Group items tagged

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor announces the availability of approximately $1.5 million total costs for one or more cooperative agreements to fund a project to integrate the issues of child labor alleviation and acceptable conditions of work into women's economic empowerment initiatives. The project intends to support service providers and policy makers when working with women entrepreneurs to ensure women-led enterprises can improve livelihoods responsibly without resorting to child labor or harmful labor practices. The project's outcomes include: Outcome 1: Increased understanding of child labor and acceptable conditions of work in the context of women's economic empowerment initiatives. Outcome 2: Increased availability of tools to integrate child labor awareness and acceptable conditions of work into women's economic empowerment initiatives. Outcome 3: Demonstrated effectiveness of tools in mitigating child labor and unacceptable conditions of work in women's economic empowerment initiatives. Outcome 4: Increased awareness and adoption of tools to integrate child labor awareness and acceptable conditions of work into women's economic empowerment initiatives by a broad range of stakeholders.The duration of the project will be a maximum of 4 years (48 months) from the effective date of the award.

One of the oldest American foundations, the Russell Sage Foundation was established by Mrs. Margaret Olivia Sage in 1907 for "the improvement of social and living conditions in the United States." In pursuit of this mission, the foundation now dedicates itself to strengthening the methods, data, knowledge, and theoretical core of the social sciences as a means of diagnosing social problems and improving social policies. The foundation's program on Social Inequality supports research on the social, economic, political, and labor market consequences of rising economic inequalities in the United States. The program seeks Letters of Inquiry for investigator-initiated research projects that will broaden current understanding of the causes and consequences of rising economic inequalities. Priority will be given to projects that use innovative data or methodologies to address important questions about inequality. Examples of the kinds of topics that are of interest include, but are not limited to, economic well-being, equality of opportunity, and intergenerational mobility; the political process and the resulting policies; psychological and/or cultural change; education; labor markets; child development and child outcomes; neighborhoods and communities; families, family structure, and family formation; and other forms of inequality.

Project Description: TheU.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia announces an open competition fororganizations to submit applications to design and execute a program promotingthe benefits of U.S. economic engagement in Indonesia. The project will be used to tell a compellingstory of how cumulative U.S. economic engagement in Indonesia has benefittedindividuals, communities, and the nation as a whole. The project will include a messaging campaignthat highlights the positive aspects of the U.S.-Indonesia economicrelationship, including qualitative aspects such as: private sector human resources development,corporate anti-corruption programs and requirements, and voluntary technologytransfer and skills development efforts. The project will work with both anecdotal evidence and empirical data,including difficult to compile metrics and case studies, in support of theobjective of highlighting the quality of U.S. economic engagement. For the purposes of this grant, "economicengagement" includes trade, foreign direct investment, domestic sales, finance,and government revenue.

The U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica announces a Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to strengthen citizen security through economic and social opportunity. U.S. Embassy San Jose intends to issue five awards in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 in total funding. The anticipated start date for this activity is September 30, 2016, and project periods should not exceed two years. This funding will support United States government objectives under the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). Within Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama), the United States works with partner nations to strengthen institutions to counter the effects of organized crime, uphold the rule of law, and protect human rights. Institution building is coupled with prevention projects that dissuade at-risk youth from turning to crime and gangs and community policing projects that engage local communities on citizen security issues. U.S. Embassy San Jose invites qualified U.S. non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas-based NGOs, U.S. and overseas-based public and private institutions of higher education, and public international organizations to submit proposals that include an implementation strategy to address the following objective: Objective: Provide workforce development, education, or entrepreneurship opportunities designed to reduce poverty, particularly among youth and women, in historically marginalized and economically-disadvantaged communities. Proposals should help create safe streets by providing economic opportunities as attractive alternatives for at-risk populations that might otherwise turn to crime and illicit drugs for their livelihood. U.S. Embassy San Jose reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for the award.

