U.S. MISSION IN MOROCCO PUBLIC DIPLOMACY GRANT PROGRAM
Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2023

Funding Opportunity Title:  Intercultural TechCamp for Climate Change
Funding Opportunity Number:  PAS-MOROCCO-FY23-06
Application Deadline: April 17, 2023
Federal Assistance Listing Number:  19.040
Contact Email: Rabatgrants@state.gov

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The U.S. Embassy Morocco is pleased to announce an open grant competition to award a cooperative agreement to organize a regional Intercultural TechCamp for Climate Change. The Embassy’s Public Affairs Office invites proposals from established Moroccan associations, committed, and organized climate-change-focused organizations, to implement an Intercultural TechCamp for Climate Change, an initiative designed to bring together young leaders from Morocco and Israel. TechCamp expertise and planning will be provided by the U.S. State Department, and they will carry out project management and content in Morocco and Israel working closely with all participants.

1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The objective of this TechCamp, “Intercultural TechCamp for Climate Change” is to bring together promising young leaders from Morocco and Israel to promote economic and scientific cooperation surrounding adaptation and mitigation responses to climate change.  This interactive program will assemble talented young Moroccan and Israeli leaders, activists, influencers, and entrepreneurs and connect them with experts in climate change, to build teams that will work together before, during, and after the TechCamp to address climate change challenges in their communities and in the region. The program will also provide participants with the necessary tools to expand their knowledge on the topics of climate change and entrepreneurship, which will potentially enable them to launch projects resulting in sustainable job creation around climate action.  

It is designed as a three-phase program to bring together young leaders from Morocco and Israel to:

• Connect on climate change challenges to broaden networks and partnerships to address intensifying environmental threats.
• Strengthen entrepreneurship skills to take effective action.
• Initiate an intercultural exchange around climate solutions.

Audience

Thirty emerging leaders, aged from 20-35 from Morocco and Israel, from diverse backgrounds. All participants must be proficient in written and spoken English and could include civil society leaders, education leaders, young entrepreneurs, social media influencers, youth network leaders, climate change advocates, students, and young professionals.

Timeline

The TechCamp will be a hybrid format and designed in three stages so that the participants will benefit from continuous engagement throughout the program:

Phase 1:  Virtual event to introduce participants and trainers, set common goals, begin team

     building and cross-cultural communication training – July 2023 (2-3 days).

Phase 2:  In-person gathering in Morocco focused on “climate change 101” and project creation in September 2023 (6 days).

Phase 3:  Follow on in-person gathering in Israel three months later allowing participants to

further develop their projects on business plans/entrepreneurship/pitching skills – December 2023 (6 days).

Depending on the final number of participants (approximately 30; 15 from each country), we expect a minimum of six project ideas or programs to be developed, with three of these being awarded follow-on grants.

1. AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: June 2023 – June 2024

Program Performance Period: Proposed programming should be completed in 6 months with a 6-month follow-on period.

Number of awards anticipated: 1 in Morocco and 1 in Israel

Award Amount: $80,000-$100,000 in Morocco

Anticipated Program Start Date: June 2023

Award Type: Cooperative Agreement – U.S. Embassy Morocco will be actively involved in the planning and implementation of this grant.

Type of Funding: FY23 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

FY23 Fulbright-Hayes Public Diplomacy Funds

Required Registration SAM.gov

Before applying, please read the entire NOFO package and follow the outlined steps. Applications that do not meet the application deadline, eligibility criteria or do not provide all the required information, will not be considered.

B.1 U.S. Embassy staff and State Department (ECA/TC) will: 

1. 1. Provide standardized logos/branding guidelines for promotional materials.  
   2. Review and approve marketing materials, participation in promotional activities of the program, and use of the U.S. Mission’s social media platforms and media contacts.  
   3. Review and approve the selection of venues.  
   4. Review and approve participant selection plans.  
   5. Assist in identifying and contacting alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, representatives of U.S. companies, and U.S. Mission personnel as potential speakers or trainers.
   6. Recruit trainers/mentors, interview trainers/mentors recommended by partner, and provide final approval of all trainers/mentors.
   7. Lead the planning of activity/workshop/site visit topics, agenda, and format.

1. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligibility for this NOFO is limited to not-for-profit Moroccan organizations, associations, think tanks, public or private institutions, or civil society organizations with expertise in environmental programming and climate change, a SAM.gov registration and a history of successful programming.

All applicants must have a SAM.gov registration and UEI number at the time of application.

