Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices 3925

A. § 191.53—Exporter’s summary is a

drawback procedure for which permission is

not being delegated by this order.

B. § 191.62—Drawback claims may be filed

only with the specified port directors.

C. § 191.136—When a bill of lading is

required for completion of a claim that

merchandise was exported from continuous

Customs custody, only the specified port

directors may accept a statement setting forth

the reasons for failure to produce the bill of

lading.

D. § 191.141—Procedures for ‘‘same

condition’’ (now ‘‘unused’’) and rejected

merchandise drawback may only be

exercised by the specified port directors.

Sec. 2. (A) The authority of the Regional

Commissioner, Pacific Region, under 19 CFR

§ 171.33 to consider and grant relief on

supplemental petitions for the District of San

Diego, for the pendency of this delegation

order is hereby vested in the Fines, Penalties,

and Forfeitures Regional Coordinator for the

Southwest Region. The authority of the

Regional Commissioner, South Central

Region, under 19 CFR § 171.33 to consider

and grant relief on supplemental petitions,

for the pendency of this delegation order, is

hereby vested in the Fines, Penalties, and

Forfeitures Regional Coordinator for the

Southeast Region.

(B) The authority of the Regional

Commissioner, Pacific Region, under 19 CFR

§ 172.33 to consider and grant relief on

supplemental petitions for the District of San

Diego, for the pendency of this delegation

order, is hereby vested in the Fines,

Penalties, and Forfeitures Regional

Coordinator for the Southwest Region. The

authority of the Regional Commissioner,

South Central Region, under 19 CFR § 172.33

to consider and grant relief on supplemental

petitions, for the pendency of this delegation

order, is hereby vested in the Fines,

Penalties, and Forfeitures Regional

Coordinator for the Southeast Region.

Sec. 3. Pursuant to 19 CFR § 101.2, action

by any person pursuant to the authority

contained in this Delegation Order shall be

valid despite the existence of any statute or

regulation, including any provision of the

Customs Regulations, which provides that

such action shall be taken by some other

person. Any person acting under this

delegated authority shall be deemed to have

complied with any statute or regulation

which provides or indicates that it shall be

the duty of some other person to perform

such action.

Consistent with Customs commitment, as

set forth in the Federal Register of August 16,

1994 (at page 41993), these delegations shall

not affect the processing of merchandise.

George J. Weise,

Commissioner of Customs.

[FR Doc. 95–1519 Filed 1–17–95; 2:24 pm]

BILLING CODE 4820–02–P

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

Sustainable Growth

ACTION: Notice—Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen

Exchanges (E/P) announces a

competitive grants program for

nonprofit organizations in support of

projects on the theme of Sustainable

Growth for audiences in the following

geographical areas: Sub-saharan Africa;

American Republics; East Asia; Eastern

Europe and the NIS; Middle East; and

Western Europe. USIA particularly is

seeking projects which link American

institutions and specialists with

partners overseas. New and creative

approaches to the issue of sustainable

growth will be especially welcome.

Proposals which request USIA funding

of less than $135,000 and which include

significant cost sharing will be deemed

more competitive.

Interested applicants are urged to read

the complete Federal Register

announcement before addressing

inquiries to the Office or submitting

their proposals.

After the deadline for submitting

proposals, USIA officers may not

discuss this competition in any way

with applicants until final decisions are

made.

Announcement name and number:

All communications concerning this

announcement should refer to the

Sustainable Growth Grant Program,

announcement number E/P–95–43.

Please refer to title and number in all

correspondence or telephone calls to

USIA.

DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All

copies must be received at the U.S.

Information Agency by 5 p.m.

Washington, DC time on March 3, 1995.

Faxed documents will not be accepted,

nor will documents postmarked on

March 3, 1995, but received at a later

date. It is the responsibility of each

grant applicant to ensure that proposals

are received by the above deadline .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Interested organizations/institutions

must contact the Office of Citizen

Exchanges, E/P, Room 216, United

States Information Agency, 301 Fourth

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,

telephone (202) 619–5326, fax (202)

260–0437, to request detailed

application packets, which include

award criteria, all application forms,

and guidelines for preparing proposals,

including specific criteria for

preparation of the proposal budget.

