[CivilSoc] Request for Applications, U.S.-Russian Far East Partnership Activity

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The  Foundation for Russian American Economic Cooperation (FRAEC) & United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) are pleased to release
the Request for Applications  (RFA) for Round 3 of the US-RFE Partnership
Activity. This information is also available on FRAEC's website at
www.fraec.org . You can download the grant application instructions for this
Round in English and Russian from our web site at
http://www.fraec.org/rfe9.html.
Date Issued:  February 25, 2003
Deadline for Proposals:  May 7, 2003
U.S. - RFE Partnership Activity is a program funded by the United States
Agency for International Development and supports long-term collaboration
between United States and Russian Far East (RFE). The program enables
Russian public and private organizations to solidify their relationships
with U.S. counterpart organizations. It is unique in that the focus is as
much on the partnership aspect as it is on the projects the partners propose
to implement. A partnership is defined as a relationship in which
organizations; directed by their mutual interests, work together to achieve
common goals by sharing efforts and responsibility to achieve those goals.
The program is focused on targeted support of concrete, demand-driven
partnership efforts that are linked to real needs and serve an RFE
constituency.
This program supports non-commercial initiatives that will strengthen
democratic society, improve the economic environment in the RFE and further
integrate the RFE into the Pacific Rim.  Grants will be awarded to develop
new and existing partnerships between U.S. and Russian organizations focused
on the RFE.  Grant activities may be planned for up to one year, beginning
no earlier than September 1, 2003 and ending no later than August 31, 2004.
Strategic focus areas for the projects include:  Rule of Law; Professional
Association Strengthening; Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development;
Support of Environmental Advocacy; Good Governance; and Social and Economic
Infrastructure Development.  This round similar to Round 2 will give
particular preference to projects targeting issues in the strategic areas of
Good Governance and SME Development, as well as projects in any strategic
area that address or involve specific needs of indigenous peoples in the
RFE.
The Partnership Activity supports projects targeting the administrative
territories of the RFE and Zabaikalye, including:  the Republics of Buryatia
and Sakha (Yakutia), the Amurskaya, Magadanskaya, Sakhalinskaya, Jewish
Autonomous and Kamchatskaya oblasts, the Chukotski Okrug, and Primorskii and
Khabarovskii Krais.  Highest priority will be given to projects with a focus
on Sakhalin.  Multi-party partnerships, including participation of
organizations from other regions of Russia, and other countries, especially
from the Pacific Rim, are encouraged.
Partnerships may be between or among organizations and enterprises of any
type or governmental level, with the exception of Federal agencies.
Regional divisions of federal agencies CAN be grant recipients.  If the
partnership is new, the American partner must be based on the U.S. West
Coast.  If the partnership qualifies as existing, there are no restrictions
on the geographic location of the American partner.  All partnerships must
have at least one partner located in the Russian Far East. There is no limit
to the number of organizations involved, as long as clear plans for
communication, coordination and roles are defined.
If you have questions or  need any assistance please contact FRAEC at
partners at fraec.org  or 206-443-1935 in Seattle; 4242-727125 in
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
To facilitate applications and provide answers to specific questions, FRAEC
will also be holding Pre-Bid Workshops in Khabarovsk, Petropavlovsk, Magadan
and possibly Yakutsk in Russia.
Pre-Bid Workshops will also be held in Anchorage, Monday, March 17, and
Seattle, Friday, March 21. All interested applicants are invited to attend.
Please reserve your space by sending an email to partners at fraec.org and
indicating which workshop you plan to attend.