This project fulfills the Middle East Partnership Initiative's (MEPI) strategic framework objectives in a) providing economically disadvantaged individuals opportunities to build leadership skills and effectively engage with civil society, the private sector, and/or government actors; and b) increasing workforce employability, and improving access to higher value opportunities through demand-driven professional training and targeted, localized job placement, primarily in the private sector. This project contributes to Bureau Goal 3 in the Department's Joint Regional Strategy for the Middle East and North Africa: Promote Inclusive Economic Growth, Socio-economic Development, Open Markets, and Increased U.S. Exports.

CAO Islamabad's purpose in funding projects under this opportunity is to further contributions to economic growth and development of human and government capacity in Pakistan, while developing people-to-people ties and increasing understanding of and support for U.S.-Pakistan relations and American values and policy among the Pakistani public. Programming funded under this NOFO will help to strengthen ties between the United States and Pakistan through programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. To that end, all programs must include American content and/or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Proposals must contain a clear plan to measure and evaluate the impact of the program. Preference will be given to proposals that target audiences outside the urban centers of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar and socio-economically disadvantaged and/or vulnerable populations. While proposals that include exchanges outside of Pakistan are welcome, proposals with the majority of activities conducted in Pakistan will be given preference. We encourage recipient organizations to include links to American businesses to promote the growth of U.S.-Pakistan economic ties when possible. We welcome proposals from qualified organizations that have not received CAO funding in the past as well as existing and/or previous PAS grantees, including PAS and U.S. Department of State University Partnership participants, and from members of the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN).

A free and open Indo-Pacific is crucial for global stability in the 21st century. This vision for the Indo-Pacific is not unique to the United States, but is shared by Japan and many other nations in the region. However, there are many challenges to realizing this vision, including territorial and maritime disputes, differing economic approaches, historical concerns, and various types of governance. Therefore, multilateral cooperation is needed to address these challenges and ensure economic prosperity, good governance, and peace and security become a reality for all in the Indo-Pacific. The Embassy welcomes proposals that address these issues and is particularly interested in supporting the following priority areas: maritime security, economic prosperity, civil society, disaster relief, health assistance, and rule of law. The program needs to be designed to strengthen ties between U.S. and Japanese institutions through the inclusion of U.S. experts. The program should also include participants from other countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

The U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU) is soliciting proposals for projects aimed at EU audiences with the goal of: increasing the discussion and understanding of foreign policy and economic priorities important to the U.S.-EU relationship; supporting the U.S. goals of advancing economic growth and countering terrorism; and furthering U.S.-EU understanding and cooperation on shared cultural, political, and economic values. USEU will award 5-10 cooperative agreements or grants for projects to be carried out in Brussels and EU Member States between October 2017 and December 2018.

The Science of Science & Innovation Policy (SciSIP) program supports research designed to advance the scientific basis of science and innovation policy. Research funded by the program thus develops, improves and expands models, analytical tools, data and metrics that can be applied in the science policy decision making process. For example, research proposals may develop behavioral and analytical conceptualizations, frameworks or models that have applications across a broad array of SciSIP challenges, including the relationship between broader participation and innovation or creativity. Proposals may also develop methodologies to analyze science and technology data, and to convey the information to a variety of audiences. Researchers are also encouraged to create or improve science and engineering data, metrics and indicators reflecting current discovery, particularly proposals that demonstrate the viability of collecting and analyzing data on knowledge generation and innovation in organizations. Among the many research topics supported are:examinations of the ways in which the contexts, structures and processes of science and engineering research are affected by policy decision, the evaluation of the tangible and intangible returns from investments in science and from investments in research and development, the study of structures and processes that facilitate the development of usable knowledge, theories of creative processes and their transformation into social and economic outcomes, the collection, analysis and visualization of new data describing the scientific and engineering enterprise. The SciSIP program invites the participation of researchers from all of the social, behavioral and economic sciences as well as those working in domain-specific applications such as chemistry, biology, physics, or nanotechnology. The program welcomes proposals for individual or multi-investigator research projects, doctoral dissertation improvement awards, conferences, wo

The Office of English Language Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/A/L) announces an open competition to administer the English Access Microscholarship Program (Access), which provides a foundation of English language skills to bright, economically disadvantaged students in their home countries. Access programs introduce students, primarily aged 13 to 20, to U.S. culture and democratic values, improve the students' potential to fully contribute to the socio-economic development of their countries, and increase their ability to compete for and participate in U.S. exchange and study programs.

