Opportunity Information: Apply for SMK80020PAS003
The Annual Program Statement for the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 2020 (Funding Opportunity Number SMK80020PAS003) is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje through its Public Affairs Section. It is designed to support democracy-focused projects in North Macedonia by providing small grants and cooperative agreements to local non-profit, non-governmental organizations and independent media outlets. The program operates as an annual statement of priorities rather than a single one-time competition, meaning applicants can submit abstracts or executive summaries at any point before the final closing date, and awards are issued on a rolling basis as long as funds remain available.
The program concentrates on four main grant priority areas. First, Rule of Law and Government Accountability supports initiatives that strengthen judicial independence, improve governance, and reduce corruption, with the broader goal of building stronger democratic institutions and a government that responds to citizens. Second, Citizen Participation focuses on increasing civic engagement and strengthening democratic institutions by expanding participation and representation for people from varied backgrounds across society. Third, Cybersecurity and Disinformation seeks projects that improve cybersecurity awareness, strengthen media literacy, and counter propaganda and disinformation. Fourth, Youth Development and Women Empowerment prioritizes activities that help young people, and especially women, develop skills and opportunities to start businesses, reduce youth emigration pressures, and increase minority participation in the economy, with the intended ripple effects of improving the business climate, supporting entrepreneurship and private sector growth, attracting investment, and encouraging job creation.
Submissions are reviewed in three timed rounds based on when the abstract or executive summary is received: by April 1, 2020, by May 1, 2020, and by June 1, 2020. While the final deadline for consideration under this annual statement is June 1, 2020, the rolling review and award approach makes early submission important because funding decisions can be made before the final deadline and remaining funds may become limited.
The opportunity also draws clear lines around what it will not fund. Ineligible activities include partisan political projects, humanitarian or charitable aid, professional development for individuals such as conferences or travel abroad, commercial or trade activities, fundraising campaigns, scientific research, general institutional support or organizational development, projects that duplicate existing efforts, and proposals from individuals or organizations located outside North Macedonia. In other words, the program is meant to fund concrete, locally implemented democracy and civic-strengthening projects rather than political campaigning, charity, individual career advancement, or organizational operating support.
Proposals are evaluated based on several practical criteria. Reviewers look for strong alignment with the program priorities, clear and realistic goals and activities, and a well-defined target group. Applicants are expected to explain how success will be measured and what outcomes they anticipate, not just list activities. Budgeting must be sensible and proportional to the plan, and proposals are strengthened when they show longer-term sustainability beyond the grant period where that makes sense. Finally, the applying organization must demonstrate it has the capacity to carry out the project successfully. The published award ceiling is $24,000, and the program anticipated making around 15 awards under this announcement.Apply for SMK80020PAS003
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Annual Program Statement for Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 2020" 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, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2020. (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 $24,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 2020?
The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 2020 is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje through its Public Affairs Section. It provides small grants and cooperative agreements to support democracy-focused projects in North Macedonia.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SMK80020PAS003.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, Public Affairs Section, on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.
Is this a one-time competition or an ongoing opportunity?
This is an annual program statement (a statement of priorities), not a single one-time competition. Applicants can submit an abstract or executive summary at any point up to the final closing date, and awards are made on a rolling basis as long as funds remain available.
Who is eligible to apply?
Local non-profit, non-governmental organizations and independent media outlets in North Macedonia are eligible to apply, based on the program description.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. The opportunity specifies that proposals from individuals are not eligible.
Can organizations outside North Macedonia apply?
No. Proposals from individuals or organizations located outside North Macedonia are listed as ineligible.
What types of funding are offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The program provides small grants and cooperative agreements, as described in the opportunity information.
What are the main priority areas this program will fund?
The program focuses on four priority areas: (1) Rule of Law and Government Accountability, (2) Citizen Participation, (3) Cybersecurity and Disinformation, and (4) Youth Development and Women Empowerment.
What kinds of projects fit under Rule of Law and Government Accountability?
