The US-Russia Social Expertise Exchange (SEE) is calling the application 2020-2021 Social Expertise Challenge project competition. Teams composed of at least one US and Russian organization or higher education institution are invited to propose innovative bilateral initiatives that will benefit both countries and address a common issue in one of the four following socially-oriented themes:

• Social inclusion
• Technology and innovation for social good
• Social entrepreneurship
• Youth engagement

Funding 

Project teams in Social Expertise Challenge may request up to $43,000 in funding for a period of up to twelve months.

Eligibilities 

• Projects must address one or more of SEE’s four thematic areas (Social Inclusion, Technology, and Innovation for Social Good, Social Entrepreneurship, and Youth Engagement).
• Projects must include one U.S.-based partner and one Russia-based partner as implementing organizations.
• Lead partners may also include other organizations/individuals as additional implementers to assist with project activities as necessary.
• Project applications must be submitted by the U.S.-based partner on behalf of the partnership. Basically, EF will only disburse funds to the U.S. lead organization to manage on behalf of the partnership. Similarly, projects must achieve a clear and measurable impact with equal or near-equal benefits to both the U.S. and Russia.
• Projects must impact at least 250 direct beneficiaries* in each country (500 total).
• Also, the projects may not directly engage in political activism, public policy reform, or the influence of public opinion.
• Russian federal, regional, state, and local government bodies; government-funded social institutions (e.g. orphanages, nature preserves); as well as federal academic and research institutions are not eligible to serve as project partners (except for student groups, which may do so).

Selection Criteria 

• The extent of the demonstrated need for the project among target groups.
• Clarity and impact of the project objective and activities.
• The relevance of proposed activities for achieving the project objective.
• The overall extent of project impact in the U.S. and Russia and on collaboration between the two countries.
• Potential for project sustainability beyond the proposed funding period.
• Furthermore, the capacity of lead organizations and other project team members to successfully implement the proposed project.

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