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http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/2016/03/new-state-department-program-targets.html
<http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/>
Friday, March 25, 2016
New State Department program targets Cuban youth
Just three days after Barack Obama left Cuba, the State Department today
announced a $753,989 community internship program targeting "young
emerging leaders from Cuban civil society."
Non-profit organizations and educational institutions are invited to
submit proposals. The deadline is May 20. The first awards are expected
to be given in late July or early August.
The State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs plans to
manage the program, aimed at financing two- to four-month professional
development programs "which will fuel the participants’ development of
action plans for nongovernmental community activities in Cuba."
The announcement states:
"Cuban civil society is not formed into well-established organizations
that would typically be found in a society with a strong democratic
tradition. Through participation in the program, participants will
develop a set of leadership tools and skills to manage and grow civil
society organizations that will actively support democratic principles
in Cuba."
The announcement is below:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere
Affairs (WHA) announces a Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to
support the Community Internship Program for Cuban Youth. Subject to the
availability of funds, WHA intends to issue an award in an amount not to
exceed $753,989 in FY2015 Economic Support Funds for a project period of
three years. The anticipated start date for this activity is August 2016
and WHA intends to support one award as a result of this NOFO.
WHA invites U.S. nonprofit organizations and U.S. educational
institutions to submit proposals for the Community Internship Program
for Cuban Youth, which will support the participation of young emerging
leaders from Cuban civil society in a two- to four-month professional
development program. The program will include specialized training and
an internship with a nonprofit organization in the United States, which
will fuel the participants’ development of action plans for
nongovernmental community activities in Cuba. Cuban civil society is not
formed into well-established organizations that would typically be found
in a society with a strong democratic tradition. Through participation
in the program, participants will develop a set of leadership tools and
skills to manage and grow civil society organizations that will actively
support democratic principles in Cuba.
WHA reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted
and reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets
in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of
funds. The authority for this NOFO is found in the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961, as amended. The CFDA Number for this funding opportunity is
19.750.
This NOFO consists of this cover letter plus the following sections:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
II. Award Information
III. Eligibility information
IV. Agency Contacts
The complete solicitation package includes the mandatory Proposal
Submission Instructions, which includes Application and Submission
Instructions and Application Review Information.
Eligible organizations interested in submitting an application should
read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the project sought, the
application submission requirements and evaluation process.
This funding opportunity is posted on Grants.gov and may be amended. See
the Application and Submission Instructions for further details.
Potential applicants should regularly check the website to ensure they
have the latest information pertaining to this NOFO.
Any questions concerning this NOFO should be submitted in writing via
email to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at [email protected]
by May 6, 2016 [Subject line “Community Internship Program for Cuban
Youth” and your organization name]. Responses to questions will be made
available to all potential applicants through an amendment to this NOFO
and posted on Grants.gov.
Francisco L. Palmieri
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
U.S. Department of State
I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
U.S. foreign assistance for Cuba seeks to empower Cubans to freely
determine their own future by increasing human capacity, promoting
community level engagement, and expanding civil society networks. Since
1996, the United States has provided assistance to increase the flow of
information on democracy and human rights to Cuba through a variety of
U.S. and foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
The U.S. Department of State has engaged with independent civil society
groups on education, communication, and civic issues. The Bureau of
Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) seeks to build upon these earlier,
successful capacity-building efforts and provide professional
development opportunities to current and future civil society and
community leaders through coursework and internships on nonprofit
management. Civil society organizations in Cuba have had few models to
follow as they grow to serve the needs of their communities. With an
increased ability to travel, Cubans are eager for more information and
want to take advantage of professional development opportunities not
afforded to them otherwise.
To support further progress, the U.S. Department of State has allocated
$753,989 in FY 2015 Economic Support Funds for a professional
development program that supports the management of independent
organizations in Cuba. All activities will need to be implemented in
accordance with the relevant legislation. Assistance to Cuba is governed
by a complex series of statutory and other restrictions. The Cuban
Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996 (also referred
to as “Helms-Burton Act”, P.L. 104-114) provides notwithstanding
authority to furnish assistance and provide other support for
individuals and independent NGOs to support democracy-building efforts
for Cuba.
