Request for Proposals University Civic Engagement Initiative Deadline: February 20, 2014 Silatech and Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP) are pleased to invite universities in Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen to apply for grants in a joint initiative to build capacity for university civic engagement in the Arab region. Five universities will receive grants of up to US$20,000 to support activities aimed at developing, expanding, or institutionalizing civic engagement practices in the classroom, on campus, and among local communities. Grant Framework Civic engagement is the active participation of individuals and groups in the public life of a community in an informed, committed, and constructive manner, with a focus on the common good. Universities provide rich environments where knowledge, thought, creativity, practical skills, and value systems combine to produce a pipeline of motivated, committed, and productive citizens. University civic engagement plays a critical role in empowering youth to address complex social, economic, and political challenges. Students who engage with their local communities through service improve their academic progress while acquiring real- life skills; they come to perceive themselves as active citizens capable of contributing toward the well being of their communities and their futures. In the Arab region, however, the limited research that exists on the subject of university civic engagement underscores the significance of networks to sustain youth- focused civic engagement programs, especially at the level of higher education. The transitions that many Arab countries are undergoing pose new challenges and provide a different context for addressing old ones. More than ever, young people need to work collectively to effect change toward a more stable and promising future for themselves and their communities. Student activism and civic engagement have always played a significant and often leading role in prompting social change in several Arab countries since the early 1960s and up to the recent political and social movements that have defined the region and brought about massive reforms. Yet, despite the manifest interest in contributing to the common good of their societies and their futures, Arab youth in general and students in particular are faced with a lack of prescribed gateways through which they can channel their participation as well as the guided reflection required to allow them to engage responsibly. This is where universities can play a role.
Recognizing the growing and vibrant student engagement in communities in the Arab region, Silatech and ICP launched this initiative to address the need to incorporate civic engagement as an institutional objective of Arab universities. In so doing, universities will develop or increase their capacity to respond to local community needs while cultivating in their students a lasting commitment to civic engagement. Moreover, there is sufficient evidence that civic engagement enhances teaching, improves learning, and helps students develop much- needed skills required for the work force. This small grants fund was established to encourage Arab universities to develop plans to integrate civic engagement as part of their teaching, learning, and research functions. The result will mean embedding civic engagement as part of the institutional framework over time, rather than as marginal student activities that are detached from student learning. [For more details on the continuum of institutional integration, see an assessment rubric for institutionalizing civic engagement in higher education at www.icicp.org/ucei2apply. This rubric is for background information only; it should not be submitted as part of a university s grant proposal.] Grant Goals The overall goals of this fund are to: 1. Integrate civic engagement into the institutional strategic plans of Arab universities; 2. Create policies and practices that support the mainstreaming of civic engagement, particularly in teaching, learning, and research; and 3. Develop a blueprint of proven strategies and good practices that can be shared in order to inform high- quality civic engagement. Grants awarded within this initiative are expected to address identifiable "achievables" and measurable outcomes toward some or all of the initiative's goals. Categories for Proposals Please note that the following list of proposal categories and associated examples are neither comprehensive, nor exclusive, and are not intended to be prescriptive. Applicants are kindly requested to view them as guides to developing strong proposals. Institutionalizing Civic Engagement: This comprises any activities, programs, and organizational structures necessary to develop, expand, and sustain civic engagement as an integral part of the strategic plan of the university, including any specific measures taken to encourage the "buy- in" among administration, faculty, and students as well as community partners. Examples from this category may include:
Convening stakeholders (provosts, vice presidents, vice chancellors, faculty chairs, students, and community partners) for a discussion about their commitment to and recommendations for campus- community engagement. Developing a strategic plan for civic engagement at the university. Establishing a body or expanding an existing body (advisory committee or center) to plan, develop, and oversee the expansion of civic engagement on campus. Creating new and innovative programs aimed at promoting and embedding a culture of civic participation among students, faculty, and the university community at large. Designing programs and practices to raise the level of civic leadership skills and capacities among university students. Developing the institutional structures required to create, maintain, and strengthen effective partnerships between the university and local community partners for civic engagement. Using an institutionalization rubric (see www.icicp.org/ucei2apply) to assess current awareness about and levels of active civic engagement on campus, and to plan for further development. Civic Engagement Policies and Practices: This comprises any specific effort to integrate civic engagement concepts and language on the policy or sub- policy (institutional practices, declared institutional vision and objectives, institutional performance assessments, etc.) levels thus leading to further institutionalization of civic engagement. Examples from this category may include: Endorsement and enactment of faculty hiring, promotion, and tenure strategies that recognize and encourage their contributions toward service learning and civic engagement. Integration of service learning and civic engagement into the core requirements for graduation. Provision of funds for student groups or clubs that participate in civic engagement activities. Incorporation of civic engagement stakeholders (e.g., community partners, students, scholarship donors) into the strategic planning and decision- making processes of the institution. Student Learning: This comprises any activities, programs, or practices designed to develop, expand, and maintain the ability of university students to partake in the public life of their communities as well as improve their learning potential and outcomes. Examples from this category may include: Programs, activities, and practices designed to provide students with opportunities to participate in experiential learning, and to develop the ability to foster connections between their learning material and the larger social, economic, and
