Office of Sudan Affairs, PDS Annual Program Statement

The Office of Sudan Affairs (OSA), Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) at the U.S. Department of State, Embassy Khartoum, has released its Annual Program Statement (APS) for fiscal year 2025 under opportunity number PAS-Khartoum-FY25-01. The PDS Small Grants Program is designed to support initiatives that further U.S. foreign policy objectives and promote mutual understanding between the United States and Sudan. Funding for this opportunity comes from the Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds (Assistance Listing Number 19.040), and applications may be for grants, fixed amount awards (FAA), or cooperative agreements. The OSA expects award(s) to be issued before September 30, 2025. The performance period for funded projects ranges from 6 to 12 months, and projects should be completed within 12 months or less. While awards typically range from a minimum of $2,000 to a maximum of $25,000, exceptional proposals exceeding $25,000 may also be considered. The total available funding is subject to availability, and the actual number of awards will depend on funding levels and the quality of proposals. The main purpose of the APS is to support projects that promote U.S. policy, values, and perspectives in Sudan, with a focus on priority program areas. The eligible program areas include: promoting women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and STEM; promoting humanitarian assistance and civilian protection; promoting civic education and engagement; promoting media capacity building; promoting human rights awareness and advocacy; and promoting peace through the arts, including any of these themes promoted via the arts. Proposed projects must reference American experts, organizations, or institutions and must foster understanding of U.S. policies or perspectives. Additionally, applications must demonstrate how program results will be measured and reported, and regular updates must be provided to the OSA. Programs must also include risk assessments and monitoring plans, particularly for projects inside Sudan due to the security context. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to registered not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs with programming experience), cultural organizations, non-profit or government educational institutions, and government institutions. For-profit entities and individuals are not eligible. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov and a valid SAM.gov registration. Only one proposal per organization is allowed, and multiple proposals from a single entity will render all submissions ineligible. While cost sharing is welcomed, it is not required. Applications must be submitted in English and include a completed SF-424 (or SF-424-I), SF-424A, and, where applicable, SF-424B forms, all available at grants.gov. The proposal itself (maximum six pages) should include a summary, organizational introduction, problem statement, program goals and objectives, activities, methods, timeline, key personnel, partners, monitoring and evaluation plan, and a plan for future funding or sustainability. A detailed budget justification, CVs of key personnel, letters of support from partners, and, if applicable, a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and required permission letters should also be included. All application materials must be submitted by email to KhartoumEmbassyGrants@state.gov. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling schedule with two main rounds: the first round deadline is March 15, 2025, and the second round deadline is May 31, 2025. Reviews and responses will be sent by March 15 and May 31, respectively, with no applications accepted after May 31, 2025. Review criteria include organizational capacity, program feasibility, U.S. component, local participation, goals and objectives alignment with OSA priorities, budget adequacy, monitoring and evaluation plan, communication and outreach, and sustainability of activities. The application will be evaluated by an OSA grants review committee, and risk factors such as financial stability, management standards, performance history, and audit findings will be considered. Award notices will be communicated by email. Selected recipients may only begin incurring costs upon receipt of a signed award agreement. Recipients are required to submit regular financial and performance reports per the terms outlined in the award documentation. Questions regarding the process may be directed to KhartoumEmbassyGrants@state.gov; however, pre-application consultation is limited, and OSA staff cannot discuss the competition during the review period. All applicants must comply with relevant federal laws and anti-discrimination requirements as outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and 2 CFR 200.

Applications should clearly address OSA priorities, show measurable results, and provide strong monitoring and evaluation plans. Regular reporting and a clear U.S. component are necessary.