PROJECT PURPOSE
By supporting the growth of civil society and contributing to the
development and diversification of human capital in Cuba, this project
will fund the participation of young emerging leaders from Cuban civil
society in a two- to four-month professional development program,
consisting of specialized training and an internship with a nonprofit
organization in the United States, which will fuel the participants’
development of action plans for nongovernmental community activities in
Cuba. Cuban civil society is not formed into well-established
organizations that would typically be found in a society with a strong
democratic tradition. Through participation in the program, participants
will develop a set of leadership tools and skills to manage and grow
civil society organizations that will actively support democratic
principles in Cuba.
PROJECT GOAL
The goal is to foster a new generation of civil society leaders who will
possess the skills and knowledge to professionalize Cuba’s civil society
base. This cadre of young professionals will model effective leadership
of civil society organizations that are accountable to the public,
promote community engagement, support diversity, and further democratic
principles in Cuba.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
In order to fulfill this purpose and meet this goal, this project will
build the professional capacity of 25-30 Cubans to advance social
justice causes by providing a short training and internship program in
the United States within a three-year period. Participants will learn to
function professionally and effectively in leading or managing a civil
society movement at the grassroots level.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND GUIDELINES
In order to fulfill and meet the above-stated purpose and goal, the
recipient of this grant will fulfill several major components.
To promote networking among emerging civil society leaders, participants
will travel to the United States in two to four cohorts over three
years. Cohorts need not be the same size. Each cohort will follow the
sequence of components below:
A. Orientation and Training: Participants will start with a group
orientation and professional development activities.
B. Internship: Interns will participate in immersion experiences with
well-organized, community-based NGOs in the United States, matched on
area of interest.
C. Planning and Networking: During the U.S. program, participants will
prepare a small project on a subject related to the internship, and will
also develop a plan of action for activities in Cuba upon returning home.
Applicants must describe the design and management of all of the
components within the proposal narrative or in the attachments.
Applicants should also be sure to describe the roles and
responsibilities of the project management team and partner
organizations or institutions.
1. Recruitment and Selection
Recruitment Plan and Partners:
Applicants for the administration of this project will describe in their
proposals a robust recruitment and selection plan that will include a)
outreach that will generate a strong pool of qualified candidates; b)
the promotional materials that will be developed and disseminated; c)
details on engaging geographically, racially/ethnically, and
socio-economically diverse candidates; and d) participant selection
criteria and a candidate screening process. Staff of the recipient
organization should not plan to travel to Cuba to conduct on-island
recruitment, so applicants must provide detailed plans to recruit and
interview candidates from the United States. Before final decisions are
made, the grantee will recommend the principal and alternate
participants to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western
Hemisphere Affairs.
Participants:
Program participants will be Cuban citizens and residents who
demonstrate an interest in independent organizations. As emerging
leaders, participants will be between 20 and 35 years of age and may be
university students or young professionals. English language skills are
preferred but will not be a requirement; therefore, the orientation and
training must be conducted in Spanish (or interpreted for select
components), and internships with U.S. organizations and communities
that can accommodate Spanish-speakers must be incorporated into the
program. The participants should also demonstrate the aptitude
(maturity, independence, self-reliance, etc.) for success in a program
abroad. Participants must demonstrate a stated desire to return and work
in the management of independent organizations in Cuba. The implementing
organization’s recruitment plan must actively seek a candidate pool
representing gender, racial, socio-economic, and geographic diversity in
Cuba.
Visas:
Each participant must be able to receive a U.S. visa and commit to
returning to Cuba upon completion of the program. The award recipient
will issue the relevant forms to support the students in obtaining
appropriate visas. The award recipient and all sponsored participants
must comply with all visa regulations.
Pre-departure Orientation:
The award recipient will provide participants with a substantive
pre-departure orientation – any combination of video-conferencing,
in-person sessions, written materials (provided in hard copy, USB
drives, or CD/DVD), and/or low-bandwidth websites – to effectively
prepare them for the program. This will include the provision of details
on the program components, cross-cultural adjustment, travel and
financial matters, terms and conditions of the program, and health
insurance. Guidance should also outline what to bring to the United
States, how to communicate with home, and other logistical matters.
