Small Grants Scheme - Kosovo Youth Dialogue Activity

Deadline for Applications: June 26, 2020

Total amount Available for this call: 30.000$

Deadline for questions: June 15, 2020

Geographic coverage: Kosovo

1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Youth Initiative for Human Rights - Kosovo (YIHR KS) has the pleasure to announce an open call for non - governmental organizations to submit applications for the Small Grants Scheme within the Kosovo Dialogue Activity project supported by the USAID Kosovo.

1.1 Program goal and description:

YIHR KS has started implementing the program “Kosovo Youth Dialogue Activity” since December 2019 with the support of USAID Kosovo. The program aims to empower young people in Kosovo to actively participate in the dealing with the past and reconciliation processes by encouraging inter-ethnic communication, interaction and cooperation, addressing common interests, building confidence and promoting mutual understanding and positive attitudes. Kosovo Youth Dialogue aims to enhance understanding, trust, empathy and respect between Kosovo - Albanians and Kosovo - Serbs by providing opportunities for communication and cooperation. As part of the program, YIHR KS will implement the Small Grants Scheme.

The goal of this scheme is to financially support NGOs that work with different ethnic groups in supporting the reconciliation process in Kosovo. Starting from August 2020, YIHR KS will distribute three (3) grants of 10.000$ to non - profit organizations that work jointly towards enhancing cooperation and communication between youth from different backgrounds in Kosovo, with a particular focus on youth from the Albanian and Serbian communities by breaking stereotypes and challenging dominant narratives of the past. Additionally, through the program we want to strengthen cooperation between NGOs working with constituents from different ethnic backgrounds in Kosovo through implementation of joint projects. Projects that will be supported will have a focus on the issues of transitional justice, dealing with the past, peace building and reconciliation. Specifically through this scheme YIHR KS aims to:

1) Enhance cooperation and communication between young people from different ethnic backgrounds, with a focus on relations between the Kosovo - Albanians and Kosovo - Serbs;

2) Increase capacities of young people in Kosovo to participate in the process of transitional justice and dealing with the past;

3) Support and promote grass-roots initiatives in Kosovo for dealing with the past;

4) Support local non - profit organizations to become active agents in the process of dealing with the past, reconciliation and transitional justice in Kosovo.

1.2 About the organization: Youth Initiative for Human Rights - Kosovo (YIHR KS) is a non-governmental organization based in Prishtina since 2004 and has a mission to promote, protect and advocate for human rights, dealing with the past, rule of law and civic values as the core foundations of a free, responsible and progressive society.

2. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

2.1 Eligible applicants:

· Lead applicant (including all co - applicants) must be a registered organization/entity in Kosovo;

· Lead applicants (including all co - applicants) must be a non-governmental organization operating for at least two years, with experience in working with youth from different backgrounds in Kosovo.

· All applicants should have an Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number): SAM Webform : Home

2.2 Eligible applications

In order to apply, organizations must fulfill the following criteria:

1. Valid organizational registration, as a legal entity in Kosovo, with the Department of Registration and Liaison of NGOs within the Kosovo Ministry of Public Administration;

2. Organizations are not debarred in the System for Award Management (SAM) System for Award Management, and they have financial and technical capability to perform and manage USG funds;

3. Plan and implement activities in accordance with their own organizational strategy;

4. Undertake activities that contribute to the implementation of the YIHR KS’s program goal;

5. Reach grassroots and/or vulnerable persons and groups, specifically ethnic minorities;

6. Partnerships with one or more NGOs.

In addition, projects must fulfill the following criteria:

1. Timeline of the program proposed must be no less than three (3) months and no more than six (6) months;

2. All requested amounts for funding cannot be more than $10.000.

Applications that include the following activities will not be accepted:

· Applicants with projects that do not form formal partnerships with non - governmental organizations working in the field of human rights;

· Actions related to political parties and/or political campaigns;

· Actions that are mainly related to individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences and congresses;

3. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of

this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of application:

· The technical proposal should be submitted in Microsoft Word and the budget in Microsoft Excel, using the templates available at www.yihr-ks.org;

· A budget narrative;

· All applications for funding must be in English;

· All pages should be consecutively numbered;

· All documents are formatted to A4 paper;

· All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins;

· Any annexes should be clearly marked and referenced in the body of the application;

· Applications must include the original proposal, including all forms, signed by the authorized official(s) of the organization;

· All budgets are in U.S. dollars.