civic context of their communities (such as service learning courses and curricula, community- based research, internships, provision of contemporary knowledge and resources of relevant community needs and priorities). Faculty development activities and trainings aimed at further integration of civic engagement courses into university curricula. Designing and/or redesigning courses and curricula to incorporate service learning. Designing and/or using tools for assessing service learning outcomes (this is for institutions that have a well- established culture of service learning and community engagement). Identifying potential community partners whose programs, needs, and mission relate to the university's academic curriculum, and building community partners' understanding of service learning and civic engagement. Knowledge Production: This comprises practices, activities, and programs that contribute to the production of a blueprint of proven strategies and good practices that will inform high- quality civic engagement in the universities of the Arab region. Examples from this category may include: Incentives, awards, grants, etc., that promote community- engaged scholarship through the documentation and dissemination of effective practices on service learning and civic engagement. The creation of stakeholder networks locally or within the Arab region (researchers, university administrators, faculty, students, and community partners) for the purpose of information and resource sharing. Scholarly research on service learning and university civic engagement in the Arab region (e.g., what are the conceptions and practices of civic engagement in Arab universities? What are the drivers for civic engagement in Arab universities student motivation? community engagement? donor funding? government policies? Do gender/socio- economic disparities exist?). Innovation in University Civic Engagement: This category comprises any "out- of- the- box" effort, program, activity, and/or practice that meets the goals of this initiative and has significant and measurable influence on service learning and civic engagement in Arab universities. Examples from this category may include: Projects that effectively utilize art as a medium for civic engagement. Civic engagement and/or service learning projects and initiatives that effectively utilize technology to increase the number and/or quality of civically engaged students, and formulate innovative solutions to community needs.
Grant Specifics Applications are invited from the chief executive officers of higher education institutions in Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen. ICP and Silatech will select five universities to receive grants up to US$20,000 for the period April 1, 2014, through March 31, 2015. The deadline for applications is February 20, 2014. Successful applications will address the three primary goals (see Grant Goals above) and describe specific activities (see Categories for Proposals above) to achieve those goals, all of which must occur during the grant period. ICP may provide training and technical assistance to the selected grantees, including conference calls, webinars, and possibly site visits. Outcomes will be assessed using Silatech and ICP evaluation instruments. This grant is not intended to fund: 1. Any ongoing or established activities, programs, projects, or any other efforts, unless the proposal is for added or new elements that are not included in other budgets, and that meet the goals and criteria of this initiative. 2. Individual student tuition or faculty salaries regardless of any demonstrated or intended commitment to service learning and civic engagement, unless they are officially assigned a role within a grant approved by ICP and Silatech. Grant Participants Each applicant must identify a team of at least three individuals to represent the university and carry out the proposed activities. Team members must include a senior- level administrator; a faculty member with demonstrated experience with civic engagement; and a financial, grants, or accounting staff member who will be responsible for monitoring and reporting grant expenses. Other participants in the initiative may include faculty, administrators, staff, students, and community partners. The applicant must describe each participant s level of involvement. Application Evaluation Criteria Silatech and ICP welcome applications from higher education institutions committed to advancing civic engagement in universities in the Arab region. Several factors are considered when evaluating proposals. The criteria below provide insight into the decision process. 1. Program Design Does the proposal offer sufficient background information such as description of institutional mission, student demographics, and local community?
Does the project/program/activity meet the three primary goals of the initiative and lead to measurable outcomes? Does the proposal offer clear description of policies, plans, and partnerships to be developed; detailed timeline and work plan; likely success of infrastructure or capacity- building activities to increase student participation in civic engagement and enhance impact on communities, students, faculty, and institutions; commitment to disseminate practices? Is the proposed project feasible? Is the expected impact clearly conceptualized and stated? 2. Leadership and Institutional Capacity Does the applicant university have the organizational structure and institutional capacity to launch, manage, and oversee the project? Does the applicant university have the sound leadership to successfully complete the project within the grant time? Does the proposal clearly describe the roles assigned for all participants? Are there any participating advisory bodies? Are there reliable mechanisms for monitoring quality, evaluating institutional goals, assessing project outcomes, and reporting progress? 3. Institutionalization and Strategic Planning Does the applicant university have strong institutional and community support? Is there adequate and appropriate budget for civic engagement practices? What are the applicant university's attitudes and history toward policy development? Are there relevant community- campus partnerships? What are the applicant university's plans for continuing project activities and funding beyond the grant period? 4. Innovation and Replicability What is the likelihood of creating new knowledge about effective programs and their impact on communities, students, and institutions? Does the project provide an opportunity for learning by universities or institutions other than the applicant? What is the potential of this project to advance the field? Is the proposed project applicable to other settings? Timeline Applicants will develop a timeline that describes measurable quarterly benchmarks for progress throughout the year. ICP and Silatech will expect grantees to adhere to their proposed timelines. For example, the project team should convene regularly throughout the year to discuss progress and plan activities; faculty training might occur in the second
