DUSHANBE, December 26, Asia-Plus - The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe announces a new request for proposals under the 2007 Democracy Commission Small Grants Program. 

Noor Umarov, Media Assistant at the U.S. Embassy, said that the purpose of the program is to award small grants for specific projects that support the development of democratic institutions in Tajikistan.  Primarily, grants will be awarded to non-governmental, non-profit organizations (NGOs).

The amount of a grant must not be more than 8,000 dollars but the Commission will give priority to the applications that offer the implementation of the similar project with lower budget.  To be eligible for consideration, every applicant must be engaged in, or propose to carry out, a project whose purpose is to promote the development of democratic institutions in Tajikistan.  The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program has existed in Tajikistan since 2001. 

The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe will accept proposals for consideration of the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program for the following themes: fostering a strong and independent media; respect for the rule of law; promoting land rights; increasing the role of people with disabilities in building democracies; increasing environmental awareness; and engagement of youth in democratization

Proposals must be received no later than February 1, 2007.  Proposals should contain clearly formulated goals and target groups, and show the ability of the applying organization to carry out the project aims.  

The U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission Grant Program is limited to organizations based in Tajikistan.  Projects not funded by the U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission Program include those requested by non-Tajikistani organizations, those relating to partisan political activity, charitable activity and humanitarian aid, fund-raising campaigns, commercial projects, those involving individuals not affiliated with an organization that can provide long-term sustainability to the project, and those that duplicate existing projects.