Romania: Peer to Peer - Countering Hate and Intolerance | BUCHAREST PAS FY21 01

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity about?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest (Public Affairs Section) to support a Romania-wide peer-to-peer program designed to prevent and reduce racially or ethnically motivated hate and violence, explicitly including anti-Semitism. The program is intended to build practical, community-level capacity to recognize, respond to, and curtail hatred, exclusion, and hostility aimed at people based on immutable characteristics.

2) What kinds of problems is the program meant to address?

The program focuses on preventing and reducing racially or ethnically motivated hate and violence, including anti-Semitism. It targets dynamics such as hatred, stereotypes, social exclusion, and hostility that can escalate into violence if not addressed early.

3) What does "peer-to-peer" mean in the context of this program?

Based on the notice, the peer-to-peer approach involves convening participants from multiple sectors (for example, education, media, civil society, and local administration) so they can learn from each other, test practical approaches, and coordinate responses to intolerance in their communities.

4) Is the program expected to be practical and action-oriented, or mainly awareness-focused?

It is expected to be action-oriented. The notice describes a combination of public-facing campaigns and hands-on learning activities that strengthen local networks and improve how communities address intolerance before it escalates into violence.

5) Does the project have to operate only in Bucharest?

No. A key requirement is geographic reach beyond Bucharest. The selected awardee must organize activities in multiple Romanian cities and regions, including at least three locations outside the capital.

6) Are there specific requirements for where activities outside Bucharest should take place?

Yes. Activities outside Bucharest must include areas where ethnic, religious, or cultural tensions and violence have been increasing. The program is intended to meet communities where challenges are occurring and tailor interventions to local realities.

7) Who are the intended participants for the program?

The intended participants span a wide civic and professional ecosystem, including civic and social activists, educators, journalists, local government authorities, academics, influencers, and university students.

8) What is the grant expecting the implementer to do with these participant groups?

The implementer is expected to convene and train these groups to raise awareness and develop practical approaches for countering hate, stereotypes, and social exclusion. The notice emphasizes creating spaces for learning, coordination, and cross-sector collaboration.

9) What types of activities are expected under this grant?

The notice references structured programming such as workshops, case studies, webinars, and training sessions. It also calls for public-facing campaigns paired with hands-on learning activities that strengthen local networks and improve community responses to intolerance.

10) Is the project required to coordinate with any external partners or frameworks?

Yes. The program must be implemented in close coordination with the U.S. Department of State and the Strong Cities Network, reflecting a prevention and local resilience model.

11) Are U.S. speakers required as part of the program?

Yes. The awardee is required to incorporate at least two U.S. subject-matter expert speakers into the programming.

12) Are measurable goals or outcomes required?

Yes. The notice states that programming should be aligned with specific goals and measurable outcomes.

13) Does the program have to be in-person, or can it be delivered virtually?

The notice anticipates in-person activities as the default. However, it allows virtual delivery when required by then-current COVID-19 public health measures.

14) What exchange components are included in the award?

Two exchange components are built in: (1) engagement with Strong Cities Network staff, including a four-working-day visit to Romania, and (2) travel to the United States for up to five Romanian participants for a State Department exchange in spring or summer 2022.

15) What is required regarding Strong Cities Network involvement?

The grant includes engagement with Strong Cities Network staff, including a four-working-day visit to Romania, and the overall implementation must be coordinated with the Strong Cities Network and the U.S. Department of State.

16) How many Romanian participants can travel to the United States under this grant?

Up to five Romanian participants may travel to the United States for the State Department exchange component described in the notice.

17) Who is responsible for arranging airfare for the U.S. exchange portion?

The awardee is required to organize and purchase round-trip international airfare for up to five Romanian participants traveling to the United States.

18) When is the U.S. exchange expected to take place?

The notice specifies spring or summer 2022 for the State Department exchange portion in the United States.

19) Which U.S. government entity issued this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Romania, through the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest (Public Affairs Section).

20) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is BUCHAREST PAS FY21 01.

21) What is the program area/category for this opportunity?

It is categorized under Humanities, with reference to Cultural Affairs.

22) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, as well as nonprofit organizations both with and without U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher-education institutions in the nonprofit categories, as stated in the notice).

23) When was the opportunity posted?

The notice was posted on August 18, 2021.

24) What was the application deadline?

The original application deadline listed was September 18, 2021.

25) How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated making up to three awards.

26) What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling was listed as 0 in the source data. This typically indicates that the ceiling was not specified in that field or depended on additional guidance in the full announcement, but the notice excerpt itself does not provide a specific ceiling amount.

27) What is the underlying approach or theory of change described in the notice?

The notice emphasizes prevention and local resilience: strengthening community-level capacity, improving local networks, and coordinating cross-sector responses so intolerance can be addressed before it escalates into violence.

28) Does the program prioritize locally credible voices and tailored interventions?

Yes. The notice explicitly describes tailoring interventions to local realities and supporting locally credible voices, rather than focusing only on national-level messaging.

29) Are universities and students specifically mentioned as part of the target ecosystem?

Yes. Academics and university students are listed among the intended participant groups, and institutions of higher education are included in the eligible applicant categories (public and state-controlled institutions of higher education).

30) Does the notice specify any particular cities outside Bucharest?

No specific cities are named in the excerpt provided. The notice requires at least three locations outside Bucharest in areas where ethnic, religious, or cultural tensions and violence have been increasing.