2. U.S. Program
A. Orientation and Training: Participants will start with a group
orientation and up to one month of specialized training and site visits
to familiarize them with democratic practices in the United States. The
training will focus on professional development needs for emerging civil
society leaders, including information technology training for research,
documentation, advocacy, and outreach, as well as train-the-trainer
activities aimed at increasing the impact of the program once
participants have returned to Cuba. Training will also cover the topics
of ethics, accountability, and social inclusion. Site visits will
introduce the participants to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations
in the United States. This section of the program will be led in Spanish.
B. Internship: Interns will participate in immersion experiences with
well-organized NGOs in the United States. Interns will be matched with
organizations based on interest area, language ability (including
organizations and communities that can cater to Spanish-speaking
interns), and relevance to the participants’ goals and community needs.
The internships will expose the Cubans to a range of organizations in a
consolidated democracy that support their interest in making choices
independent of state authority and are salient to their daily lives.
Small, locally-oriented organizations will be more relevant for the
interns than large, national organizations. Thematic areas such as
environmental protection, health, literacy and education, youth
development, gender violence, supporting persons with disabilities,
legal aid, and substance abuse are expected to be of interest to young
Cubans. Through the course of the internships, participants will explore
methods for NGO strategic planning, fiscal management, needs assessment,
and public relations, among other aspects of NGO management.
In the proposal narrative and/or attachments, applicants to this NOFO
should describe how they will recruit potential host organizations,
match interns with organizations, support the living situations of the
interns in U.S. communities, and ensure that the internships deliver the
professional development opportunities in nonprofit organizations as
outlined above. As previously noted, interns are not expected to be
proficient in English; proposals should describe how Spanish-speakers
will be accommodated in host organizations and communities.
C. Planning and Networking: As part of the professional development
program, participants will do research, write a short paper, or prepare
a case study on a subject related to the internship, the results of
which will be shared with their peers, as appropriate. They will also
develop a plan of action to implement in Cuba that organizes
nongovernmental grassroots activities for a social cause. These program
assignments will be introduced in the orientation, and re-addressed at a
workshop arranged for each cohort before the participants return home.
The implementing organization must provide follow-on support to
participants, perhaps through a small grants program to operationalize
democratic management goals (e.g., developing by-laws or a strategic
plan to reach the disenfranchised) and/or through a mentorship program
developed with civil society actors in the United States and/or other
countries in Latin America.
3. Follow-on with Alumni
Staying engaged with the alumni is important for evaluating the success
of the project as well as continuing to support the alumni in engaging
in networks of their professional peers in the United States and in
Latin America. Applicant organizations should describe various
approaches to facilitate this engagement. All proposed follow-on
activities for alumni must be developed in close consultation with WHA
and reflect the goals and objectives of the project. Proposals should
include an outline of and timeline for follow-on alumni programming,
information on how it will be coordinated, and how longer-term linkages
with alumni may be fostered and maintained.
4. External Evaluation
As part of the award, the recipient organization must identify an
external evaluator that will complete a comprehensive evaluation of the
results of the project, guided by the stated purpose and goals.
Specifically, the evaluation should measure whether participants learned
a wide range of skills specific to the management and sustainability of
a nonprofit organization, including accountability to boards, staffs,
volunteers, clients, funders, and members of the public, as applicable.
During the course of the program, participants will hone critical
thinking, interpersonal, goal-setting, and organization skills,
especially through the hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations
of a nonprofit organization.
To the extent possible, given limitations on access to alumni and the
time frame of the award, the evaluation should also measure the
longer-term impact of the award, including the participants’ abilities
to more effectively establish, lead, manage, and grow independent
organizations in support of democratic principles in Cuba. The
evaluation should ascertain if participants returned to Cuba with
practical tools for managing an independent organization, including
staff and volunteer recruitment and retention, fiscal management, public
relations, and evaluation.
The proposal must include a plan for this evaluation.
BUDGET GUIDANCE
The federal grant amount of $753,989 will support the participation of
25 to 30 interns in a professional development program over three years.
