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Russian Civic Networking Program (RCNP) - Application Guidelines
The recipients the first RCNP grant were the Samara Civic Network, the
Chelyabinsk Civic Network and the Sergiev-Posad Civic Network. This
decision was reached in December of 1997 and the project began in February
of 1998. The overall quality of the 1997 proposals was excellent, far
surpassing anything that we had anticipated and the decision to choose
these three proposals was a most difficult one.
We recognize that the "Invitation for Partnership" for the Russian Civic
Networking Program (RCNP) is long, presents a lot of material and perhaps
presents as overwhelming the task of submitting a proposal. To help make
this task simpler, we present some basic guidelines below and a suggested
outline for your proposal. While not required, we feel that following this
outline format and guidelines will help you submit the best possible
proposal.
Please know that the "Friends and Partners" organization wishes to help you
submit the best possible proposal and is very glad to help you with any
questions. Please direct your comments and questions to:
[email protected].
General Recommendations . .
The application (excluding budget and supporting materials) should
generally be no longer than 15-20 pages, single-spaced, using a
reasonably-sized font. However, if you feel you need more space to
describe your program, it is acceptable. There is no suggested limit on
the length of supporting materials.
Because proposal reviewers will be in both Russia and the U.S., the
proposal must be submitted in both the Russian and English languages
(excluding the "supporting material" section). If this requirement makes
it impossible for you to submit a proposal, please write us at the
address mentioned above.
Proposals will consist of 4 main parts:
- Program Summary.
Generally, 1-2 pages.
- Program Detail.
15-20 pages. Will consist of 5
main sections.
- Goals and objectives
- Proposed program activities
- Organizational infrastructure
- Technical infrastructure
- Summary and conclusion
- Budget.
3-4 pages.
- Supporting Material.
As long as needed.
These items are now explained in more detail below.
Please summarize the proposed program in 1-2 pages.
This is the narrative of the proposal and is where you will describe your
goals for the RCNP in your community, how you will accomplish those goals,
and why your community is well positioned for a successful community
network. It should be presented in the following 5 main sections:
- The goals and objectives of the civic network program in your
community. Be very specific about what your community hopes to
accomplish with this program. Why is your community interested in the
program? What specific needs of the community will the program address?
What results will show success? (i.e., how you will know if you've been
successful?)
- Proposed program activities
- Program promotion. How will the local public learn about and
contribute to the civic networking project?
- Training activities (technical and non-technical)
- Creation/publication of local information and resources. This is very
important. How will local organizations be able to publish, maintain,
and update their own information resources?
Every proposal should also address the inclusion of local government
information - local offices, local services, elected officials and their
responsibilities, etc. How will this information be gathered and kept
up-to-date?
- Collaboration with existing programs and initiatives
- Community networking and organizing activities
- Other supporting activities and events. For example, what special
activities and events can be planned to make the civic network
interesting for the local public? Be creative here . . .
- Timeline for program activities
- Statement of community organizational/institutional infrastructure.
- Proposed governance structure, including possible organizations and
institutions represented in the governing board
- Proposed staffing structure
- Proposed partnerships and collaboration with existing initiatives
- Proposed technical infrastructure and connectivity
- Detailed description of existing technical infrastructure,
including both commercial and non-commercial Internet Service/access
providers
- Description of proposed community network technical infrastructure
- Description of method by which local organizations and individuals will
connect to the network
- Description of method by which the network will connect to the
Internet, including explanation as to the choice of Internet service
provider
- Possible location of public access center(s). Where will they be
located? At what times will they be open to the public? How will they be
managed and staffed?
- Timeline for infrastructure development
- Summary and Conclusion.
In the summary, please indicate again how you will determine if the civic
networking project has been successful.
Please include both; detailed budget worksheets (indicating expenses in all
indicated categories) and a narrative explanation of your budget, your
categories and how you arrived at the numbers indicated in the budget
detail. Please explain in detail the nature and source of all cost-sharing
(please read carefully the section below, "A word
about cost-sharing.").
Please provide specific budget numbers in the following categories.