Please direct inquiries on programmatic

matters to the USIA Officer identified

under each geographic heading.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all

instructions given in the Proposal

Submission Instructions and send only

complete applications to: U.S.

Information Agency, REF: E/P–95–43

Sustainable Growth Grant Competition,

Grants Management Division (E/XE),

301 Fourth Street, SW., Room 336,

Washington, DC 20547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant

to the legislation authorizing the Bureau

of Education and Cultural Affairs,

programs must maintain a non-political

character and should be balanced and

representative of the diversity of

American political, social, and cultural

life. ‘‘Diversity’’ should be interpreted

in the broadest sense and encompass

differences including but not limited to

race, gender, religion, geographic

location, socio-economic status, and

physical challenges. Applicants are

strongly encouraged to adhere to the

advancement of this principle.

Overview

The Office of Citizen Exchanges

works with U.S. private sector nonprofit organizations on cooperative

international group projects that

introduce American and foreign

participants to each others’ social,

economic, and political structures; and

their international interests.

Guidelines

Applicants should carefully note the

following restrictions and

recommendations for proposals in

specific geographical areas:

Africa, Sub-Saharan

Economics and the Environment in

Africa

Proposals are invited to conduct a

person for 3–4 countries in one

subregion of Africa (Southern or Eastern

or Western Africa) to address

environmental issues and their

relationship to economic planning. The

program should encourage coordination

of efforts among the African countries,

and it should include at least two

phases, one of which would bring

African specialists to the U.S., and the

other would send U.S. specialists to the

selected African subregion. Issues

which might be addressed (not

necessarily all) include wildlife

protection, national parks,

environmental law, population

dynamics, ecosystem protection, and

relationship of such issues to national

development planning. Inquiries should

be directed to Program Specialist

Stephen Taylor, (202) 619–5319,

Internet STAYLOR@USIA.GOV

Cultural Property, Tourism, and

Economic Development

Proposals are invited to conduct a

program for African specialists which

would contribute to preservation of
3926 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices

cultural property and national heritage,

help publicize cultural attractions and

encourage tourism, and address the

relationships of these goals to economic

planning. The program should address

the roles of citizen and government

action and encourage cooperation

among African countries and the U.S.

on these goals. It should also analyze

relevant legislation, such as the 1970

UNESCO Convention on Cultural

Property and the U.S. Cultural Property

Act of 1983. The program should

include at least two phases, one of

which would bring African specialists

to the U.S., and the other would send

U.S. specialists to the selected African

countries. Inquiries should be directed

to Program Specialist Charlotte

Peterson, (202) 619–5319, Internet

CPETERSO@USIA.GOV

Trade and Sustainable Growth

Proposals are invited to conduct a

program for participants from 4–5

African countries which would address

issues of trade and investment policies

and their relation to national

development planning. Issues to be

addressed might include incentives for

foreign investment, local benefits and

problems from foreign investment,

impact of tariffs, currency devaluation,

development of new exports, and

international marketing. Participants in

the program might include

entrepreneurs, representatives of

business associations, government

representatives (executive and

legislative) or others with influence on

these issues. The program should be

comprised of at least two phases, one of

which would bring African specialists

to the U.S. and the other would send

U.S. counterparts to participating

African countries. Inquiries should be

directed to Program Specialist Stephen

Taylor, (202) 619–5319, Internet

STAYLOR@USIA.GOV

American Republics

In most of this hemisphere,

governments, economists, and various

‘‘technocratic’’ experts have come to

believe that open markets and minimal

government restraint on commercial

practices lead to higher macro-economic

growth rates. But others fear this

approach leaves many businesses and

their employees behind, ill-equipped to

respond to the rough-and-tumble

realities of domestic and international

competition. USIA seeks proposals that

will utilize exchanges to demonstrate

that, while innovation and competition

inevitably displace some individuals,

the increased competition usually leads

to greater prosperity not just for

entrepreneurs, but for most citizens.

