PDS Belgrade BOLD Academic Fellowships | SRB10022FO007

Opportunity Information: Apply for SRB10022FO007

The PDS Belgrade BOLD Academic Fellowships grant opportunity is a funding call from the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Serbia), run through the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, to support the design and delivery of the BOLD Academic Fellowship Program. BOLD (Balkanski omladinski lideri, or Young Balkan Leaders) is an Embassy-backed network meant to strengthen the leadership capacity of young people in Serbia by equipping them to carry out practical projects that create measurable, positive change in their communities. The program is organized around two core themes: civic engagement and economic development. While the broader BOLD network is open to anyone in Serbia ages 18 to 35, this specific grant focuses on academic fellowship experiences for Serbian undergraduates.

At the center of the opportunity are up to two separate U.S.-based fellowship institutes, each lasting about 5 to 6 weeks: one focused on civic engagement and one focused on economic development. Applicant organizations can propose to implement just one of these institutes or both, but they must be clear about which theme they are proposing if they submit a single-institute proposal. PDS is looking for programs that combine an academic structure with hands-on, practical experience. The ideal model includes a residency at a U.S. academic institution, significant experiential learning (including community service or other community-based engagement), and, where feasible, a homestay component that deepens cultural exchange and people-to-people ties. The content is expected to go beyond lectures and include group discussions, applied exercises, and exposure to best practices, leading research, and influential models connected to the institute theme, with an emphasis where possible on the role and impact of nonprofits and/or social enterprises.

A key measure of success is what participants produce and do after they return to Serbia. The Embassy’s stated primary outcome is that fellows leave the U.S. program with a complete draft of a follow-on project proposal (for civic initiatives) or a draft business plan/project plan (for economic development initiatives). Those drafts should be strong enough to compete for future funding from the Embassy (including BOLD small grants) or from other donors. In other words, the fellowship is meant to function as a launchpad: participants build leadership and implementation skills in the U.S., then apply them through concrete community projects back home over the following year. Leadership development is expected to be explicit and practical, covering areas such as team building, collective problem-solving, effective communication, appreciation of diversity, and management skills needed to run real-world initiatives.

The intended participants for these academic fellowships are Serbian undergraduate students ages 18 to 25 drawn from across the country, and each fellowship should include at least 10 participants traveling to the United States. The Embassy also signals a strong preference for reaching beyond the capital, urging implementers to recruit from cities and towns outside Belgrade. Proposals are also expected to align with the U.S. government’s equity priorities, meaning applicants should explain how recruitment, selection, program design, and participant support will advance inclusion across factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability, with a clear effort to engage underserved communities and individuals.

Because the notice was issued in the context of COVID-19 considerations, PDS welcomes designs that incorporate virtual components such as video conferencing and distance learning tools, and it asks applicants proposing in-person activities to include realistic contingency plans for shifting to a virtual or hybrid format if health conditions require it. If funded, the implementing organization will also be expected to publicize program activities and clearly acknowledge U.S. Embassy support, including use of the Embassy logo on relevant materials and outreach through social media and/or traditional media.

From a funding and award-structure standpoint, the opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement (which typically implies substantial involvement and coordination with the Embassy during implementation). PDS anticipates making 1 to 2 awards depending on applicant capacity and scope. The total funding available is up to $300,000, with an award floor of $100,000 and an award ceiling of $300,000, funded through FY21/22 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act. The anticipated start date is no earlier than July 1, 2022, and the program performance period should be 15 months or less, inclusive of assessment and evaluation time.

The application process is document-heavy and compliance-driven. Submissions must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and files must be formatted for A4 or 8.5 x 11 paper. Required elements include standard federal forms SF-424 and SF-424A (and SF-424B if SAM.gov registration is still pending), the Embassy’s FY2022 grant application form, and a detailed budget justification narrative using the provided Excel template. Applicants must also provide one-page CVs or resumes for key personnel, letters of support from partners (if applicable) outlining roles and responsibilities, a NICRA document if indirect costs are proposed under a negotiated rate, any official permission letters needed for planned activities, and a SAM.gov screenshot if registration is still in progress. Registration requirements are mandatory for organizations, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), NCAGE/CAGE code, and active SAM.gov registration.

Applications are submitted by email to BOLDSerbia@state.gov by the stated deadline (the notice lists an original closing date of April 15, 2022, though one section contains an inconsistent reference to April 15, 2021). Incomplete or late submissions are considered technically ineligible. PDS also scheduled a virtual information session for February 23, 2022 at 16:00 Central European Time, with details available via the same email address. Funding decisions were anticipated around mid-May 2022, and full NOFO materials and required templates are hosted on the Embassy Belgrade grants webpage.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Serbia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PDS Belgrade BOLD Academic Fellowships" 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 Jan 31, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2022. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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