Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS GEO 24 002 03292024
The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program (DemCom) is a competitive U.S. Embassy Tbilisi grant opportunity designed to support local initiatives in Georgia that strengthen democratic development and contribute to economic growth through education-focused projects. DemCom was launched by the United States in 1994 as a flexible, embassy-managed mechanism to fund practical, locally led efforts across Central and Eastern Europe and post-Soviet states. In Georgia, the program is overseen by the Embassy Democracy Commission, chaired by the Deputy Chief of Mission and supported by a team that includes public and cultural affairs leadership and other U.S. government representatives at post.
The core goal of this funding round is to back specific projects that reinforce democracy and the enabling conditions around it, including the development of civil society and free media, while also promoting knowledge-based economic growth through education advocacy and capacity-building. The emphasis is on education as a driver of economic opportunity and resilience, particularly through programs that improve skills, employability, and innovation ecosystems.
Eligible applicants are Georgia-based and Georgia-registered higher education institutions, vocational colleges, and non-governmental, non-profit organizations. Projects that include partnerships between universities are specifically encouraged, suggesting the Embassy is looking for collaboration, shared expertise, and scalable models rather than isolated efforts. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is listed as discretionary.
Applications must align with at least one theme under "Education for Knowledge-Based Economic Growth." The supported focus areas include entrepreneurship education within higher education institutions, efforts that strengthen vocational education tied to tourism and agroindustry, initiatives that improve STEM education in higher education, and basic education interventions. The basic education category is broad and can include strengthening public schools for grades 1 through 12 through teacher training and professional development, expanding online learning approaches, supporting student mental health and social-emotional learning, improving literacy and critical thinking, building or enhancing virtual platforms and innovative student programs, and investing in learning infrastructure such as school libraries and science and technology labs, along with enrichment activities. The program points applicants to U.S. government education strategy resources, including the U.S. Government Education Strategy FY2019-2023 and the USAID Education Policy guidance, as reference points for credible approaches and best practices.
The maximum award size is $50,000 per project (award ceiling of 50,000), making this a small-grants opportunity intended for targeted, achievable interventions with clear outcomes. The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Mission to Georgia under funding opportunity number DOS GEO 24 002 03292024, with an original closing date of May 2, 2024. The funding activity categories include education, employment/labor and training, and housing, and it is associated with CFDA number 19.040.Apply for DOS GEO 24 002 03292024
- The U.S. Mission to Georgia in the education, employment, labor and training, housing sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Democracy Commission Small Grants - Education for Knowledge -Based Economic Growth" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-02. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Democracy Commission Small Grants Program (DemCom) - FAQs
What is the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program (DemCom)?
The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program (DemCom) is a competitive grant opportunity run by U.S. Embassy Tbilisi. It supports local initiatives in Georgia that strengthen democratic development and contribute to economic growth through education-focused projects.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Mission to Georgia (U.S. Embassy Tbilisi).
What is the main goal of this funding round?
The core goal is to fund specific projects that reinforce democracy and the enabling conditions around it, including civil society and free media, while also promoting knowledge-based economic growth through education advocacy and capacity-building.
How does this program connect democracy goals with education?
This round emphasizes education as a driver of economic opportunity and resilience. The focus is on programs that improve skills, employability, and innovation ecosystems, while supporting democratic development and related enabling conditions.
When was DemCom launched?
DemCom was launched by the United States in 1994 as a flexible, embassy-managed mechanism to fund practical, locally led efforts across Central and Eastern Europe and post-Soviet states.
Who oversees DemCom in Georgia?
In Georgia, the program is overseen by the Embassy Democracy Commission. The Commission is chaired by the Deputy Chief of Mission and supported by a team that includes public and cultural affairs leadership and other U.S. government representatives at post.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is listed as discretionary.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are Georgia-based and Georgia-registered higher education institutions, vocational colleges, and non-governmental, non-profit organizations.
Are partnerships encouraged?
Yes. Projects that include partnerships between universities are specifically encouraged, indicating interest in collaboration, shared expertise, and scalable models rather than isolated efforts.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award size is $50,000 per project (award ceiling of 50,000).
What kinds of projects are most appropriate for a small-grants ceiling of $50,000?
This is a small-grants opportunity intended for targeted, achievable interventions with clear outcomes, rather than large multi-year or infrastructure-heavy efforts.
What theme must applications align with?
Applications must align with at least one theme under "Education for Knowledge-Based Economic Growth."
What focus areas are supported under "Education for Knowledge-Based Economic Growth"?
Supported focus areas include:
- Entrepreneurship education within higher education institutions
- Strengthening vocational education tied to tourism and agroindustry
- Initiatives that improve STEM education in higher education
- Basic education interventions
What does "basic education interventions" include in this opportunity?
The basic education category is broad and can include strengthening public schools for grades 1 through 12 through teacher training and professional development, expanding online learning approaches, supporting student mental health and social-emotional learning, improving literacy and critical thinking, building or enhancing virtual platforms and innovative student programs, and investing in learning infrastructure such as school libraries and science and technology labs, along with enrichment activities.
Does the opportunity support teacher training and professional development?
Yes. Within basic education, teacher training and professional development for grades 1 through 12 public schools is specifically included as a possible intervention area.
Are online learning and virtual education platforms eligible project types?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly mentions expanding online learning approaches and building or enhancing virtual platforms and innovative student programs as examples under basic education interventions.
Can projects address student mental health and social-emotional learning?
Yes. Supporting student mental health and social-emotional learning is identified as an eligible basic education intervention area.
Are literacy and critical thinking initiatives supported?
Yes. Improving literacy and critical thinking is listed among the basic education interventions that may be supported.
Does the program allow investments in school learning infrastructure?
Yes. The opportunity mentions investing in learning infrastructure such as school libraries and science and technology labs, along with enrichment activities, as part of basic education interventions.
Is vocational education tied to specific economic sectors supported?
Yes. The opportunity highlights efforts that strengthen vocational education tied to tourism and agroindustry.
Is entrepreneurship education within universities a fit for this grant?
Yes. Entrepreneurship education within higher education institutions is explicitly listed as a supported focus area.
Are STEM education initiatives eligible?
Yes. Initiatives that improve STEM education in higher education are specifically included as a supported focus area.
Are applicants expected to use any U.S. government education strategy resources?
The program points applicants to U.S. government education strategy resources as reference points for credible approaches and best practices, including the U.S. Government Education Strategy FY2019-2023 and USAID Education Policy guidance.
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The funding opportunity number is DOS GEO 24 002 03292024.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was May 2, 2024.
What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The funding activity categories include education, employment/labor and training, and housing.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.040.
Is this opportunity focused only on economic growth?
No. It is designed to strengthen democratic development and the enabling environment around democracy (including civil society and free media) while also promoting knowledge-based economic growth through education-focused work.
Does the program prioritize locally led initiatives?
Yes. DemCom is described as a mechanism to fund practical, locally led efforts, and this opportunity is aimed at supporting local initiatives in Georgia.
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