Programs which illustrate this through

visits to and by the citizens of areas

affected by business, plant and base

closings, the depletion of mineral

deposits, the imposition of new

environmental standards, etc., are more

likely to have an impact than programs

relying solely on extended round-table

discussions of macro-economic theory

and exposure to national economic

policy. Priority will be given to projects

dealing with logical sub-regional

groupings of no more than four

countries (e.g., Central America, the

Caribbean, Andean nations, etc.), or to

single-country projects in large nations

with enormous disparities between rich

and poor (e.g., Brazil and Mexico).

Inquiries should be directed to Program

Specialist Laverne Johnson, (202) 619–

5326, Internet LJOHNSON@USIA.GOV

East Asia

Burmese Environmental Project

Proposals are invited to conduct a

project that provides an exchange

between Burmese non-governmental

organizations (NGOs) and U.S. NGOs to

examine, through workshops and

professional consultation, the role of

NGOs in grassroots environmental

education and awareness, and the use

and promotion of environmentallyappropriate technologies in developing

countries.

Burmese Cultural Heritage

Proposals are invited to conduct a

project for Burmese NGO

representatives, academics, and selected

government officials to examine

problems of cultural and natural

heritage preservation in the face of

economic development, and the role of

citizen and government action. Projects

would examine U.S. approaches to

historic preservation and rational

economic development.

Thai Cultural Heritage

Project for Thai NGO activists,

journalists and selected government

officials to examine problems of cultural

and natural heritage preservation in the

face of economic development, and the

role of citizen and government action.

Projects would examine U.S.

approaches to historic preservation and

rational economic development.

Inquiries should be directed to Program

Specialist Elroy Carlson, (202) 619–

5326, Internet ECARLSON@USIA.GOV

Middle East

Environmental Education in the Eastern

Mediterranean

Proposals are invited for a program to

assist scientists and educators in

countries of the Eastern Mediterranean

(Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt,

and the Palestinian Authority) in

developing national and regional

approaches to incorporating

environmental research into university

and secondary educational curricula,

developing formal environmental

education, and promoting general

public environmental awareness. The

program should include at least two

phases, one of which would bring

Middle Eastern specialists to the U.S.

for approximately one month to consult

and work with American specialists on

developing curricula, texts, strategies for

outreach, and the like. The other phase

would send U.S. specialists who had

participated in phase one to the Eastern

Mediterranean to conduct, in

collaboration with their Middle Eastern

counterparts, activities such as teachertraining workshops, network building

across participant countries, setting

plans for cross-country collaboration of

educators and their outreach to

communities and governments.

Inquiries should be directed to Program

Specialist Thomas Johnston, (202) 619–

5319, Internet TJOHNSTO@USIA.GOV

Water Resources Management in the

Gulf States

Proposals are invited for a multiphased program to address the

interrelated issues of water resources

management, environmental protection,

and sustainable economic development

in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain,

United Arab Emirates, and Oman.

Emphasis should be given to facilitating

interaction among specialists in these

countries and U.S. counterparts for the

sharing of ideas and to develop a

feasible plan for governmental and NGO

action in addressing these topics. The

program design should include

activities in both the United States and

the Gulf which would cover an

assessment of needs, development of

collaborative networks and action

agendas, as well as outreach to wider

audiences. At least one phase would

bring specialists from the Gulf to the

U.S. and one phase would send U.S.

specialists to the Gulf. Inquiries should

be directed to Program Specialist

Thomas Johnston, (202) 619–5319,

Internet TJOHNSTO@USIA.GOV

Western Europe

Pacific Northwest Environment

Cooperation

USIA seeks a proposal designed to

exchange environmental experts

between the states of the Pacific

Northwest and British Columbia. The

exchange would involve environmental
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices 3927

leaders, specialists in environmental

law, and representatives of the

governments of British Columbia,

Washington, and Oregon, who would

arrange for reciprocal visits to research

comparative environmental law in their

jurisdictions, culminating in their

drafting recommendations to their

respective governments. Inquiries

should be directed to Program Specialist

Christina Miner, (202) 619–5319,

Internet CMINER@USIA.GOV

Program Parameters

The Office of Citizen Exchanges

strongly encourages the coordination of

activities with respected universities,

professional associations, and major

cultural institutions in the U.S. and

abroad, but particularly in the U.S.

