U.S. Embassy Libreville PDS Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Embassy in Libreville, through its Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), has announced the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Program Statement (APS) to fund small-scale public diplomacy projects. This opportunity aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and Gabon by supporting programs that align with U.S. foreign policy goals and highlight shared values. Administered under the AF Bureau of the U.S. Department of State, this APS utilizes Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds to support up to seven projects with awards ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The total available funding is $40,000, and projects are expected to be completed within 12 months. The initiative supports innovative ideas that contribute to a safer, stronger, and more prosperous United States and Gabon, and reflects values such as entrepreneurship, English language development, and cultural preservation. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as nonprofit organizations, educational institutions (both public and private), individuals, public international organizations, and government institutions. For-profit entities are not eligible. Importantly, individuals are not required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) or be registered in SAM.gov, while organizations must meet both requirements. No cost-sharing or matching is required. All proposed activities must be closely linked to U.S. foreign policy goals and are expected to focus on areas including the promotion of an attractive business environment, support for sustainable economic growth, expansion of English language resources, and cultural preservation initiatives. Programs that qualify under this APS may include English language instruction, entrepreneurship training, academic and professional seminars, speaker exchanges, cultural exhibitions, and heritage preservation efforts. However, the grant does not support political activities, charitable donations, construction, religious events, lobbying, institutional growth, or scientific research. Applications must demonstrate clear goals and measurable objectives, a feasible project design, and sustainable impacts beyond the funding period. A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan is also required to assess progress and outcomes throughout the life of the grant. Applicants are required to submit a complete application package including relevant SF-424 forms, a five-page proposal, a detailed budget narrative, and key supporting documents such as resumes of key personnel and letters of support. Submissions must be in English, follow formatting guidelines, and be emailed to librevillepd@state.gov. All proposals are due by 17:30 on August 22, 2025. Results will be communicated by September 1, 2025, and the anticipated project start date is October 2025. All forms, including SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B (for individuals), can be accessed at grants.gov. Proposals will be evaluated based on several criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (30 points), organizational capacity and past grant performance (20 points), clarity and viability of the project plan (15 points), reasonableness of the budget (10 points), strength of monitoring and evaluation (15 points), and program sustainability (10 points). The review committee will also consider potential financial risks before issuing awards. Successful applicants must follow all federal regulations outlined in 2 CFR 200, including terms related to anti-discrimination, religious liberty, and financial transparency. Award notices will be issued in writing by the Grants Officer, and costs can only be incurred once the award is signed. Payments are made using the SF-270 form. Recipients must comply with reporting requirements for financial and programmatic progress. Data must also be maintained in line with the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR) framework. The opportunity does not support any funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and all activities must comply with Executive Order 14173 on anti-discrimination. This APS remains subject to funding availability and is intended for applicants committed to advancing U.S.-Gabon collaboration through meaningful, policy-aligned programming.