Description
Executive Summary: The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to oversee the administration and activities of the Edward M. Kennedy Center for Public Services and the Arts (EMK Center). The center is the U.S. Mission’s premier venue for cultural and educational programs, located in the artistic, cultural, and educational hub of Bangladesh’s capital. The EMK Center advances U.S. Public Diplomacy goals in seeking to provide Bangladeshi youth and young professionals with a platform to engage in open discussion, develop critical skills, engage in creative and innovative projects, and build bridges of understanding between the people of Bangladesh and the United States through the exchange of culture, ideas, and values. The recipient organization will be responsible for staffing and operating the EMK Center in close cooperation with the Public Diplomacy Section of U.S. Embassy Dhaka (PDS). Key program activities under this cooperative agreement include managing Bangladeshi staff with expertise in program management; implementing EducationUSA advising; conducting programs in STEM, videography, photography, and other relevant fields; purchasing and maintaining all technology, equipment, materials, and supplies needed to support in-person and virtual (remote) engagement with Bangladeshi audiences; developing and executing a flexible, dynamic, and diverse monthly program schedule in collaboration with PDS; and encouraging EMK Center visitors to regularly attend Embassy-sponsored activities. Background: The EMK Center is one of more than 600 American Spaces across the world supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State. American Spaces serve to build bridges between the people of the United States and other countries through various programs and events. All American Spaces support five core programs: English language programs, alumni engagement, educational advising on U.S. higher education, cultural programming, and access to information about the United States. The spaces exemplify the U.S. commitment to a core tenet of democracy: the citizen’s right to free access to information. As the largest American Space in South Asia, the EMK Center conducts robust programming aimed at engaging Bangladeshi youth on a wide array of topics, including U.S. history and culture, English language learning, STEM and entrepreneurship, U.S. higher education opportunities, and Department of State exchange programs. Established in September 2012, the EMK Center has been engaging, inspiring, connecting, and empowering Bangladeshi citizens of all ages to better themselves, their communities, and our world. The EMK Center engages and connects both young and established leaders to encourage positive change through public service and volunteerism. The annual programs and activities are designed by the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) and EMK Center, reflecting both countries’ broader mission in establishing an equal and empowered society. Annually, the EMK Center organizes an average of over 500 programs and/or events on topics such as democratic governance, human rights, inclusive entrepreneurship, gender equality, preservation of arts and culture, and STEM education—all while engaging diverse audiences from throughout the country. Each year, the center also oversees a series of thematic campaigns focused on topics such as promoting diversity and inclusion, gender equality, and promoting STEM education. All services and events are free to the public.