All applicants must submit:

1. Mandatory Application forms;

2. Valid organizational registration, as a legal entity in Kosovo, with the Department of Registration and Liaison of NGOs within the Kosovo Ministry of Public Administration;

3. Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number): SAM Webform : Home;

4. A MoU between all partners clearly stating the leader applicant and the co-applicant (s).

5. Tax administration certificate on entity obligations;

6. 2019 official tax declaration or audit report, if available;

1. Mandatory application forms:

Mandatory application forms you can find here: https://yihr-ks.org/open-call-small-grants-for-ngos/

2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Application Form (12 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do.

4. Budget Proposal and Justification Narrative.

Budget Justification: Applicants must present budgets that are directly and exclusively related to the successful implementation of the proposed activities. Therefore, all prices/ costs should be realistic and should be in line with market prices for proposed actions and staff payments. It is imperative that the budget be distributed logically and is approved by the two or more parties applying to this call. Below, you can find the list of expenses that are included/ accepted and those that are not included/ accepted. YIHR KS has the right to request modifications/ budget changes if the need arises.

Covered costs: All costs must be clearly stated in the initial form of the budget and must occur during the implementation phase of the project activities:

· Expenses for staff members; including payments for experts, and individuals directly involved in the implementation of the activity;

· Compensation for travel and food for those involved in the project, and for the purpose of implementing activities as provided in the application;

· Expenses for the purchase of supplies related to the proposed activities;

· Prices of bank fees related to the activities listed in the application;

· Expenses that come directly from the requirements of the Contract (dissemination of information, specific evaluation for the Activity, accounting, auditing, translation)

· Office operating expenses such as rent, utilities, telecommunication, maintenance, stationary, hygienic products, office equipment repair and cleaning.

Costs that will not be covered:

· Debt and debt services (interest);

· Expenses that occur before the implementation phase of this grant, and/or after the end of its duration;

· Provisions for future losses or potential liabilities;

· Expenses declared by the beneficiary (s) and financed by other grants.

· Purchases of land or objects.

4. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria:

All applications will be analyzed with the criteria below:

Relevance of the grant proposal

These criteria will measure the relevance of the grant proposal and the activities proposed. It will also analyze if the activities are in line with the overall goal of the program.

30

Expertise of the lead applicant

This aspect of the applicants will measure the expertise and the capacities of the lead applicant to implement the proposed activities. Especially, we will analyze if the applicants have expertise in working with different ethnic groups in Kosovo in supporting the reconciliation process in Kosovo.

20

Compatibility of partnerships

This aspect measures the compatibility of the partners involved in the partnerships. Compatibility will be measured if the partners have experience in working together and if they work in similar fields.

30

Budget proposal

This criteria measures the budget proposed for the activity and based on the logic it was prepared and if it matches the Kosovo market prices.

20

Total:

100

2. Grant Review and Selection

A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. This Committee will consist of three (3) individuals and will evaluate and select all eligible applications.

5. INFO SESSIONS

YIHR KS will organize online info session for all interested applicants in: 1 joint info session with organizations from North Mitrovica and South Mitrovica; 1 joint info session with organizations from Gjilan and Gracanica; 1 joint info session with organizations from Rahovec and Gjakova; 1 joint info session with organizations from Strpce and Vitia. The info sessions will be held in English. For more information about the info sessions you can find in YIHR KS’s Facebook page or you can contact us through email at ksoffice@yihr.org.

6. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

All applications should be submitted at: apply@yihr.org with subject Small Grants Scheme Application no later than 26th of June 2020 at 00:00. Late applications will not be accepted.

Questions: All questions can be directed to Ms. Trina Binaku, Project Coordinator by email at trina@yihr.org no later than 15th of June 2020. All questions will be published online and will be available for all interested parties.