Projects should be intellectual and

cultural, not technical. Vocational

training (an occupation other than one

requiring a baccalaureate or higher

academic degree; e.g., clerical work,

auto maintenance, etc. and other

occupations requiring less than two

years of higher education) and technical

training (special and practical

knowledge of a mechanical or a

scientific subject which enhances

mechanical, narrowly scientific, or

semi-skilled capabilities) are ineligible

for support. In addition, scholarship

programs are ineligible for support.

The Office does not support proposals

limited to conferences or seminars (i.e.,

one to fourteen-day programs with

plenary sessions, main speakers, panels,

and a passive audience). It will support

conferences only insofar as they are part

of a larger project in duration and scope

which is receiving USIA funding from

this competition. USIA-supported

projects may include internships; study

tours; short-term, non-technical

training; and extended, intensive

workshops taking place in the United

States or overseas. The themes

addressed in exchange programs must

be of long-term importance rather than

focused exclusively on current events or

short-term issues. In every case, a

substantial rationale must be presented

as part of the proposal, one that clearly

indicates the distinctive and important

contribution of the overall project,

including where applicable the

expected yield of any associated

conference. No funding is available

exclusively to send U.S. citizens to

conferences or conference-type seminars

overseas; neither is funding available for

bringing foreign nationals to

conferences or to routine professional

association meetings in the United

States. Projects that duplicate what is

routinely carried out by private sector

and/or public sector operations will not

be considered. The Office of Citizen

Exchanges strongly recommends that

applicants consult with host country

USIS posts, prior to submitting

proposals.

Selection of Participants

All grant proposals should clearly

describe the types of persons who will

participate in the program as well as the

process by which participants will be

selected. It is recommended that

programs in support U.S. internships

include letters tentatively committing

host institutions to support the

internships. In the selection of foreign

participants, USIA and USIS posts

retain the right to nominate all

participants and to accept or deny

participants recommended by grantee

institutions. However, grantee

institutions are often asked by USIA to

suggest names of potential participants.

The grantee institution will also provide

the names of American participants and

brief (two pages) biographical data on

each American participant to the Office

of Citizen Exchanges for information

purposes. Priority will be given to

foreign participants who have not

previously traveled to the United States.

Additional Guidance

The Office of Citizen Exchanges offers

the following additional guidance to

prospective applicants:

1. Except where noted in the text, the

Office of Citizen Exchanges encourages

project proposals involving more than

one country. Pertinent rationale which

links countries in multi-country projects

should be included in the submission.

Single-country projects that are clearly

defined and possess the potential for

creating and strengthening continuing

linkages between foreign and U.S.

institutions are also welcome.

2. Proposals for bilateral programs are

subject to review and comment by the

USIS post in the relevant country, and

pre-selected participants will also be

subject to USIS post review.

3. Bilateral programs should clearly

identify the counterpart organization

and provide evidence of the

organization’s participation.

4. The Office of Citizen Exchanges

will consider proposals for activities

which take place exclusively in other

countries when USIS posts are

consulted in the design of the proposed

program and in the choice of the most

suitable venues for such programs.

5. Office of Citizen Exchanges grants

are not given to support projects whose

focus is limited to technical or

vocational subjects, or for research

projects, for publications funding, for

student and/or teacher/faculty

exchanges, for sports and/or sports

related programs. Nor does this Office

provide scholarships or support for

long-term (a semester or more) academic

studies.

Funding

Proposals which request USIA

funding of less than $135,000 and

which include significant cost sharing

will be deemed more competitive.

