2023 Spring USG Alumni Small Grants Program

2023 Spring USG Alumni Small Grants Program

About the Program

American Councils Kyrgyzstan cooperates with the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic to implement the 2023 Alumni Small Grants Program. The Program provides funding up to $5,000 to alumni to implement innovative, small-scale alumni projects that address various themes and foster greater contacts between alumni of various U.S. government programs, strengthen local communities and foster positive relationships between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic.  The funding opportunity is open to alumni of U.S. government (USG) or U.S. Embassy education or exchange programs, who are citizens of and reside in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Application Process

To meet the application deadline, you must submit your application by January 9, 2022 at 17:00 PM Bishkek time via: https://ais.americancouncils.org/ECA_Grants. The application will open on December 6, at 17:00. After you register, you can fill out the application in several sessions. You should click “Save Changes” at the bottom of each page to save any entered information.

The applications will be reviewed on a merit-based, competitive basis, with awards issued in the beginning of February 2023, subject to availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

In order to participate in this program, alumni:

must be citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, residing in the Kyrgyz Republic;
must have studied or participated in a U.S. government-sponsored educational or professional exchange program;
must conduct a project that furthers the program’s goals; and,
must submit an online application and supporting documents.

Grant proposals must:

Clearly address one of the two themes for the 2023 Spring USG Alumni Small Grants Program:
Inclusivity: projects that promote universal human rights, and/or provide educational and economic opportunities for people with disabilities and people from marginalized communities.
Sustainable development: projects that promote environmental consciousness, and/or help develop or promote clean energy solutions.
Demonstrate how participating alumni will use their exchange experience to address a current challenge/issue in Kyrgyzstan;
Include a theory of change;
Include a budget that is no more than USD $5,000;
Include a project timeline between February 1 and July31, 2023 (project duration between one – six months);
Specify how the project impact will be monitored and evaluated; and;
Include a clear publicity plan to highlight project progress and successes.

Priority consideration will be given to proposals which:

Engage rural communities;
Promote volunteerism and/or public service with the support and participation of exchange program alumni;
Collaborate with other USG alumni or alumni from different programs to implement the grant; and/or
Share with a wider community the knowledge or skills gained in the exchange program or training.

Note:

Applications which do not address at least one of the key themes will be disqualified.
The requested funds cannot be used for any humanitarian assistance (distribution of food, household items, medical items);

Recipients of the grant must:

Submit a final written narrative report summarizing project activities and outcomes no more than two weeks after the end of all project activities;
Submit a final financial report detailing all expenses incurred in the implementation of the project no more than two weeks after the end of the project;
In addition to final narrative and financial reports, project results must also be presented in photographic and/or video format for publication on the U.S. Embassy Bishkek website and social media pages.

Branding Requirements

All materials produced pursuant to the award (training, press, event materials, posters, videos, articles) must be marked appropriately with the standard rectangular U.S. flag and American Councils’ logo.

Program Contact

Aikanysh Sydykova

Tel: +996555050848

Email: asydykova@americancouncils.org

Gulnaza Khalmanbetova
Tel: +996550950432; +996312910989
Email: gkhalmanbetova@americancouncils.org

In-person Project Design Workshop in Bishkek and Osh

We invite USG alumni to attend the in-person Project Design Workshop in Bishkek and Osh. The workshop will guide you step-by-step on how to develop a project proposal based on your project idea. All participants will leave the workshop with a draft USG Alumni Small Grants project proposal.

This is a great opportunity to devote a full day to focus on your project proposal.

Registration deadline: 17:00, December 12

Bishkek:

December 17, 09:30-16:30

Registration: link

Venue: TBD

Osh:

December 18, 09:30-16:30