights, rule of law, the commitment to democracy, and a deeper understanding of U.S. values and policies through programs that expand bilateral people-to-people ties among decision makers, think tanks, educators, and civil society leaders.

5. Conservation of Natural Resources and Improving Air and Water Quality

Air and water quality issues can affect public health, deter investment, and constrain economic growth. Good stewardship of natural resources and national parks can lead to sustainable economic diversification. Promote research, public awareness, technical assistance, stakeholder cooperation, and innovative sustainable solutions to air and water quality and natural resource management.

Participants and Audiences:

Proposals should include intended specific target audiences and why these specific audiences are key to meeting the project objectives.

Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding:

Funding authority is derived from the Fulbright-Hays Act or the Smith Mundt Act. The source of financial support is FY2023 U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar Public Diplomacy Funding.

1. Applications from Mongolian: • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience; • Non-profit or governmental educational institutions; • Public institutions. Note: Individuals, for-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. 2. Cost Sharing or matching is not required, but proposals that include substantial cost sharing are preferred. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a valid registration on www.SAM.gov.