or third quarters; a strategic plan should be completed by the fourth quarter; a civic engagement advisory committee should meet quarterly. Include deadlines for quarterly programmatic and financial reporting (June 30, 2014; September 30, 2014; December 31, 2014; March 31, 2015). Budget Please develop a budget using the following categories and definitions. Submit the Budget Form (available at www.icicp.org/ucei2apply) to summarize the budget, along with a detailed narrative describing all items in the budget. Salaries/benefits: This category may include salaries and benefits for university employees involved in the project, a civic engagement coordinator or director, faculty release time, and project administration or assistance. Supplies/equipment: This category may include general office supplies and materials needed to implement the project. List individually any single item costing US$500 or more. Any shared items (e.g., computer hardware or software, audio/visual equipment) must be prorated so that the costs to the project and specifically, the funds requested from Silatech and ICP reflect that portion of the equipment that will be used directly for the project. Curriculum development: This category may include funds to support small grants, release time, workshops, or materials for faculty members to integrate service learning and civic engagement into their courses. Service learning combines community service with classroom instruction, focusing on critical, reflective thinking as well as personal and civic responsibility. Training/technical assistance: This category may include funds for training and professional development of faculty, staff, administrators, students, and community partners, such as costs for consultants, trainers, speakers, conference attendance, travel, and training materials. Payments to individuals for consultant services may not exceed US$1,000 per day. Evaluation: This category may include funds to support efforts to track progress toward project outcomes, collect and analyze data, distribute evaluation or assessment tools, and solicit stakeholder feedback for continual project improvement. Outreach/dissemination: This category may include funds to promote the project and encourage participation by faculty, staff, administrators, students, partners, or other organizations. It also may include funds to produce, publish, and disseminate informational brochures, training materials, good practices guides, websites, videos, CDs/DVDs, social media, and other successful products of the project.
Travel: This category may include reasonable project- related travel and local transportation expenses for administrators, faculty, staff, and students. Administrative costs: This category may include indirect, overhead, or administrative costs. Costs are limited to 15% (US$3,000) of the grant amount. Grant Management Grant recipients must submit brief quarterly written progress reports, evaluation instruments, and quarterly financial reports. All recipients must maintain financial management systems that provide accurate, complete, and current disclosure of the financial results of the project. To meet this requirement, institutions must have adequate accounting practices and procedures, internal controls, audit trails, and cost allocation procedures. Universities must comply with audit documentation guidelines and retain complete records of invoices, receipts, travel documents, payroll registers, etc., for three years following the end of the grant. Acceptance of this grant will confirm a university s compliance with these responsibilities. Prohibited Activities Grant funds may not be used to influence legislation; organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; assist, promote, or deter union organizing; impair existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements; engage in any activity designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office; participate in or endorse events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials; or provide or engage in religious instruction, conduct worship services, or engage in any form of proselytism. In general, service activities must provide a direct benefit to a community. Activities that do not provide a direct benefit, such as clerical work, research, or fundraising for the project, may be performed if they are in support of a direct service; however, such activities may not be the primary focus of a project. About Silatech and ICP Silatech connects young people in the Arab world with improved opportunities for employment, enterprise and civic engagement. Silatech does this by mobilizing knowledge, investment, technology, and networks, and by influencing mindsets and policies that are key to unlocking wider impact. For more information, see www.silatech.com. Innovations in Civic Participation facilitates the generation of opportunities for young people to change their communities for the better and build essential skills for future success through civic engagement. Based in Washington, DC, ICP works with individuals, organizations, and groups around the globe to support the development of innovative
approaches to two civic participation strategies: national youth service and service learning. For more information, see www.icicp.org. How to Apply 1. Review the frequently asked questions and application form at www.icicp.org/ucei2apply. 2. Complete the application package in either English or Arabic: q q q q All information requested on the Application Form, including the electronic or scanned signatures of the university s chief executive officer and three team members. Narrative description of the proposed project (no more than five pages, double- spaced, one- inch margins, 12- point font) that addresses the items outlined in the Application Evaluation Criteria. Title each section of the narrative as follows: Program Design; Leadership and Institutional Capacity; Institutionalization and Strategic Planning; Innovation and Replicability. In the Program Design section, address the three primary goals (institutional strategic planning; institutional policies; blueprint of strategies and practices) and describe how the university plans to fulfill expectations. Budget Form with budget narrative (no more than two pages) explaining totals presented on the Budget Form. Items in the budget should reflect activities in the timeline and work plan in the Program Design section. One- page resume or curriculum vitae summary for each of the three proposed project team members. 3. Combine all of the documents listed above into a single PDF file and e- mail the complete application package to grobinson@icicp.org. Please use this format to name the file: UniversityName- app- Feb2014.pdf. Deadline: Thursday, February 20, 2014 Only e- mailed proposals will be accepted. Items that arrive separately from the complete application package will not be considered in the review process. Applicants will receive e- mail notification when submissions are received. Funding decisions will be announced by March 31, 2014. Disbursement of grant funds will be made in late March or early April 2014 (50%) and September 2014 (50%). Please direct questions to Susan Stroud, ICP executive director, at sstroud@icicp.org or 00-1-.