- Administrative costs
- Salaries: include title, percentage of time (hours/week), rate paid
- Rental of facilities
- Telephone/fax/postage (monthly)
- Office supplies
- Other miscellaneous administrative costs
- Program costs
- Staff travel: include number of trips at estimated cost per trip.
This does not include the international travel for 2-3 participants to the
US for the planning conference, which will be provided for by Friends and
Partners.
- Technical and equipment costs: This excludes the general computer
package which will be provided by Friends and Partners (2 UNIX servers,
back-up equipment, power conditioners, basic telecommunications equipment
to handle a dial-in pool, 2 public access workstations, one public
publishing station including scanner and other necessary peripheral
equipment)
- Internet access, including traffic and connection method
(for example: hardwiring, radio modems, or leased line)
- Additional public access terminals and related networking materials
- Telephone lines for dial-in modem pool: no fewer than 8 lines
- Program activities: This will depend highly on the nature of the
activities envisioned. Constructive cost-sharing will demonstrate strong
capacity on behalf of the applicant. Some sub-categories for possible
inclusion here include:
- Training (for staff, organizations and end-users)
- Events
- Regional travel
- Projects
- Publications and materials
- Promotion
A word about cost-sharing . . .
Please include all anticipated cost-sharing, including source of
cost-sharing, nature of cost-sharing (in-kind contribution, donation of
resources and/or materials, cash donations).
It is expected that cost-sharing should reflect roughly 50% of the
overall program budget. Cost-sharing is highly recommended in the
following categories:
- additional equipment to be used as public access sites;
- telecommunications access;
- partial salary support;
- donation of educational and/or training materials;
- program activities.
All cited cost-sharing should be documented by letters of support from
the contributing parties. Cost-sharing should be distributed in a
balanced manner to show financial commitment on the part of consortium
members. No one (or few) organizations should bear the burden of the
majority of cost-sharing. This budget summary will demonstrate the
creativity and broad commitment of the applying consortium.
We encourage applicants to demonstrate the strength of their consortium
and their community ties in the supporting materials provided. The
following specific items should be included.
- Letter of support from lead organization
- Additional Letters of Support
Letters of support should not merely state a willingness to
participate, but rather, offer concrete suggestions as to what
forms that participation may occur. Letters should address the
reasons organizations, institutions and/or individuals wish to
become involved, what they have to offer to the program and
what they hope to gain from involvement.
Strong letters of support will include specific, detailed ideas and
suggested activities. At least one letter should come from the
Internet service provider through which you proposed to connect
the civic network. Other possible sources for letters of support
include: members of the applying consortium; representatives
from other community groups and organizations; educators;
health care professionals; public safety officers; local
government officials and ministry representatives; local
business and commercial representatives; other Internet access
providers; interested individuals; potential volunteers and
trainers.
- copy of the charter (ustav) of organization
- copy of certification of registration this organization
- copy of all documents from GOSKOMSTAT showing that your organization
has all appropriate code
- copy of account report to tax department for the latest reporting period
- copy of audit report ( if available))
- Diagram of proposed technical structure of the community
network:
Please include a pictorial representation and brief narrative
explanation as to the proposed technical infrastructure
underlying the civic network. Be sure to include how local
organizations and individuals will connect, as well as how the civic
network will connect to the Internet.
- Background on consortium members:
Please include 1-2 paragraphs about each member organization
of the applying consortium. This should include the group's
mission statement and history, previous grants or awards in
related fields, and the experience and expertise they bring to the
consortium.
- Brief biographic information on application authors:
Please include a resume (vitae) on each application author. It
should indicate their organizational affiliation and any
background experience, publications, etc. that are relevant to
this project.
Please remember, all questions must be submitted by email to:
[email protected].
Natasha Bulashova, President
Friends and Partners, Russia
Friends and Partners Foundation,
Russia Moscow, 125252,
Kuusenena Str., 21 B, CIIC,
office 117
email:
[email protected]
Greg Cole, Director
Center for International Networking Initiatives
The University of Tennessee
Phone: (423) 974-7277 Fax: (423) 974-8022
email: [email protected]
[English]
[Russian
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