2023-05394. 60-Day Notice for the “IAF Grant Application Concept Note”

AGENCY:

Inter-American Foundation.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), as part of its continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps ensure that requested data is provided in the desired format; reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized; collection instruments are clearly understood; and the impact of collection requirements on respondents is properly assessed. Currently, the IAF is soliciting comments concerning the information collection of the grant application concept note. The purpose of this form is to reduce the time needed to submit and review a proposal for IAF grant funds. Proponents spend a lot of time completing a proposal for grant funds, and IAF Foundation Representatives spend a lot of time reviewing proposals. Internal staff members are not able to read through all the proposals received each year as a result of the volume of submissions and the length of the materials. Given the high proportion of proposals that do not progress to the “pre-selected” phase of the review process, there is an opportunity to streamline the initial application requirements to only require the key information a Foundation Representative needs to decide whether or not a project is viable for IAF to fund.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the address section below within 60 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register .

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Natalia Mandrus, Inter-American Foundation, via email to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The IAF is particularly interested in comments which:

—Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

—Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

—Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

—Can help the agency minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Nicole Stinson,

Associate General Counsel.