The U.S. Embassy Tokyo's Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out an exchange program showcasing the technological advances that are being implemented to address pressing social issues common to the U.S. and Japan in order to deepen the economic, scientific, and technological cooperation, promote sustainable economic growth, and strengthen people-to-people ties between both countries.

The U.S. Embassy Tokyo's Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program that aims to advance women's and youth entrepreneurship in Japan to promote sustainable economic growth and foster U.S - Japan economic partnership.

We propose the development of a skills building workshop series to promote empowerment and engagement, using civil society and community. This should focus on under-served communities, especially in second-tier Indian cities, using theater and performance techniques. No large scale performance is required at any venue, but small performances should be generated, recorded, and prepared for broadcast through a variety of media platforms as part of the workshop. The workshops will provide underserved local communities with techniques to build confidence, skills, increase a sense of community, and build linkages across communities and between peoples and institutions that normally do not interact. These linkages should include organizations in both India and the United States. Target audiences will be identified by U.S. Mission India, and may include underserved youth in second tier cities, e.g. Lucknow. Youth might come from the full range of economic backgrounds, from street kids to students in better local academic institutions. It is not required that the workshops take place in all five consular districts; instead, the U.S. Mission will work with the program partner, local theater partners, and with other appropriate institutions to identify the priority locations for this project. The project should use traditional media, Facebook and Twitter as amplifiers, and will use such means as DVC, Livestream, Google, etc., to broadcast events. We hope to foster a recognition among Indians that as their economic stature rises, the social and political inclusion of once marginalized groups will advance the interests that the U.S. and India have in common. 

The Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE) of the NSF and Research Councils UK (RCUK) are pleased to announce the SBE-RCUK Lead Agency Agreement. The goal of this agreement is to reduce some of the barriers to working internationally that researchers currently encounter. The SBE-RCUK Lead Agency Agreement will address these issues by allowing US and UK researchers to submit a single collaborative proposal that will undergo a single review process. Proposals will be accepted for collaborative research in areas at the intersection of NSF/SBE and RCUK's missions. The primary UK Research Councils participating in this activity are the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Proposers should review the programs supported through NSF/SBE and through the relevant UK Research Council(s) for further information on what areas of research are eligible for support through this activity. Proposals are expected to adhere to typical proposal sizes and durations for the relevant UK Research Council(s) and SBE program(s) from which funding is sought. Proposals will be accepted for both interdisciplinary and disciplinary research projects.

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $5,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for one cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project in an identified country to economically empower women and girls. The objective of the project is to reduce the risk of child labor, forced labor, and other violations of labor rights for vulnerable women and girls within an identified supply chain. The project will aim to achieve the following outcomes: (1) improved economic participation by women and girls vulnerable to child labor, forced labor, and/or other violations of labor rights within a supply chain; and (2) improved business practices by private sector actors to protect against child labor, forced labor, and other violations of labor rights for vulnerable women and girls working within a supply chain.

The Rural Resilience Activity is meant to contribute to economic recovery in Nigeria's Northeast region that has been devastated by the ongoing insurgency carried out by Jama'atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda'Awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, and Islamic State in West Africa (ISIS-WA). The Rural Resilience activity is issued under the U.S. Government's (USG) Global Food Security Act (GFSA), which aims to advance the objectives of inclusive and sustainable agriculturally-led economic growth; strengthened resilience among people and systems; and a well-nourished population, especially women and children. The Activity will cover four northeastern states that have been affected by the insurgency: Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, and Yobe. Within these states, priority will be given to geographic areas where the security situation allows safe movement and market activity. Activity interventions will commence initially in fully accessible areas with security levels that permit medium- to long-term development efforts with market and production significance. There is a substantial risk that some of the areas to which IDPs have been returning may have landmines or other explosive remnants of war (ERW). LGAs that have been cleared as being free of ERW will be prioritized, and the activity will coordinate with local, federal, and international police or demining organizations to ensure that the areas are free off ERW prior to any activity interventions.