The implementing partner should meet the specific criteria below: 

• Professional capacity and record on previous grants: The implementing partner has expertise in environmental programming, specifically climate change, and has demonstrated its ability to implement the program, including having strong financial management and appropriate personnel. The implementing partner should have:

• prior experience working with Israeli organizations or be willing to develop a partnership with an Israeli NGO to effectively accomplish the program goals around the global challenge of climate change.
• knowledge of the media and a strong understanding of the media environment and the ability to influence publics.

• Project design and preparation: The implementing partner will work, in collaboration with the State Department’s TechCamp team and the U.S. Embassy, on the project scope, main outcomes and outputs including training plans and participants’ projects.
• Design of training: The Embassy will help the implementer to identify a facilitator in Morocco at the earliest stage of the cooperative agreement. Facilitator will work together with the Embassy and the TechCamp team, across countries, to design cross-cultural trainings and provide support to their respective teams, complementing the cross-cultural trainings with team building and leadership activities.

1. The implementer will collaborate with U.S. Embassy Morocco in creating graphics and branding templates that will be provided by the U.S. Embassy Morocco.
2. The implementer will identify local photographer/videographer and work closely with Embassy Morocco and TechCamp team to identify subject-matter experts as needed.

• Program delivery: The implementer will work with an Israeli implementer, as appropriate to organize regional and national events where teams will benefit from additional training and will pitch their projects.

1. Work with Embassy Morocco to locate a local emcee/facilitator for the workshops.
2. b.Print hardcopy materials necessary for the workshop.
3. Provide onsite support during the six-day event, managing all logistics and collaborating with Embassy Morocco/Israel’s onsite team and the TechCamp team plus any staffers from respective Embassies.

• Program participants: The implementer will select target (including under-represented, under-served, and at-risk) cities/regions/populations for recruitment and delivery of the training in coordination with the Public Affairs Section. 
• Logistical support: The implementer will make and should budget for all logistical arrangements to support the TechCamp event, including: 

1. Secure and book an appropriate and properly equipped venue, based on specific requirements. Budget should include venue costs for TechCamp.
2. Fund and assist all participants and trainers to secure visas necessary to facilitate their travel to Israel and assist as necessary.
3. Arrange and book all air travel for participants and trainers, including international   trainers, if needed.  Budget should cover costs of travel for participants and trainers.
4. Arrange all lodging/transportation for all participants and trainers in coordination with international implementers.  Budget should cover lodging and local transportation for participants and trainers.
5. Arrange meals for all participants and trainers, including international trainers.  Budget should cover full board for participants and trainers.
6. Secure volunteers as needed.
7. Work with security as needed for participants.
8. Ability to disburse funds to individuals (i.e. honorarium to trainers/mentors, small grants for continued engagement).

–     Monitoring and evaluation: The implementer will develop a monitoring and evaluation       plan in consultation with Embassy Morocco PAS, to measure the impact of the program on the beneficiaries. The implementer will be responsible for working closely with participants and for sending an update about the participants’ projects six months after the final pitch.

1. Create and keep an updated and detailed budget (using examples provided by U.S. Embassy Morocco) sharing as needed with respective Embassies.
2. Implementer will provide an interim and final report (Narrative and Financial).

• Sustainability: The implementer will develop a sustainability plan maintaining close contact with participants and provide mentorship to the beneficiaries, connect them with other project-specific mentors, and include them in future events.
• Follow on:  Support follow-on activities by engaging with respective Embassies and participants following each program phase.

1. During the workshops, participants will be divided into smaller teams, and they will be required to provide a final report.

1. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Submit all forms as PDFs in electronic format to Rabatgrants@state.gov no later than April 17, 2023, at midnight. All questions about this NOFO should be addressed to: Rabatgrants@state.gov

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 not be reviewed.

1. Content of Application

• All documents are in English.
• All budgets in USD
• The proposal should be for no more than $100,000.
• Acquisition of a UEI and SAM.gov registration is required to apply.
• The project should not have an intended start date before June 2023.
• All proposals must adhere to the policies explained in the TechCamp Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) including the “eligibility requirements.” Please review these requirements carefully.
• All pages should be numbered.
• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
• All PDF documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri, with 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required and the first 6 can be found on our website: 

1. SF424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
2. SF424A (Budget Information)
3. SF424B (Assurances)
4. Proposal Narrative Form (in English)
5. Applicant Organization Information Form (in English)
6. Budget Proposal (in USD) (please use $1 = 10 MAD as exchange rate) (in English)
7. CVs for Director and key project personnel (you provide in English)
8. Final registration papers for the organization (وصل نهائي) (you provide)

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO Docs and Forms for Applicants > NOFO Intercultural Techcamp

By U.S. Embassy Rabat | 14 March, 2023 | Topics: News