The U.S. Embassy has a limited amount of funding available for small bicommunal initiatives. Grants up to $10,000 may be awarded for local projects that benefit the island as a whole and that encourage sustainable island-wide networks.

Project Requirements

• Projects must be of a bicommunal nature and work towards securing long-term collaborations
• Grants cannot exceed $10,000
• Proposal needs to address how project will continue once funding has been exhausted (including additional sources of income)
• Proposal budgets that have secured matching (including in-kind) and/or local contributions are preferred
• Projects must utilize Cypriot or U.S. experts or resources
• Proposals for activities that require local sponsors, backing, facilities, etc., need to include appropriate documentation
• Grantee must list and confirm participation of all experts/personnel included in the grant
• Grantee must handle all project logistics (the U.S. Embassy’s Bicommunal Coordinator is only available to offer advice)
• Equipment purchases for bicommunal projects are discouraged, but equipment essential to the success of the program will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Administration costs must not exceed 20% of the grant
• Grantee will be informed of specific U.S. government rules and regulations
• Grantee must provide a short report (preferably no more than three pages) on the project to the Bicommunal Coordinator thirty days after its completion
• Individuals/institutions can only receive funding once every two years

Proposal Format - The proposal should be no more than three pages long using the following format.

Part I - Summary

• Project Title
• Total Budget in $US
• Executive Summary of Project (no more than 5 lines)

Part II - Contact Information

• Name of the individuals, group or organization
• Name of contact person and position held
• Contact address, including phone, fax, and email if available

Part III – Bicommunality and Project Description

• Describe the project and nature of the bicommunal collaboration in detail. Explain how both communities, and others, will benefit (who, what, where, when, how?).
• Outline how project will be implemented. Include a timeframe.
• What is the multiplier effect? How will the project be continued after the expiration of the grant?

Part IV - Budget

• Please provide detailed budgeting and estimated costs in $US. Please indicate if other resources will be used (in kind or cash). The US Embassy reserves the right to revise budgets to ensure they are in line with USG regulations.

Submission : Proposals should be submitted, using the format above, by email or hard copy, to the following address:

Dr. Juliette Dickstein, Bicommunal Coordinator, U.S. Embassy, Metochiou & Ploutarchou Streets, 2406 Engomi, Nicosia. Email: DicksteinJA@state.gov; Phone: 22-393-909

Deadline : September 15, 2008

Selection and Evaluation: The U.S. Embassy's Evaluating Team will assess all grant applications based on the following criteria:

• Bicommunal commitment:
  The following criteria, among others, will be considered:
  --project organized by groups/individuals from both communities
  --buy-in from at least one institution from each community
  --participants are from both communities
• Clarity of project objectives and viability:
  Applicants must clearly state what project will achieve and how it will be implemented
• Sustainability of project once small grant funding has been exhausted:
• Confirmation of matching or in-kind and/or local contributions