Organizations with less than four years

of successful experience in managing

international exchange programs are

limited to $60,000. Applicants are

invited to provide both an all-inclusive

budget as well as separate sub-budgets

for each program component, phase,

location, or activity in order to facilitate

USIA decisions on funding. While an

all-inclusive budget must be provided

with each proposal, separate component

budgets are optional. Since USIA grant

assistance constitutes only a portion of

total project funding, proposals should

list and provide evidence of other

anticipated sources of financial and inkind support. Cost sharing may be in the

form of allowable direct or indirect

costs.

The Recipient must maintain written

records to support all allowable costs

which are claimed as being its

contribution to cost participation, as

well as costs to be paid by the Federal

government. Such records are subject to

audit. The basis for determining the

value of cash and in-kind contributions

must be in accordance with OMB

Circular A–110, Attachment E—Cost

Sharing and Matching, and should be

described in the proposal.

Eligible Costs

The following project costs are

eligible for consideration for funding:

1. International and domestic air

fares; visas; transit costs; ground

transportation costs.

2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program,

organizations have the option of using a

flat $140/day for program participants

or the published U.S. Federal per diem

rates for individual American cities. For

activities outside the U.S., the published

Federal per diem rates must be used.

Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the

published Federal per diem rates, not the flat

rate.

3. Interpreters. If needed, interpreters

for the U.S. program are provided by the

U.S. State Department Language

Services Division. Typically, a pair of

simultaneous interpreters is provided

for every four visitors who need

interpretation. USIA grants do not pay

for foreign interpreters to accompany

delegations from their home country.
3928 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices

Grant proposal budgets should contain

a flat $140/day per diem for each

Department of State interpreter, as well

as home-program-home air

transportation of $400 per interpreter

plus any U.S. travel expenses during the

program. Salary expenses are covered

centrally and should not be part of an

applicant’s proposed budget.

4. Book and cultural allowance.

Participants are entitled to and escorts

are reimbursed a one-time cultural

allowance of $150 per person, plus a

participant book allowance of $50. U.S.

staff do not get these benefits.

5. Consultants. May be used to

provide specialized expertise or to make

presentations. Daily honoraria generally

do not exceed $250 per day.

Subcontracting organizations may also

be used, in which case the written

agreement between the prospective

grantee and subcontractor should be

included in the proposal.

6. Room rental, which generally

should not exceed $250 per day.

7. Materials development. Proposals

may contain costs to purchase, develop,

and translate materials for participants.

8. One working meal per project. Per

capita costs may not exceed $5–8 for a

lunch and $14–20 for a dinner;

excluding room rental. The number of

invited guests may not exceed

participants by more than a factor of two

to one.

9. A return travel allowance of $70 for

each participant which is to be used for

incidental expenditures incurred during

international travel.

10. In most cases, USIA-funded

delegates will be covered under the

terms of a USIA-sponsored health

insurance policy with the premium is

paid by USIA directly to the insurance

company. For additional information on

insurance coverage, contact the E/P

program officer.

11. Other costs necessary for the

effective administration of the program,

including salaries for grant organization

employees, benefits, and other direct

and indirect costs per detailed

instructions in the application package.

Please refer to the Application Package

for complete budget guidelines.

Review Process

USIA will acknowledge receipt of all

proposals and will review them for

technical eligibility. Proposals will be

deemed ineligible if they do not fully

adhere to the guidelines established

herein and in the Application Packet.

Eligible proposals will be forwarded to

panels of USIA officers for advisory

review. All eligible proposals will also

be reviewed by the budget and contract

offices, as well the USIA geographic

regional office and the USIS post

overseas, where appropriate. Proposals

may also be reviewed by the USIA’s

Office of General Counsel or by other

Agency elements. Funding decisions are

at the discretion of the USIA Associate

Director for Educational and Cultural

Affairs. Final technical authority for

grant awards resides with USIA’s

contracting officer.

Review Criteria

USIA will consider proposals based

on their conformance with the

objectives and considerations already

stated in this RFP, as well as the

following criteria:

1. Quality of Program Idea

Proposals should exhibit originality,

substance, precision, and relevance to

the Agency mission.

