Democracy Commission Small Grants Program goes on

The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program continues. Those interested can present projects that contain precise and well-designed implementation plans and clear explanations how the aims of the project will be achieved. The deadline for submitting applications is March 31. The program is implemented by the Embassy of the United States of America, Info-Prim Neo reports. The program finances projects aimed at the institutionalization of open, pluralistic and democratic political processes at the local level, stimulation of participation in decision making and promotion of independent media, free flow of information and transparency in government, a communiqué released by the U.S. Embassy on February 18 says. The projects should be related to civic education, strengthening and promotion of civil society and democratic institutions, anticorruption campaigns, resolution of conflicts, development of market economy, promotion of economic reforms. According to the U.S. Embassy, the program does not support: humanitarian assistance or charitable activities; political or partisan activities; scientific research; conferences and/or individual trips abroad; trade activities; projects aimed at primary institutional development of the organization. The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program was initiated in 1994 as a flexible mechanism to enable American Embassies to support the development of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the CIS. In Moldova, the program was launched in 1996.