Factors such as the length of the program and the locations of the
internships will affect the costs for each participant. The budget will
include roundtrip airfare between Cuba and the United States; room and
board (which could include homestays or university dormitories); local
transportation; provision of orientation, training, and a closing
workshop; and other program-related expenses.
Allowable program costs may include the following:
• Recruitment and advertising materials and expenses
• Pre-departure orientation expenses
• Passport and visa fees, as necessary, including travel costs for
interviews
• Roundtrip airfare between Cuba and the United States
• Monthly stipend for room and board
• Winter clothing, if necessary
• Travel within the United States and local transportation (excluding
automobile purchases)
• Orientation and training expenses (e.g., travel, lodging, meals,
materials, honoraria for speakers)
• Health insurance (accident and sickness)
• Withholding for taxes, if necessary. Applicants should assist
participants in complying with federal income tax regulations and for
calculating appropriate amounts that must be withheld from the
participants’ support in accordance with the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
NOTE: Grant funds may not be used for expenses related to spouses,
children, or family relocation or reunification.
DESIRED RESULTS AND ILLUSTRATIVE INDICATORS
By the end of the project, the Community Internship Program for Cuban
Youth is expected to have supported 25-30 participants in completing a
comprehensive professional development program that includes an
internship, specialized training, and a plan for civic engagement. The
program will allow the participants to establish themselves in Cuba as
professional resources for organized civil society efforts and be better
connected to civil society organizations in other countries. Alumni will
have the tools to promote causes by attracting broad audiences, modeling
social responsibility and good governance, and mobilizing independent
actors within civil society to promote freedom of expression and assembly.
The recipient will develop a project-level Project Monitoring Plan (PMP)
with annual and end-of- project targets and results anticipated for key
performance indicators. The following table shows required indicators
that must be measured, as well as illustrative targets, which the
recipient will be responsible for monitoring and reporting during and
after the project. The recipient should propose additional outputs,
indicators, and/or targets as necessary. WHA will regularly monitor the
project’s performance to assess whether project activities are on track
and targets are being achieved.
Required outcome indicators for the project are provided below. The
recipient is expected to identify targets for these indicators based on
what it can reasonably achieve within the performance period of the
project, based on the expected overall project results described above.
Outcome Indicators
Targets:
Number of individuals who report acquiring a robust body of knowledge
about multiple facets of nonprofit management.
TBD
Number of individuals who utilize their U.S. experience to establish or
manage a nonprofit or independent organization in Cuba or participate in
one as an employee, board member, or volunteer (within a year of
participation in the project)
TBD
Output indicators and illustrative targets that should be used for the
project are provided below. The recipient should review these and either
confirm the illustrative targets or propose alternative targets, as
appropriate.
Output Indicators
Illustrative targets:
Number of People who Have Completed USG Assisted Civic Education Programs
At least 25
The recipient will be required to collect baseline data for all the PMP
indicators during the first year of the project. In addition, applicants
should define certain terms included in the outcomes and indicators at
the very beginning of the project so that it is possible to measure the
change during and at the end of the project. Such baseline information
will be critical for both monitoring and evaluation of project progress
and results.
II. AWARD INFORMATION
The U.S. government may issue one award resulting from this NOFO to the
responsible applicant whose application conforming to this NOFO is the
most responsive to the objectives set forth in this NOFO. The U.S.
government may (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept other than
the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one application, (d)
accept alternate applications, and (e) waive informalities and minor
irregularities in applications received.
The U.S. government may make award on the basis of initial applications
received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial
application should contain the applicant’s best terms from a cost and
technical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right (but is not
obliged) to enter into discussions with one or more applicants in order
to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements
in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application.
APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION:
Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for more
information on how to apply to this NOFO, including information on
proposal’s content and formatting. Please use both the PSI and this
announcement to ensure that your proposal submission is in full
compliance with the requirements. Proposal submissions that do not meet
all of the requirements outlined in the NOFO and PSI will NOT be
considered.
FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION:
Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.400(g), it is U.S. Department of State policy not
to award profit under assistance instruments. NOTE: Overseas-based
nonprofit organizations are legally required to comply with the 2 CFR 200.
Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the
part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to
pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an
application. In addition, a final award of any resultant grant agreement
cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and
committed through internal WHA procedures. While it is anticipated that
these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants
are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for award.
Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation
and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.
It is the responsibility of the recipient of this NOFO to ensure that it
has been recorded as received by Grants.gov or Grant Solutions in its
entirety. The Department bears no responsibility for data errors
resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with
electronic submissions.
The federal award signed by the Grants Officer is the authorizing document.
Reporting Requirements
Recipients will, at a minimum, be required to submit Quarterly Progress
Reports (to include the SF-PPR, as the cover page) and Quarterly
Financial Reports (SF-425). Progress Reports will compare actual to
planned performance and indicate the progress made in accomplishing each
assistance award task/goal noted in the grant agreement and will contain
analysis and summary of findings, both quantitative and qualitative, for
key indicators. Financial Reports provide a means of monitoring
expenditures and comparing costs incurred with progress.
NOTE: It is the Department of State’s policy that English is the
official language of all documents. If reports or any supporting
documents are provided in both English and a foreign language, it must
be stated in each version that the English language version is the
controlling version.
Mandatory disclosures (2 CFR 200.113)
The non-federal entity or applicant for a federal award must disclose,
in a timely manner, in writing to the federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity all violations of federal criminal law involving
fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal
award. Non-federal entities that have received a Federal award including
the term and condition outlined in Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition
for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters are required to report
certain civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings to SAM. Failure
to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described
in §200.338 Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment.
Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)
i. A federal awarding agency, prior to making a federal award will
review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the
designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM
(currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313); ii. Applicant, at its option,
may review information in the designated integrity and performance
systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about
itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is
currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible
through SAM. iii. Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by
the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated
integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the
applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under
Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as
described in §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by
applicants.
OTHER INFORMATION
Applicant organizations must demonstrate commitment to
non-discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal
opportunity employment practices. Non-discrimination includes equal
treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and
political affiliation. Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive
Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with or support to
individuals or organizations associated with terrorism.
Proposals that reflect any type of support for elected members of
government or for any member, affiliate, or representative of a
designated to terrorist organization or narcotics trafficker will NOT be
considered.
III. ELIGIBLITY INFORMATION
(1) Eligible Entities: Applicants that are eligible to apply are U.S.
nonprofit organizations and U.S. educational institutions.
To be eligible for a grant award, in addition to other conditions of
this NOFO, organizations must have a commitment to non‐discrimination
with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity
employment practices. Non‐discrimination includes equal treatment
without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political
affiliation.
Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law
prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support
to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the
legal responsibility of the Recipient to ensure compliance with these
Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in any
sub‐awards issued under this grant award.
(2) WHA encourages applications from potential new partners.
IV. AGENCY CONTACTS
Any prospective applicant desiring an explanation or interpretation of
this NOFO must request it in writing by the deadline for questions
specified in the cover letter to allow a reply to reach all prospective
applicants before the submission of their applications. Any information
given to a prospective applicant concerning this NOFO will be furnished
promptly to all other prospective applicants as a Questions and Answers
amendment to this NOFO, if that information is necessary in submitting
applications or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to any other
prospective applicants.
Please be sure to check Grants.gov for any updates or amendments to the
NOFO and to see published Questions and Answers regarding the NOFO.
Any questions concerning this NOFO must be submitted in writing by email
to [email protected] by the deadline for questions indicated at the
top of this NOFO’s cover letter. Please use the name of the program,
Community Internship Program for Cuban Youth, and your organization’s
name in the subject line.
Posted by Tracey Eaton <https://plus.google.com/111602208738806329244>
at Friday, March 25, 2016
<http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/2016/03/new-state-department-program-targets.html>
<https://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=6569634614488600291&postID=2927372312039002819>
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--
WHILE I AM IN CUBA, PLEASE cc [email protected] FOR PERSONAL MAIL AS THAT
OFTEN IS EASIER TO DOWNLOAD
---------------------
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Cuba home: 7 832 8189
Cuba cell: 53 5 476 0553
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