2. Program Planning

Detailed agenda and relevant work

plan should demonstrate substance

undertakings and logistical capacity.

Agenda and plan should adhere to the

program overview and guidelines

described above.

3. Ability to Achieve Program Objectives

Objectives should be reasonable,

feasible, and flexible. Proposal should

clearly demonstrate how the institution

will meet the program objectives and

plan.

4. Multiplier Effect

Proposed programs should strengthen

long-term mutual understanding,

including maximum sharing of

information and establishment of longterm institutional and individual

linkages.

5. Value to U.S.—Partner Country

Relations

Proposed projects should receive

positive assessments by USIA’s

geographic area desk and overseas

officers of program need, potential

impact, and significance in the partner.

6. Institutional Capacity

Proposed personnel and institutional

resources should be adequate and

appropriate to achieve the program or

project’s goal.

7. Institution Reputation/Ability

Proposal should demonstrate an

institutional record of successful

exchange programs, including

responsible fiscal management and full

compliance with all reporting

requirements for past Agency grants as

determined by USIA’s Office of

Contracts. The Agency will consider the

past performance of prior recipients and

the demonstrated potential of new

applicants.

8. Follow-On Activities

Proposals should provide a plan for

continued follow-on activity (without

USIA support) which ensures that USIA

supported programs are not isolated

events.

9. Evaluation Plan

Proposals should provide a plan for a

thorough and objective evaluation of the

program/project by the grantee

institution.

10. Cost-Effectiveness

The overhead and administrative

components of the proposal, including

salaries and honoraria, should be kept

as low as possible. All other items

should be necessary and appropriate.

11. Cost-Sharing

Proposals should maximize costsharing through other private sector

support as well as institutional direct

funding contributions.

12. Support of Diversity

Proposal should demonstrate the

recipients’ commitment to promoting

the awareness and understanding of

diversity throughout the program. This

can be accomplished through

documentation (such as a written

statement or account) summarizing past

and/or on-going activities and efforts

that further the principle of diversity

within both their organization and their

activities.

Notice

The Office of Citizen Exchanges

reserves the right to reduce, revise, or

increase the grant award. The terms and

conditions published in the Request for

Proposal (RFP) are binding and may not

be modified by any USIA representative.

Explanatory information provided by

USIA that contradicts published

language will not be binding. Issuance

of the RFP does not constitute an award

commitment on the part of the

Government. Final awards cannot be

made until funds have been fully

appropriated by the Congress, allocated

and committed through internal USIA

procedures.

Notification

All applicants will be notified of the

results of the review process on or about

April 28, 1995. Awarded grants will be

subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices 3929

Dated: January 11, 1995.

Dell Pendergrast,

Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 95–1177 Filed 1–18–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

Conflict Resolution

ACTION: Notice—Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen

Exchanges (E/P) announces a

competitive grants program for

nonprofit organizations in support of

projects on the theme of Conflict

Resolution for audiences in the

following geographical areas: Subsaharan Africa; American Republics;

East Asia (Korea, regional); Eastern

Europe and the NIS; South Asia; and

Western Europe (Northern Ireland,

Greece-Cyprus-Turkey). USIA

particularly is seeking projects which

link American institutions and

specialists with partners overseas. New

and creative approaches to the issue of

conflict resolution will be especially

welcome. Proposals which request USIA

funding of less than $135,000 and

which include significant cost sharing

will be deemed more competitive.

Interested applicants are urged to read

the complete Federal Register

announcement before addressing

inquiries to the Office or submitting

their proposals.

After the deadline for submitting

proposals, USIA officers may not

discuss this competition in any way

with applicants until final decisions are

made.

Announcement name and number:

All communications concerning this

announcement should refer to the

Conflict Resolution Grant Program,

announcement number E/P–95–39.

Please refer to title and number in all

correspondence or telephone calls to

USIA.

DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All

copies must be received at the U.S.

Information Agency by 5 p.m.