Projects in this area are intended to strengthen judicial independence, improve governance, and reduce corruption, with the broader aim of building stronger democratic institutions and a government that responds to citizens.
What kinds of projects fit under Citizen Participation?
This area supports initiatives to increase civic engagement and strengthen democratic institutions by expanding participation and representation for people from varied backgrounds across society.
What kinds of projects fit under Cybersecurity and Disinformation?
This area supports projects that improve cybersecurity awareness, strengthen media literacy, and counter propaganda and disinformation.
What kinds of projects fit under Youth Development and Women Empowerment?
This area prioritizes activities that help young people, and especially women, develop skills and opportunities to start businesses, reduce pressures that contribute to youth emigration, and increase minority participation in the economy. The intended ripple effects include improving the business climate, supporting entrepreneurship and private sector growth, attracting investment, and encouraging job creation.
How do submissions work for this annual program statement?
Applicants may submit abstracts or executive summaries at any time before the final closing date. Submissions are reviewed in timed rounds based on when the abstract or executive summary is received.
What are the review rounds and dates?
Submissions are reviewed in three rounds: those received by April 1, 2020; by May 1, 2020; and by June 1, 2020.
What is the final deadline to be considered?
The final deadline for consideration under this annual statement is June 1, 2020.
Why is early submission important?
Awards are issued on a rolling basis as long as funds remain available. Because decisions can be made before the final deadline, submitting earlier may matter if remaining funds become limited later in the cycle.
What is the maximum award amount?
The published award ceiling is $24,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The program anticipated making around 15 awards under this announcement.
What activities are explicitly ineligible for funding?
Ineligible activities include partisan political projects; humanitarian or charitable aid; professional development for individuals (such as conferences or travel abroad); commercial or trade activities; fundraising campaigns; scientific research; general institutional support or organizational development; projects that duplicate existing efforts; and proposals from individuals or organizations located outside North Macedonia.
Does the program fund partisan political projects or political campaigning?
No. Partisan political projects are specifically listed as ineligible.
Does the program fund humanitarian or charitable aid?
No. Humanitarian or charitable aid is listed as ineligible.
Does the program fund travel abroad, conferences, or other individual professional development?
No. Professional development for individuals, such as conferences or travel abroad, is listed as ineligible.
Does the program fund commercial or trade activities?
No. Commercial or trade activities are listed as ineligible.
Does the program fund fundraising campaigns?
No. Fundraising campaigns are listed as ineligible.
Does the program fund scientific research?
No. Scientific research is listed as ineligible.
Can the grant be used for general institutional support or organizational development?
No. General institutional support or organizational development is listed as ineligible. The program is intended to support concrete, locally implemented democracy and civic-strengthening projects rather than general operating support.
What does the opportunity mean by avoiding duplicate projects?
The opportunity notes that projects duplicating existing efforts are ineligible, meaning proposals should not replicate work that is already being implemented elsewhere as described in the announcement.
How are proposals evaluated?
Proposals are evaluated on alignment with the program priorities; clear and realistic goals and activities; a well-defined target group; a credible plan for measuring success and describing anticipated outcomes; a sensible and proportional budget; sustainability beyond the grant period where appropriate; and the organization’s demonstrated capacity to carry out the project successfully.
What should applicants include about goals, activities, and outcomes?
Applicants are expected to present clear and realistic goals and activities, define the target group, and explain how success will be measured and what outcomes are anticipated (not only list activities).
How important is the budget in the review?
Budgeting is expected to be sensible and proportional to the proposed plan, and it is part of the evaluation criteria.
Is sustainability considered during evaluation?
Yes. Proposals are strengthened when they show longer-term sustainability beyond the grant period where that makes sense.
What does the program look for in organizational capacity?
The applying organization is expected to demonstrate that it has the capacity to carry out the project successfully, and capacity is listed as a review consideration.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The program is meant to fund concrete, locally implemented democracy and civic-strengthening projects in North Macedonia, aligned with the stated priority areas, rather than political campaigning, charity, individual career advancement, or general operating support.
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