The U.S. Embassy Lome, through the U.S. Department of State, has released its Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Program Statement for its Public Diplomacy (PD) Program. This grant opportunity seeks to foster stronger cultural ties between the United States and Togo by supporting initiatives that enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. Projects are expected to highlight American culture or include engagement with U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions. The program is backed by FY25 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds and is open to a variety of applicant types including nonprofits, educational institutions, individuals, and governmental or international organizations.
The funding is focused on programs that can be completed within a 3 to 12-month time frame. Awards will range from $10,000 to $25,000, with a total of $60,000 available for distribution, contingent upon funding availability. The funding instrument may take the form of a grant, fixed amount award, or cooperative agreement, with cooperative agreements involving more active U.S. Embassy participation. Proposals are welcome from all five regions of Togo, and applicants must clearly define and justify their chosen target audiences.
The program prioritizes initiatives that align with key themes including Peace & Security, Democratic Institutions, and Economic Growth. This includes activities that promote peace and tolerance, civic engagement, democratic participation, entrepreneurship, and public-private partnerships. However, the grant excludes programs related to partisan politics, construction, religious activities, fundraising, lobbying, and several other restricted areas.
To apply, organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with SAM.gov. Individuals are exempt from this requirement. Only one proposal per organization is allowed, and all submissions must be in English, adhere to specific formatting requirements, and include a summary page, a proposal (maximum of four pages), budget justification, and relevant attachments such as resumes and letters of support. Applications must be submitted by email to LomePDGrants@state.gov. Mandatory federal forms SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B (when applicable) must also be included.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis according to a quarterly schedule, with the final application deadline set for July 31, 2025. Evaluation criteria include program idea quality, organizational capacity, clarity of planning, budget reasonableness, monitoring and evaluation plans, and sustainability. Awards will be administered by a designated Grants Officer and require submission of regular program and financial reports.
Questions about the application process can be directed to the Embassy via email at LomePDGrants@state.gov. The anticipated start date for awarded projects is February 2025. Although the grant is not automatically renewable, continuation may be considered based on performance, availability of funds, and alignment with U.S. Department of State priorities.