Washington, D.C. time on March 3,

1995. Faxed documents will not be

accepted, nor will documents

postmarked on March 3, 1995, but

received at a later date. It is the

responsibility of each grant applicant to

ensure that proposals are received by

the above deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Interested organizations/institutions

must contact the Office of Citizen

Exchanges, E/PL, Room 216, United

States Information Agency, 301 4th

Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547,

telephone (202) 619–5326, fax (202)

260–0437, to request detailed

application packets, which include

award criteria, all application forms,

and guidelines for preparing proposals,

including specific criteria for

preparation of the proposal budget.

Please direct inquiries on programmatic

matters to the USIA Officer identified

under each geographic heading.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all

instructions given in the Proposal

Submission Instructions (PSI) and send

only complete applications to: U.S.

Information Agency, REF: E/P–95–39

Conflict Resolution Grant Competition,

Grants Management Division (E/XE),

301 Fourth Street, S.W., Room 336,

Washington, D.C. 20547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant

to the legislation authorizing the Bureau

of Education and Cultural Affairs,

programs must maintain a non-political

character and should be balanced and

representative of the diversity of

American political, social, and cultural

life. ‘‘Diversity’’ should be interpreted

in the broadest sense and encompass

differences including but not limited to

race, gender, religion, geographic

location, socio-economic status, and

physical challenges. Applicants are

strongly encouraged to adhere to the

advancement of this principle.

Overview

The Office of Citizen Exchanges

works with U.S. private sector nonprofit organizations on cooperative

international group projects that

introduce American and foreign

participants to each others’ social,

economic, and political structures; and

international interests.

Guidelines

Applicants should carefully note the

following restrictions and

recommendations for proposals in

specific geographical areas:

Africa, Sub-Saharan

Proposals are invited to conduct a

program to promote democratic society

through the constructive management of

conflict. The program can be defined at

the local level or national level for one

or more countries in Sub-saharan Africa.

When conflict has arisen along

religious, cultural, linguistic, or class

lines, it is usually framed in pejorative

or narrow terms which impede

understanding and resolution.

Sometimes, conflict has been fomented

along such lines for political purposes.

This program should address such

problems by helping to develop skills to

frame issues in non-disparaging terms

which are amenable to negotiation and

consensus building and to develop

mechanisms for making community

decisions and managing power in ways

which respect diversity while advancing

common interests. The program should

be comprised of at least two phases, one

of which would bring African

participants to the U.S., and the other

phase would send U.S. counterparts to

Africa.

Inquiries should be directed to

Program Specialist Charlotte Peterson,

(202) 619–5319, Internet

CPETERSO@USIA.GOV

American Republics

USIA is interested in receiving

proposals for the development of

exchange programs to support conflict

resolution in Haiti. Observers have long

attributed that country’s historic

inability to construct a modern civil

society at least in part to a ‘‘winner take

all’’ attitude that governs relationships

at every level. In a populace that is

sharply divided in almost every way

imaginable—rich and poor, rural and

urban, educated and illiterate, civil and

military, etc.—with almost nothing in

between, there is little incentive or

precedent for compromise. Instead, each

side is continuously at war with the

other, resulting in predictable cycles of

victimization, aggression, retaliation

and revenge. Proposing organizations

should seek to work with indigenous

counterparts that can help to introduce

and then to institutionalize functional

conflict resolution strategies in Haiti.

Inquiries should be directed to Program

Specialist Laverne Johnson, (202) 619–

5326, Internet LJOHNSON@USIA.GOV

Western Europe

USIA is interested in receiving

projects for Western Europe in the

following fields:

—Proposals on Northern Ireland

presenting creative ideas to exchange

grassroots/community based

participants to study models of

reconciliation and mediation

techniques through site visits,

workshops and internships;

—Proposals for Greece, Cyprus and

Turkey designed to improve

professional media skills. The

program might commence with a four

to six week seminar for participants

from the three countries which would

serve to establish linkages between

the media in the three countries, and

their American counterparts, and

perhaps challenge some of the

stereotypes about each country. This

program should include a minimum

of a one-week internship with either

a TV station, radio station, or

newspapers in order for the

participants to have first-hand