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Singapore announces an open competition for proposals to design, plan, and implement a three-day workshop (not inclusive of travel dates) in Singapore for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), pending the availability of funds. The three-day workshop in August 2020 (tentatively) will gather approximately 40-60 participants between 18-35 years of age from all ten ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste around the theme, "Future Workforce." YSEALI is the U.S.government's signature initiative to strengthen partnerships with emerging leaders in ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and Timor-Leste. Program participants are encouraged to work across national borders to solve regional challenges, encompassed by the four pillars of YSEALI - economic growth, sustainable development, education, and civic engagement - and to strengthen the U.S.-ASEAN partnership. The YSEALI Regional Workshop on "Future Workforce" in Singapore will help Southeast Asia strengthen economic development capacity by preparing their workforce to adapt to the needs of future job demands and highlight the value of U.S. companies in driving technology and innovation. Over the course of three days, workshop participants will gain the knowledge, skills, and resilience to ensure their enterprises remain viable into the future. The workshop will develop participants' leadership competencies in strategies for meeting the digital future, critical thinking skills required to adapt quickly, and upskilling/reskilling their workforce.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of East Asia Pacific Affairs (EAP) announces an open competition for an environmental award of up to 246,850 to support a local and regional small-scale public health project in the Lower Mekong countries of Southeast Asia. Under the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) EAP and the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) work together to improve human health thereby promoting economic growth throughout the region. Guided by the specific objectives from the LMI 2016-2020 Master Plan of Action, this project seeks to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through the development of National AMR Resistance Action Plans. In addition to demonstrating expert knowledge of health challenges, existing programs, and topics related to AMR in the Lower Mekong Region, project applications should address three or more of the following environmental areas of focus: * National AMR programs * Antimicrobial resistance * Public Health: infectious diseases and/or Antimicrobial resistance * Sustainable economic development * Adaptation to changing public health conditions, e.g., endemic and epidemic pathogens * Supporting the One Health Initiative by improving the understanding of disease ecology and the connectedness between human health and the larger ecosystem, strengthening surveillance systems, and bolstering national communication across animal, human, and environmental health sectors. * Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) * World Health Organization's Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance * WHO's International Health Regulations. * Risk management * Evidence-based policy development * Development of new technology for application to environmental health issues Proposed project activities may take place only in following countries: Burma; Cambodia; Laos; Thailand; or Vietnam.

The purpose of this possible activity is to help facilitate the integration of Venezuelan migrants into their host countries (Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil) through a mix of support for (1) initiatives that promote formal labor market participation and economic integration; (2) focused assistance to selected national and subnational government institutions; and (3) targeted, demand-driven policy changes and procedural reforms to facilitate the socio-economic integration of Venezuelans host countries.

The U.S. Embassy Ankara, Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to Support Shared Security, Strengthen Economic Prosperity or Reinforce U.S. - Turkish Shared Values. Priority Region: Projects located outside Turkey's largest cities are considered stronger. Program Objectives: * Support Shared Security - Projects that support and advance cooperation between the U.S. and Turkey on defeating ISIS/Daesh and other extremist groups; projects in Turkey that support advancing stability in Syria; all facets of counterterrorism efforts; and transnational crime. Also projects that support and advance cooperation between the United States and Turkey in NATO and other multilateral security organizations. * Strengthen Economic Prosperity - Projects which promote trade and investment with the United States, and support entrepreneurship and innovation. Projects which support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education among Turkish youth. * Reinforce U.S.-Turkish Shared Values - Projects which build mutual understanding and promote U.S.-culture, including American Studies, English teaching/learning, music, art, sports, and education, and encourage study in the United States. Also projects that support human rights, women's and youth empowerment, LGBT rights, diversity, acceptance of minority groups, and other areas of mutual interest that promote freedom and democracy.