The Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) are partnering to organize the 2nd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku. A key objective of this Forum is to highlight the need for practical initiatives that promote cultural diversity and coexistence among communities. The “Living Together Peacefully in a Diverse World” Prize seeks outstanding projects that have proven positive results and are protecting and enhancing cultural diversity.
Not-for-profit organizations including non-governmental organizations, charitable organizations, research and educational institutions, labor unions, indigenous groups, faith-based organizations, professional associations and foundations that contribute to living together peacefully in a diverse world from eligible countries are invited to apply.
PRIZES
Winners of the selection process will be awarded a monetary prize. The total amount of the prize pool is USD 28,000 distributed as follows:
1st prize: USD 10,000
2nd prize: USD 7,000
3rd prize: USD 6,000
4th prize: USD 5,000
The top four finalists will be invited to attend the 2nd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue that will take place from May 29th to June 1st, 2013, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The final ranking will be announced during the Award Ceremony.
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process for the “Living Together Peacefully in a Diverse World” Prize is guided by the principles of fairness, transparency and integrity. This process will consist in three main steps:
1. ELIGIBILITY SCREENING
- All applications will be rigorously assessed using the eligibility criteria (see below). Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria outlined in order to be deemed eligible and therefore considered.
1.1 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Projects implemented by non-for-profit organizations including non-governmental organizations, charitable organizations, research and educational institutions, labor unions, indigenous groups, faith-based organizations, professional associations and foundations that contribute to living together peacefully in a diverse world from eligible countries are invited to apply.
- Projects must implement approaches and methods to promote living together peacefully in a diverse world.
- Projects must have been operational for a minimum of 1 year with proven positive outcomes.
- The organization has not been previously awarded any of UNAOC grants or competitions, including but not limited to the Intercultural Innovation Award, Youth Solidarity Fund and Marketplace of Ideas.
- The project must be implemented in one of the following eligible regions:
Central Asia:
Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
States members of the League of Arab States:
Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
2. SHORTLISTING
- Based on the written applications, a maximum of 25 projects will be shortlisted by a pre-selection committee composed of members of the UNAOC.
- All applicants will be notified of their status by early May 2013.
- Shortlisted applicants will be required to provide further documentation.
3. SELECTION OF FINALISTS
- Four finalists will be selected by a jury composed of the following: members from the UNAOC, members from the Organizing Committee of the 2nd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue and experts. Applications will be assessed using the criteria outlined below.
- Finalists will be informed of the decision by mid-May 2013.
- Finalists will be invited to present their projects at the 2nd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue: “Living together peacefully in a diverse world”. The final decision on the ranking of the top 4 finalists will be announced during the Forum at the Award Ceremony.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
- Objectives: The project supports the objectives of the UNAOC, i.e. improve understanding and cooperative relations among nations and peoples across cultures and religions, and to help counter the forces that fuel polarization and extremism.
- Relevance: is appropriate to the local context and target audiences in which they are implemented.
- Quality: undertakes an in-depth analysis of problems/risks and sets a consistent intervention strategy.
- Clarity: sets clear objectives and draws a logical connection between activities, outputs and outcomes.
- Measurability: results of the intervention are assessable (i.e. number of beneficiaries, polls on attitude change, external assessments, etc.)
- Sustainability: demonstrates that the project has the potential to be sustainable in the mid-long term.
TIMELINE
- Thursday April 25th, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. ET: deadline for applications. Please note that all applications received after that deadline will not be considered (no exceptions granted). We encourage applicants to apply early. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
- Early May 2013, shortlisted projects will be notified.
- Mid-May, 2013: top four applications will be notified and invited to present their projects at the 2nd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue: “Living Together Peacefully in a Diverse World” that will take place from May 29th to June 1st, 2013, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The final decision of the jury regarding the ranking of the 4 finalists will be announced during the Forum at the Award Ceremony.