DUSHANBE, January 14, 2016, Asia-Plus -- The Embassy of the United States of America in Dushanbe is now accepting applications for the 2016 Alumni Grants Program.  Alumni of all U.S. Government-funded exchange and training programs are eligible.

According to the U.S. Embassy, the purpose of this program is to provide grants to organizations that have USG alumni as members or to individual alumni for activities that support democratic advancement and economic reform in Tajikistan.

The program reportedly aims to provide alumni with networking opportunities to further the professional development of alumni and their colleagues and to assist alumni in implementing and disseminating the concepts learned during exchange programs.  The amount of grants must not exceed $5,000 for organizations and $3,000 for individuals.

The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe will accept proposals on the following themes: empowerment of people with disabilities; combating violent extremism; and education of girls and women.

Funds may not be used for the following: to support projects requested by non-USG alumni organizations and individuals; to support projects relating to political activity, charitable activity and/or humanitarian aid, fund-raising campaigns, commercial projects and those that duplicate existing projects; to pay for international travel outside of Tajikistan, including travel to/from the United States; to pay for speakers traveling from the United States; to pay salaries and honorariums for alumni involved in the project; to support organization’s expansion or acquisition of equipment; to support infrastructural projects; and projects with a computer based English translation.

All project activities should start after March 31, 2016.