Opportunity Information: Apply for 2023 FY23AEECA PASPODGORICA
The 2023 Democracy Commission Small Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Montenegro, to fund projects that strengthen open and competitive political systems and protect human rights. For this specific Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the Embassy is looking for proposals that directly support tolerance, diversity, and inclusion across Montenegrin society. In practice, the program is meant to back practical, locally grounded initiatives that reduce discrimination, expand civic participation, and reinforce rights-based protections, especially in communities that may be underserved or facing social and economic pressures.
Proposed projects are expected to align with at least one of the program's stated priority areas. These include protecting human rights and promoting tolerance, with a strong emphasis on work involving youth; advancing equality and inclusion for ethnic minorities, LGBTQI individuals, and broader gender equality goals; and supporting womens empowerment in both political and economic life. The themes point to a clear interest in projects that not only raise awareness but also shift attitudes, improve access to rights and opportunities, and build durable community capacity to respond to exclusion or intolerance.
The Embassy signals openness to a wide range of project formats and strategies, as long as they connect to the priorities above and are likely to produce tangible outcomes. Examples listed include strategic policy engagement, advocacy efforts, and communication campaigns aimed at key audiences, along with more participatory approaches such as workshops, hackathons, cultural programming, and hands-on activities that require follow-on action from participants. Community initiatives are also encouraged, suggesting that proposals can be tailored to local needs and can blend education, engagement, and practical problem-solving. A particularly important preference is for high-quality proposals that reach beyond the capital and engage audiences in economically disadvantaged regions, especially areas affected by brain drain. This indicates that projects with strong regional outreach, local partnerships, or programming in smaller municipalities may be especially competitive.
From an administrative standpoint, the award ceiling is listed as $50,000, and the program anticipates making about eight awards. The funding opportunity number is 2023 FY23AEECA PASPODGORICA, and the CFDA (assistance listing) number is 19.900. The opportunity was posted March 10, 2023, with an application deadline of May 8, 2023. Applications must be submitted by email to PodgoricaGrants@state.gov by close of business (17:00) on the deadline date. The Embassy requires that supporting documents be sent as standard email attachments or in a zipped folder, and it specifically notes that RAR files will not be accepted. It also prohibits submitting materials through external file-transfer services like WeTransfer or Dropbox. Applicants are directed to consult the full NOFO for complete requirements, along with the required forms and guidelines provided through the official link and attachments associated with the announcement.Apply for 2023 FY23AEECA PASPODGORICA
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Montenegro in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2023 Democracy Commission Small Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 08, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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2023 Democracy Commission Small Grants Program (U.S. Embassy Podgorica) - FAQs
What is the 2023 Democracy Commission Small Grants Program?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Montenegro, that funds projects designed to strengthen open and competitive political systems and protect human rights.
What is this specific NOFO looking to fund?
For this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the Embassy is seeking proposals that directly support tolerance, diversity, and inclusion across Montenegrin society, with an emphasis on practical, locally grounded initiatives.
What kinds of outcomes does the Embassy want projects to achieve?
The NOFO emphasizes tangible outcomes such as reducing discrimination, expanding civic participation, and reinforcing rights-based protections, especially for communities that may be underserved or facing social and economic pressures.
Do proposed projects need to align with specific priority areas?
Yes. Proposed projects are expected to align with at least one of the program's stated priority areas described in the opportunity.
What are the program priority areas mentioned in the announcement?
The stated priorities include: (1) protecting human rights and promoting tolerance, with a strong emphasis on work involving youth; (2) advancing equality and inclusion for ethnic minorities, LGBTQI individuals, and broader gender equality goals; and (3) supporting women's empowerment in political and economic life.
Is youth-focused programming specifically encouraged?
Yes. The announcement highlights a strong emphasis on human rights and tolerance work that involves youth.
Which communities or issues are explicitly highlighted as priorities?
The NOFO explicitly highlights ethnic minorities, LGBTQI individuals, broader gender equality goals, and women's empowerment as priority themes.
Are awareness-raising projects enough on their own?
The themes indicate interest in projects that go beyond awareness-raising and are designed to shift attitudes, improve access to rights and opportunities, and build durable community capacity to respond to exclusion or intolerance.
What types of activities or project formats are considered responsive?
The Embassy indicates openness to many formats as long as they clearly connect to the priorities and are likely to produce tangible outcomes. Examples listed include strategic policy engagement, advocacy, communication campaigns aimed at key audiences, workshops, hackathons, cultural programming, and hands-on activities that require follow-on action from participants.
Are community-based initiatives encouraged?
Yes. The announcement encourages community initiatives and suggests proposals can be tailored to local needs while blending education, engagement, and practical problem-solving.
Does the Embassy prefer projects outside the capital?
Yes. The Embassy expresses a preference for high-quality proposals that reach beyond the capital and engage audiences in economically disadvantaged regions, especially areas affected by brain drain.
What kinds of regional approaches might be more competitive based on the announcement?
Projects with strong regional outreach, local partnerships, or programming in smaller municipalities may be especially competitive, since the NOFO highlights engagement in economically disadvantaged regions and areas affected by brain drain.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the announcement is $50,000.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipates making about eight awards.
What is the funding opportunity number for this NOFO?
The funding opportunity number is 2023 FY23AEECA PASPODGORICA.
What is the CFDA (assistance listing) number?
The CFDA (assistance listing) number is 19.900.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 10, 2023.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is May 8, 2023.
What time is the application due on the deadline date?
Applications must be submitted by close of business (17:00) on the deadline date.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications must be submitted by email to PodgoricaGrants@state.gov.
How should supporting documents be submitted?
The Embassy requires supporting documents to be sent as standard email attachments or in a zipped folder.
Are there any file types or submission methods that are not allowed?
Yes. The Embassy notes that RAR files will not be accepted, and it prohibits submitting materials through external file-transfer services such as WeTransfer or Dropbox.
Where can applicants find the complete requirements and required forms?
Applicants are directed to consult the full NOFO for complete requirements, along with the required forms and guidelines provided through the official link and attachments associated with the announcement.
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