USAID Civic Education Activity | 72011421RFA00007

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72011421RFA00007

USAID/Georgia announced an advance notice for a forthcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the USAID Civic Education Activity in Georgia. This announcement is a planning and information synopsis rather than an open competition: it is meant to give interested stakeholders a chance to read a draft Program Description and submit brief feedback before USAID finalizes the formal solicitation. Comments were limited to two pages and were due by close of business July 7, 2021 (Tbilisi time), submitted by email to mchelidze@usaid.gov and rcocaucasus@usaid.gov. USAID emphasized that this synopsis is not a Request for Applications and does not obligate the U.S. Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or reimburse any costs related to preparing feedback. Any materials submitted would become USAID property, would not be returned, and respondents were cautioned not to send proprietary or sensitive information; submitting comments would not provide any competitive advantage later.

The planned activity centers on strengthening civic education so that the next generation of Georgians is better prepared to participate in democratic life. The core idea is to help students understand and exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities, engage constructively in civic and public discourse, and work with others to push for greater government accountability. The program is positioned within a broader moment of change in Georgia: ongoing education reform efforts and increased government education funding, combined with post-COVID-19 constraints, and the training and recruitment of new teachers. USAID frames this as a timely opportunity to introduce more modern approaches to civic learning that align with USAID/Georgia strategic priorities.

Compared with earlier USAID civic education efforts, this activity is intended to place heavier emphasis on building a democratic culture within schools themselves, not just delivering civic content in classrooms. It also plans to promote extracurricular and experiential learning models, such as project-based or student-led initiatives, so students learn civics by doing, not only by studying theory. Another key differentiator is the push to form new partnerships, including with the private sector, and to ensure both teachers and students can make strong use of digital tools and resources. Underneath these themes is an assumption that civic engagement increasingly happens in digital spaces, and schools need to equip young people to navigate that reality responsibly and effectively.

USAID laid out three main objectives for the activity. First, it aims to improve student-led civic and democratic engagement in schools, meaning students should have more opportunities, skills, and support to organize, participate, and lead constructive civic actions within the school environment and beyond. Second, it seeks to strengthen private sector engagement in civic education at the school level, implying businesses and employers could play a role through partnerships, resources, mentorship, or support for civic learning initiatives. Third, it aims to improve students ability to responsibly use and harness technology to advance civic agendas and participate in public discourse, which points to digital literacy, responsible online behavior, and effective use of technology for community problem-solving and engagement.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity was listed as a discretionary program using a cooperative agreement, with a total anticipated ceiling of up to $10,000,000 and an expectation of one award. Eligibility was described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that would appear in the full solicitation. The listing associated the activity with the education sector and the CFDA number 98.001, and it was issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID/Tbilisi, under opportunity number 72011421RFA00007. The draft Program Description referenced in the synopsis was provided separately under the posting’s related documents, and the formal details would ultimately be set by the later NOFO.

• The Agency for International Development, Georgia USAID-Tbilisi in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID Civic Education Activity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 16, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 07, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 72011421RFA00007

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: