Federal Youth Grants

The U.S. Embassy Kingston Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This Annual Program Statement outlines our funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. The deadline is necessary to provide sufficient time to process and award programs in advance of the end of our fiscal year on September 30, 2024. Project proposals should aim to strengthen ties between the United States and Jamaica by highlighting shared values and promoting bilateral cooperation. Proposals must convey an American element, which supports a priority program area (see below) or includes a connection with American expert(s), organization(s) or institution(s) in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Priority program areas include: • Climate, Environment, and Energy o For example, addressing the climate crisis, responding to natural disasters, conserving nature, water security, sustainable agriculture, reducing harmful pollutants, energy resilience, and renewable energy. • Combating Financial Scamming and Other Criminal Activity o For example, addressing corruption and money laundering, improving police-public relations, appreciation of the law, teaching digital literacy, detecting financial scamming, and promoting behaviors that increase community safety. • Programs for At-Risk Youth o For example, diversion programs to prevent youth violence, educational programs for critical life skills, and parent/family interventions. • Economic Prosperity o For example, business development, closing skills gaps in local communities, human resources, infrastructure, cybersecurity, resource development, and trade. • Global Health o For example, managing contagious and infectious diseases, public health workforce development, and public health policy and management. • Gender Issues o For example, women’s empowerment, improving outcomes for marginalized male youth, addressing gender-based violence, and LGBTQIA+ issues. • Human Rights and Democracy o For example, addressing fundamental human rights, human trafficking, immigration, refugees, governance, the role of civil society, and freedom of the press/media. Additional details on these policy priorities are available at https://www.state.gov/policy-issues/ Target participants/audiences: • Women and/or youth in underserved communities • Business leaders and entrepreneurs • Community leaders and influencers • Academic and/or cultural institutions • Journalists and/or media organizations The following types of projects are not eligible for funding: • Projects relating to partisan political activity • For-profit activities • Charitable or development activities • Construction projects • Projects that support specific religious activities • Fundraising campaigns • Lobbying for specific legislation or projects • Scientific research • Projects that duplicate existing projects Authorizing legislation, type, and year of funding: Funding authorities applicable are the Smith-Mundt Act and Foreign Assistance Act for FY2024 Public Diplomacy funds.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an FY 2024 open competition for three distinct regional Youth Ambassadors programs (previously called Youth Leadership Programs) with select countries in East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), and the Middle East and North Africa (NEA). U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to provide participants with four-week exchanges in the United States focused on the primary themes of civic education, leadership development, respect for diversity, and community engagement and to support the implementation of service projects in their home communities. The EAP and NEA programs also will engage approximately 3-5 adult mentors in programming alongside youth participants. Competitively selected U.S. secondary students will join participants in U.S.-based activities on the NEA exchanges. Only one proposal per region will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission per region from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review for the region from that applicant. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

The Global Leaders Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, administer, and implement the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellows Program. The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program will bring a minimum of 320 emerging leaders, ages 25-35, from Southeast Asia to the United States to participate in leadership and professional development activities under the themes of Civic Engagement; Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Empowerment; Society and Governance; and Sustainability and the Environment. The U.S.-based exchange component will be five to six weeks in duration and consist of: 1) Professional Fellowship Institutes (Institute) related to each of the program themes which feature individually tailored fellowship placements at relevant U.S. non-profit, public, or private sector organizations; and 2) a program closing conference called the YSEALI Fellows Forum in Washington, DC. Upon the conclusion of the U.S.-based exchange program, a minimum of 80 American participants will travel overseas for minimum one-week reciprocal exchanges to assist the Southeast Asian Fellows in implementing action plans in their local communities. The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program will also include follow-on alumni engagement activities. The award recipient will be responsible for program planning and implementation, including the oversight and coordination of the eight Institutes under the YSEALI themes. One Institute under each of the four themes (a total of four) will take place in the Spring of 2025, with the remaining four Institutes occurring in the Fall of 2025. The recipient must also be committed to collaborating with ECA to support the Fellow;apos;s participation in broader YSEALI activities/events during the program lifecycle, including joint activities with ECAs YSEALI Academic Fellows Program (which is advertised under a separate NOFO). Applicants can administer the program fully or may propose to directly implement a minimum of two Institutes under a single theme (one in the Spring, one in the Fall) and administer sub-awards for the remaining six Institutes. No sub-recipient will be allowed to directly implement more than two Institutes (one in the Spring/one in the Fall). ECA welcomes applications from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations, consortium of organizations, and accredited post-secondary U.S. educational institutions meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Applicants may submit only one proposal under this competition. If multiple proposals are received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared ineligible and receive no further consideration in the review process. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

The Global Leaders Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, administer, and implement the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program. The JCSVEI will strengthen engagement between young people in the Middle East and North Africa (NEA) region and in the United States as a lasting tribute to the legacy of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. The JCSVEI will use various virtual exchange formats, technology, and online tools to facilitate exchange programs that address the themes of: Civic Engagement; Empowering Women and Girls; Climate Change and Sustainability; Language Learning and Practice; and Digital Literacy Skill Development. By using a wide range of virtual exchange formats, the program should reach approximately 10,000 participants each year. The JCSVEI will also include an Alumni Leadership Academy, and other follow-on alumni engagement activities. Organizations applying for this federal award are required to identify up to 12 subawards to implement virtual exchange programs as part of the JCSVEI. The award recipient must demonstrate capacity to manage up to 12 subawards and will be responsible for all subaward oversight. Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for the FY2024 Global Media Makers (GMM) program. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to conduct a professional development program for film and television content creators from participating countries to enhance their skills and to support local creative economies. This program, like other ECA film program models, seeks to elevate influential voices that are building resilient civil societies by using film and television content to address critical local issues including, but not limited to, the climate crisis, democratic governance, freedom of expression, pluralism, tolerance, womens and youth empowerment.The FY 2024 GMM program will connect up to 50 mid-career film and television professionals ("Fellows) with professionals (Mentors) from the U.S. entertainment industry who will facilitate behind-the-scenes access, bolster Fellows technical skills and creative content development, and build the foundations for lasting professional networks. Fellows will travel to the United States for a four-to-six-week residency, which will take place primarily in Los Angeles (L.A.), to work on projects with a team of mentors to receive state-of-the-art-training and industry access to support conceptual development of independent, authentic, and compelling content for distribution in the Fellows home countries. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

USAID seeks information on how higher education institutions can address water, climate, and gender development challenges in Pakistan. The information could inform the scope of future USAID awards to U.S. universities. Responses to this Request for Information will inform the design of a potential $1.5 million Water, Climate, and Gender Activity (WCGA), subject to the availability of funds. This is not a request for proposal or application. American and Pakistani higher education institutions have the potential to be central actors in advancing Pakistan’s climate resilience and gender equity. Challenges around water, environment and climate change demand active involvement of diverse actors–especially universities–to solve these challenges. The U.S. - Pakistan “Green Alliance” is a framework for bilateral cooperation that enables both countries to jointly face the climate, environmental, and economic needs of the present and future. This framework delivers partnerships on agriculture, water, and clean energy. Women and girls, in all their diversity, play a critical leadership role in addressing the climate crisis. Globally, the relationship among women, girls, the environment, and their communities makes women and girls uniquely poised to develop and contribute to locally relevant and effective climate interventions reflective of the entire population. Further, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and related disasters are exacerbated by the climate crisis, which disproportionately affects women and girls.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy Tbilisi is pleased to announce the 2024 Book Translation Program. Through funding translation of key works into Georgian PDS aims to increase the accessibility and affordability of the latest research, analysis, and popular contemporary literature by American authors to the Georgian students, researchers and the general public. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: Maximum project period is 2 years. Number of awards anticipated: 15 awards (dependent on amounts requested in approved proposals). Award amounts: U.S. Embassy Tbilisi grant will cover up to 70% of the total project budged. Total available funding: $100,000 Funding Request Ceiling: $10,000 Type of Funding: Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act. Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award. 1. Cost Sharing or Matching The program requires minimum 30% cost-share. Cost-share might come from the applicant organization or other sources. In case of co-funding from other organization, an approval letter from the relevant organization is required (indicating amount and category of expenses). Allowable costs: Allowable costs are those directly related to the project activities: copyright, translation, editing, proofreading, design, printing, and promotional public events. 2. Other Requirements Under the project requesting both print and e-books are allowable. In case of print books, minimum print-run required is 1,000 (smaller print-run considered per terms of the individual project, especially for textbooks by education institutions). In case of e-book projects, specific terms needs to be cooperated with the copyright holder party. Textbooks and academic literature should be the latest editions. The grant recipient is responsible for requesting permission from the copyright holder. Applicant should start negotiation with the copyright holder before submission of proposal and present copy of communication or draft of the contract with other requested documents. After selection as a finalist, the applicant is required to present a copy of the copyright agreement signed by both parties. Each applicant can submit up to five (5) proposals per call. Organization can submit projects on both deadlines, but same proposals cannot be re-submitted on the second call of the same year. Eligible works should be previously unpublished in Georgian. Publications should be translated from the original language. In joint projects letters of support from project partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner are required. Post-publication book promoting activities are highly encouraged, e.g. book launching event and presentation, book readings and discussions, social media campaigns, contests, etc. Cooperating on the activities with American Spaces in regions is highly recommended. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application Please ensure: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity All documents are in English All budgets are in U.S. dollars All pages are numbered All documents are formatted to 8 x 11 paper, and All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The following documents are required: 1. Mandatory application forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance --organizations) SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) Completed application form Unique entity identifier from SAM.gov The translators CV/Resume (indicating experience in the translation field, list of translations) A copy of the communication or contract with the copyright holder. Co-funding letter (if applicable) Partnership letter (if applicable) Instructions (both in English and Georgian) for mandatory forms are available to download from the website with other documents. 1. Submission Dates and Times 03/15/2024; 18:00 and 05/15/2024; 18:00

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out programs strengthening bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg on Remembering our Shared History. The U.S. Embassy Luxembourg invites proposals from non-governmental organizations, think tanks, government institutions, academic institutions, and individuals for programs strengthening the bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg and Remembering our Shared History, including, but not limited to: Programs that highlight significant WWII events, untold stories, and any elements of U.S.-Luxembourg collaboration that provide unique context, perspective, and meaning to the long-standing alliance between the Unites States and Luxembourg. Programs focused on youth and youth education to ensure the memory of WWII is not forgotten by the younger generations in Luxembourg. Programs that foster truthful recognition and remembrance of the tragedies of the Second World War and particularly the Holocaust Program activities such as historical/cultural exhibits, film screenings (movies/documentaries) and lecture series, book discussions, various media platforms (broadcast media, social media, etc.) and other types of public outreach campaigns. All programs must engage Luxembourg audiences. All programs must include a U.S. element or connection with U.S. experts that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Any speaker paid with grant funding must hold U.S. citizenship. Please review the complete NOFO on the Funding Opportunities page on our website: https://lu.usembassy.gov/grants-program/ or in the related documents tab on the announcement on grants.gov for information on how to submit a Statement of Interest.

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out programs strengthening bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg on Engaging Students in English. The U.S. Embassy Luxembourg invites proposals from non-governmental organizations, think tanks, government institutions, academic institutions, and individuals for programs strengthening the bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg and Engaging Students in English, including, but not limited to: Programs focused on strengthening specific English language skills or professional English capacity of students, such as public-speaking, debate, theater/drama Programs that enhance and promote the English-teaching profession and community, such as trainings, workshops, conferences, or presentations for English educators in Luxembourg. English-language programs for underprivileged groups including but not limited to patrons of organizations, such as shelters for refugees, women, abuse victims or childrens organizations. Educational programs such as English language camps, academic competitions, international exchanges, conferences, workshops, courses, exhibits, hackathons, online projects, or performances. Projects that share American best practices in English-language education by bringing U.S. experts to engage with students and teachers in Luxembourg. All programs must engage Luxembourg audiences. All programs must include a U.S. element or connection with U.S. experts that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Any speaker paid with grant funding must hold U.S. citizenship. Please review the complete NOFO on the Funding Opportunities page on our website: https://lu.usembassy.gov/grants-program/ or in the related documents tab on the announcement on grants.gov to find more information on how to submit a Statement of Interest.

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out programs strengthening bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg on Advancing Diversity and Inclusion. The U.S. Embassy Luxembourg invites proposals from non-governmental organizations, think tanks, government institutions, academic institutions, and individuals for programs strengthening the bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg and supporting Advancing Diversity and Inclusion, including, but not limited to: Programs that address common challenges and share best practices around creating a more effective, equitable, and inclusive society. Programs focused on combatting systemic racism and discrimination and sharing best practices for promoting diversity and inclusion in both the public and private sectors. Programs bolstering access to higher education, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education and careers, and with an emphasis on greater inclusion for women, people of color, persons with disabilities and other marginalized/minority groups. All programs must engage Luxembourg audiences. All programs must include a U.S. element or connection with U.S. experts that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Any speaker paid with grant funding must hold U.S. citizenship. Please review the complete NOFO on the Funding Opportunities page on our website: https://lu.usembassy.gov/grants-program/ or in the related documents tab on the announcement on grants.gov for details on how to complete the Statement of Interest .

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg, U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out programs strengthening bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg on Accelerating STEM and Climate Ambitions. The U.S. Embassy Luxembourg invites proposals from non-governmental organizations, think tanks, government institutions, academic institutions, and individuals for programs strengthening the bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg and Accelerating STEM and Climate Ambitions, including, but not limited to: Programs that raise awareness about space and satellite technology, space exploration, biotechnology, green technology, clean energy, climate change, the climate crisis, or sustainable finance. This could include educational programs for young people, trainings for educators, public debates, exhibits, speakers, etc. Educational programs with a focus on interactive STEM skills, such as computer programming, coding, and robotics, or programs about the importance of protecting the environment, clean air and water and sustainability measures. Projects that share American best practices in STEM and space research, climate change, sustainability, sustainable finance, renewables, environmental protection, or biotechnology by bringing U.S. experts to engage with Luxembourg audiences. All programs must engage Luxembourg audiences. All programs must include a U.S. element or connection with U.S. experts that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Any speaker paid with grant funding must hold U.S. citizenship. Please review the complete NOFO on the Funding Opportunities page on our website: https://lu.usembassy.gov/grants-program/ , or in the related documents tab on the announcement on grants.gov.

The U.S. Embassy BURKINA FASO Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. This notice is subject to availability of funding. Purpose of Small Grants: PDS Burkina Faso invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and BURKINA FASO through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Examples of PDS Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to: Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs; Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions; Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs; Professional and academic exchanges and programs; Civic education projects that promote democratic processes and human rights; New media concepts projects aimed at reaching wider audiences; Youth community service projects that promote democratic processes and encourage volunteerism; Development of initiatives aimed at maintaining contacts with alumni of U.S. exchange programs. Priority Program Areas: Programs to bolster understanding and practices of Democracy, Human Rights, and Good Governance. This may include projects that encourage participation in civil society, especially for women, religious minorities, and youth. Programs that seek to promote a better understanding of diversity, inclusion, religious freedom, gender rights, persons with disabilities, underrepresented or otherwise disadvantaged communities, and/or other aspects of human rights. Creative programs that advance one or more of the priority areas listed above, to include but not be limited to, economic empowerment, youth development, peace and security. Programs promoting English language capacity through projects that encourage the usage and learning of English language as a tool for civic and economic development. Programs that increase transparency, media professionalism, access to diverse new sources, media literacy, etc. Projects may develop the capacity of Burkinabe media, a tradition of fact-checking and research for journalists and/or media consumers, capitalize on social media use for greater transparency, and/or expand such programs beyond the capital and secondary cities. Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding: The source of funding is FY2024 Public Diplomacy Funding.

Pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the United States Government, as represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI), Inclusive Development Hub (ID) is announcing the Alliance to Advance Protection and Care for Children in Adversity (APCCA) Annual Program Statement (APS). Through the APCCA Alliance APS, USAID aims to address key objectives outlined in the U.S. Government (USG) Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity Strategy. The purpose of this APS is to disseminate information to prospective Applicants so they may develop and submit Concepts in response to future Addenda under this APS and ultimately to be considered for USAID funding. USAID DDI/ID anticipates awarding multiple grants and/or cooperative agreements as a result of this APS. However, issuance of this APS does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the USG to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of comments/suggestions, a concept, or an application. Concepts and Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicants expense. The actual number of assistance awards, if any, under this APS is subject to the availability of funds and the interests and requirements of Operating Units (OUs) as well as the viability of eventual Full Applications received. There is no predefined minimum or maximum number of awards USAID OUs will support through this APS. The APCCA APS is unfunded and serves as a general umbrella APS, to which any USAID OU can post specific Addenda that are focused on challenges or priorities highlighted in the APS. An Addendum highlights a specific program or activity, where technical assistance or partnership opportunities are communicated by a USAID OU. Addenda will be the exclusive source of funding through this APS. NOTE: This APS is not a Request for Applications or a Request for Proposals, and does not serve as a general request for APCCA concepts. USAID will only consider Concepts that are submitted in response to Addenda to this APS. USAID will not accept or consider any Concepts submitted in response to the general APCCA Alliance APS. Addenda will be posted on www.grants.gov. Based on the submitted Concept(s) to specific Addenda opportunities, USAID will determine whether to engage in more in-depth and specific co-creation discussions aimed at further developing the proposed approach and will determine whether to request a Full Application. To be competitive under a particular Addendum to this umbrella APS, Concepts and Full Applications must be fully responsive to all directions under this APS document except when specifically noted otherwise in the Addendum. Please refer to the full APS document attached for full information and details about this opportunity.

This funding opportunity is designed to support youth-led and youth-serving organizations in creating positive development outcomes for young people across various sectors.

The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) announces an open competition for projects in support of the Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership between the United States and the Government of Nepal. The CPC Partnership is jointly developed and implemented by the United States and the Government of Nepal through a multi-year plan (approximately five years). The purpose of this CPC Partnership is to advance and strengthen the efforts of the Government of Nepal and civil society organizations in Nepal to combat forced child labor and child sex trafficking in a victim- 2 centered, coordinated, sustainable, and multi-sectoral approach to support an effective system of justice, prevention, and protection. This includes the implementation of a victim-centered prevention strategy that addresses targeted risk factors, promotes high-quality comprehensive victim protection, and investigates, prosecutes, and convicts perpetrators of child trafficking. The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC) is the primary focal point for the Government of Nepal under the CPC Partnership. However, the TIP Office anticipates close collaboration with additional government ministries and agencies at a federal, provincial, and local level including a full range of criminal-justice stakeholders. The full partnership will be posted online here: Child Protection Compact Partnerships - United States Department of State Nepal is the eighth CPC Partnership the US government has negotiated globally; the TIP Office has active CPC Partnerships in Peru, Mongolia, Colombia, and Cote d’Ivoire, and previous CPC Partnerships with the governments of Jamaica, the Philippines, and Ghana. More information is available at: . The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity is to advance and strengthen the efforts of the Government of Nepal and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nepal to combat child trafficking in a victim-centered, coordinated, sustainable, and multi-sectoral approach to support an effective system of prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. Applicants are expected to propose activities that align with the goals and objectives outlined below from the U.S.-Nepal CPC Partnership text. Applicants should use the following illustrative activities to guide their proposals but are not expected to include every item listed: Objective 1 (Prevention): The Government of Nepal, particularly local government, coordinates with NGOs on child trafficking prevention efforts that are comprehensive and contextualized into local community child protection initiatives. Illustrative Activities: • Capacity Building o Strengthen and empower Local Coordination Committees on Human Trafficking; Train Child Welfare Officers to further identify and combat child trafficking; o Provide technical assistance to the MoWCSC on effective prevention strategies. • Awareness Raising o Engage schools and communities on action plans to identify and prevent child trafficking; o Engage families and communities about the risks of child trafficking among vulnerable communities; o Work with government and local communities to increase child registration for identification. • Community Interventions: o Targeted interventions for most at-risk populations; examples include but not limited to working with cash plus programs, community savings and loans cooperatives, financial inclusion strategies, vocational training, and alternative livelihoods; o Pilot or support community resilience programs to minimize the effects of disasters and climate change that exacerbate child trafficking risk factors. Objective 2 (Protection): The Government of Nepal supports child trafficking victims by providing accessible trauma-informed, victim-centered care, and supports NGOs to protect children throughout the country. Illustrative Activities: • Training and Curriculum Development o Expand social workers’ use of victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches; o Build capacity of local child-care centers with curriculum on minimum standards of care and sustainability plan. • Direct Victim Support o Enable organizations to provide protection services to child trafficking victims; o Identify and support protection services for male victims of trafficking, including shelter services for boys; 4 o Support reintegration efforts, including but not limited to vocational/ apprenticeship training, paying of school fees, and small business support. • Standard Operating Procedures o Create SOPs and/or handbooks to guide victim support in partnership with local committees; o Support implementation of identification guidelines with MoWCSC; o Develop repatriation procedures, SOPs, and guidelines for crossborder trafficking cases. • Capacity Building o Support the rollout of the Social Information Management System (SIMS) as a data collection tool and ensure it meets data sharing and case tracking needs; o Assist the “1098 hotline” for victims of human trafficking to be more responsive to victims and increase capacity to identify and serve trafficking victims. • Advocacy o Support pending legal code amendments that align laws with the Palermo Protocol; o Ensure civil society organizations are adequately resourced to provide needed victim services. Objective 3 (Prosecution): The Government of Nepal, including law enforcement, prosecutors and the judiciary, utilizes existing trafficking-specific legal frameworks to identify child trafficking victims, investigate cases, and prosecute and convict perpetrators of child trafficking in a child-friendly, victim-centered, and traumainformed manner. Illustrative Activities: • Training and Curriculum Development o Comprehensive (basic and advanced) training for justice-sector actors on the human trafficking law and how to utilize it during investigations, prosecutions, and convictions; o Comprehensive (basic and advanced) training for justice sector actors on victim-centered, trauma-informed, and child-friendly practices; o Training for law enforcement entities on trauma-informed and childfriendly techniques for gathering evidence and testimony from survivors of child trafficking; o Victim-centered training in the National Police Academy to combat human trafficking; o Curriculum for the National Judicial Academy focused on human trafficking laws, trauma-informed and child friendly practices, in coordination with NGOs o Methods to investigate and monitor online violence and cybercrimes. • Standard Operating Procedures o Child-friendly procedures for accompaniment of child trafficking victims and witnesses before the courts; o Child interview SOPs for police investigators and MoWCSC social workers; o Nationwide SOPs on victim identification, referral, and case management; o Support airport and border officers with resources for improved screening tools. • Establish New Practices o Digitized Court or “E-court” using video conferencing or video testimony likely connected with protection homes to support criminal cases; o Victim service units and victim-friendly court environments within the Supreme court and District courts; o Child-friendly spaces in local police offices, and/or other relevant locations; o Create child-friendly space guidelines that are adopted and used to train relevant staff; o Promote creation of a secure network and data collection system for criminal justice actors to share case details. • Advocacy o Expand judges’ use of current legal frameworks with innovative prosecution techniques such as victim compensation; o Promote appointment of an Office of the Special Rapporteur for Human Trafficking within the National Human Rights Council; o Create a cybercrime law from current cybercrime policy. 6 Objective 4 (Partnership): The Government of Nepal addresses child trafficking in a coordinated manner across all relevant ministries, local authorities and NGOs. Illustrative Activities: • Expand Alliances o Engage with private sector actors to raise awareness and prevent forced child labor in targeted industries; o Engage telecommunications companies to prevent online sexual exploitation of children; o Encourage parliamentary involvement on child protection issues; o Analyze the use of information technology to support child trafficking prevention and protection. • Information Sharing o Encourage information sharing across different data management systems, including the Missing Children and National Police databases. • National Frameworks o Review and support the Master Plan on Child Labor; o Support regional referral mechanisms and/or intergovernmental MOUs on trafficking with neighboring countries in the region; o Foster development and implementation of a National Action Plan. • Advocacy o Empower the National Coordination Committee on Human Trafficking; o Promote creation of a national budget line to combat child trafficking to ensure programs and relevant ministries are properly funded; o Facilitate sustainability planning to maintain CPC investments beyond the end of the agreement.