# Democracy Commission Small Grants Program

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/state-bishkek-pds-23-0002-democracy-commission-small-grants-program/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/345665

> U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan offered grants of up to $50,000 (at least $10,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 20 awards. Applications closed on March 20, 2023.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | STATE-BISHKEK-PDS-23-0002 |
| Agency | U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | March 20, 2023 |
| Award ceiling | $50,000 |
| Award floor | $10,000 |
| Expected awards | 20 |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 19.900 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

The following organizations are eligible to apply:■ Not-for-profit organizations, ■ Civil society/non-governmental organizations, ■ Think tanks, and■ Media organizations. For this announcement, only organizations based in the Kyrgyz Republic are eligible to apply. Organizations unique to the Kyrgyz Republic will be prioritized over local branches of international NGOs/CSOs.

## What the grant funds

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic is soliciting Statements of Interest for grants from Kyrgyz civil society and independent media organizations that focus on one of the priority areas/themes specified below. Applicants should pay close attention to PDS priority goals, program areas, target audiences, and geographic location when developing their proposals. Statements of Interest, including the short budget proposal, cannot exceed three pages. Proposals which exceed three pages limit will be disqualified from consideration. Support for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) All programs should consider strategies for expanding the pool of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries to afford opportunities for as diverse and inclusive a population as is feasible to bring perspectives based on religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, and age to implementation of the program. Note: A specific goal and objectives for each theme are listed below. Please ensure you pay close attention to each of the goals, objectives, and target audiences when developing your proposal. Priority Themes: 1. Advancing Business Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship The economy of the Kyrgyz Republic relies heavily on external factors, contributing to the country’s economic instability in recent decades. The limited economic opportunities and high level of poverty, especially in rural locations, led to mass labor migration, which caused additional socio-economic problems within communities. Previous PDS-funded projects have focused on strengthening entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives by providing beneficiaries with necessary tools and knowledge; increasing the level of financial literacy and business skills; and providing business-related training programs and vocational courses to ensure economic independence and self-sustainability. This funding opportunity seeks to continue to support projects that strengthen the enabling environment for economic growth by addressing specific current challenges: ● high level of poverty in rural locations; ● lack of core competencies and skills needed in the modern workplace; and/or, ● lack of economic opportunities and resources.

## Questions people ask

### Is STATE-BISHKEK-PDS-23-0002 still open?

No. It closed on March 20, 2023.

### Who can apply for Democracy Commission Small Grants Program?

U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Democracy Commission Small Grants Program?

Closed March 20, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $50,000 each.

### Who has won AEECA/ESF PD Programs grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc., Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees, International Research and Exchanges Board Inc. The program made 2,295 awards worth $192 million in that time.