The U.S. Department of State EUR/ACE is offering the Development Cooperation Partnership grant to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and integration with Western markets.

Program Objectives:

The U.S. Department of State Office of the Assistance Coordinator for Europe and Eurasia (EUR/ACE) has launched the ninth round of the DCP to continue building U.S. foreign assistance partnerships with 11 partner donor governments in Central and Eastern Europe: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Through the DCP initiative, the United States builds partnerships with these partner donor countries by co-financing joint foreign assistance activities aimed at sharing the PDGs’ transition and EU integration experiences with Ukraine.

EUR/ACE has identified the following priority objectives for DCP funding:

Energy and Cyber Security: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider proposals that improve energy and cyber security in Ukraine. On energy, proposals could support Ukraine’s efforts to improve the legislative and regulatory environment for the energy sector and comply with EU and Energy Community requirements. Proposals could also enhance energy diversification by improving the ability of Ukraine to plan, implement, and sustain energy projects, including clean technology and renewable energy initiatives, and by increasing opportunities for Western investment. Cyber activities could include proposals to assist Ukraine to develop critical cybersecurity capacities within the public and private sector, promote public awareness of cybersecurity and cyber hygiene, strengthen detection and response mechanisms, or develop curricula for cybersecurity training.    

Access to Western Markets: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider proposals that increase integration with Western markets, establish a fair and transparent business environment, and increase opportunities for U.S. investment and trade. Proposals could include facilitating the implementation of relevant EU and international standards, improving the ease of doing business, or enhancing the ability of private sector companies to compete in Western markets and increase exports.  

Strengthening Resilience through Democratic Consolidation: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider proposals that build greater democratic resilience in Ukraine. This could include proposals to strengthen independent media and civil society organizations, combat disinformation, improve media literacy, bolster democratic institutions, and increase government transparency and accountability, including through e-governance capabilities and other efforts needed to narrow the space for corruption to occur.  

Tackling the Secondary Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Preparing for Future Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider allocating resources to projects that improve Ukraine’s medical response capacity; advise on how to manage economic and social impacts such as food insecurity and breakdown of the education system; address the increased risks of gender-based violence, the heavier burden of unpaid care and domestic work, and gender inequalities exacerbated by COVID-19; help livelihood recovery through technical assistance to the private sector; strengthen Ukraine’s preparedness and response capacities; attenuate the disproportionate impact on poor and vulnerable groups such as women, children, older persons, people with disabilities, migrants and ethnic minorities and promote resilience building measures with a focus on these groups; enhance the right to accurate information; assist Ukraine in granting fair access to safe, effective, and affordable tests, treatments, and vaccines against COVID-19.

Financial Technology (Fintech): The U.S. Embassy’s Kyiv’s Office of Assistance Coordinator will consider allocating resources to projects to help upgrade software and other modern technologies used by businesses that provide automated and improved financial services, to counter harmful Russian and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) efforts to gain influence in partner countries and in international organizations, and offset unfair economic practices. Projects could include upgrading crowdfunding platforms that allow internet and app users to send or receive money from others on the platform, blockchain and cryptocurrency exchanges, mobile payment apps, budgeting apps, and insurance. 

Participants and Audiences:

A typical assistance activity will likely be a joint project, implemented with one donor partner in Ukraine, for which the U.S. cost share will be no more than 50 percent. No single U.S. contribution may exceed $100,000. Multiple PDG partners may contribute to the same activities, and implementing organizations may include government entities, research institutions, and/or nongovernmental organizations. Most DCP activities will likely entail co-financing new projects. U.S. Embassy Kyiv, however, may consider other means of collaboration, such as co-financing existing U.S. or PDG assistance activities or enhancing ongoing U.S. assistance activities by facilitating the participation of PDG officials or PDG-identified experts. Selected activities should include a significant amount of content from institutions, advisors or other sources of knowledge in the PDG countries in order to meet the DCP objective of fostering the transfer of transition experience to the beneficiary country. There is no limitation on the number of proposals submitted from one organization.    

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1.     Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

·        Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations

·        Public and private educational institutions, research institutions

• Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions

2.     Cost Sharing or Matching

Most DCP activities will likely entail co-financing new projects. U.S. Embassy Kyiv, however, may consider other means of collaboration, such as co-financing existing U.S. or PDG assistance activities or enhancing ongoing U.S. assistance activities by facilitating the participation of PDG officials or PDG-identified experts. Selected activities should include a significant amount of content from institutions, advisors or other sources of knowledge in the PDG countries in order to meet the DCP objective of fostering the transfer of transition experience to the beneficiary country.       

    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 see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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.

Content of Application

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

Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program total budget, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

Proposal: The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. 

·        Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.

• Introduction to the Organization: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies and international donors.
• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.
• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
• Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
• Program Budget: Please indicate how you plan to expense the funds under the program.
• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.
• Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? 
• Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
• Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

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

Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than Monday, January 31, 2022 at 11:59 PM EEST

Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted by email to:

HetunYI@state.gov and OliverRC@state.gov