Funding Wizard

The U.S. Department of State seeks to partner with organizations that can design and implement program activities using inclusive, rights-respecting, multi-stakeholder models of internet governance to empower women and youth voices and promote gender equity and equality in digital and cyber policymaking consistent with U.S. efforts to promote an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet. This program should build the organizational, technical, and policy development capacity of local and/or regional youth- and women-led civil society organizations and activists to engage directly and regularly with governments and private sector actors to promote inclusive, rights-respecting practices and ensure accountability for protecting human rights obligations across the digital ecosystem—both within the scope of Internet governance as well as laws, policies, and regulations that relate to the real-world impacts of digital information and communications technologies.

SCA seeks to establish a fund to support community and grassroots civil society organizations whose programs prevent and respond to Child, Early, and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and/or Pakistan. The project should identify key factors contributing to CEFM in each country or sub-national region in which the fund will operate, and key interventions that may prevent or respond to CEFM; support selected community or grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) that work to prevent or respond to CEFM; and provide opportunities for shared learning among the selected CSOs and with other stakeholders.

The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out the “Built Water Storage in South Asia” project to build technical and policy capacity to develop and manage built water storage in the region. Climate change is reducing water resources in South and Central Asia, which creates need for more water storage and improved water management. Shrinking glaciers, over-reliance on groundwater, changes in monsoon cycle, and increasing droughts –combined with growing populations and developing economies demanding more water for energy and agriculture–have highlighted water stress, threatening sustainable development and societal stability. Increased water storage (including built storage, groundwater and nature-based solutions) combined with improved water management could strengthen regional water security. Policy, engineering, and scientific communities may not fully recognize the scope and impact of these storage gaps. This project will build the technical and policy capacity of governments, water management professionals, civil society organizations, and other relevant actors to address these water resource challenges.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) for organizations to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a $1.5 million program to advance the economic empowerment of Afghan women in Afghanistan and other South and Central Asian countries. The proposed program would launch a platform through which businesses, non-profits, and international government leaders in the U.S. and countries around the world would be able to sustainably partner with Afghan women leaders and Afghan women-led private and non-profit organizations to co-create programs that advance Afghan women’s economic security and economic resilience, including by fostering women’s entrepreneurship, participation in agricultural value chains, participation in e-commerce and the digital economy, and women artisans’ connectivity with global markets. Priority will be given to organizations that provide cost-share and outline previous experience developing partnerships with the private sector. In addition to proposing activities to take place inside Afghanistan, proposed programs may include activities in support of Afghan women residing in other countries in the region in their scope. The proposed program should build connectivity or allow for connection with other programs that provide women’s mental health access, support women’s safety and other services critical to support Afghan women following the Taliban takeover. SCA invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal.The submission of a Statement of Interest and Capacity (SOI) is the first step in a multi-phased, collaborative program development process. Applicants must first submit a concise statement of interest, up to four-pages, designed to clearly communicate the program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow

The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out the “Inclusive Action for Climate Change” program to promote gender equity in climate policymaking and programs in selected countries in South Asia. The project will strengthen the capacity of women-led organizations in selected countries in South Asia to participate meaningfully in political discussions regarding national and local policies on climate change adaptation; advance the role of women in community-led conflict resolution arising from the climate crisis and its effects; and assist women-led organizations to advocate for and achieve gender equity and equality in climate change adaptation efforts, including in emergency preparedness and recovery from climate-related disasters. Supporting regional networks will develop collaborative work practices, skills in community organizing, governmental advocacy, and community outreach on our shared climate crisis burdens. Please see the NOFO document for further details.

The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out the Improving the Business Environment in Central Asia program. See the NOFO for further details.