U.S. Embassy Praia PAS Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Embassy in Praia, under the Department of State, has announced its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program through funding opportunity PAS-PRAIA-FY25-01. This program is administered by the Public Diplomacy Section and is designed to foster mutual understanding and collaboration between the United States and Cabo Verde. The program supports initiatives that align with U.S. foreign policy priorities, including democratic governance, economic growth, cultural exchange, and security cooperation. All proposed projects must incorporate an American cultural element or a direct connection to American experts, organizations, or institutions. This grant opportunity offers funding under several U.S. Public Diplomacy fund sources, including FY25 Smith-Mundt and FY25 Fulbright Hays Public Diplomacy Funds. Funding will be provided through grants, fixed amount awards (FAAs), or cooperative agreements, each with varying levels of U.S. Mission involvement in implementation. Projects must be completed within a period of 12 to 18 months. The anticipated start date for selected projects is August 25, 2025. A total of approximately $30,000 is available, with awards ranging between $2,000 and $10,000 depending on the proposal and funding availability. Up to 10 awards are expected to be distributed. Eligible applicants include U.S. and Cabo Verdean not-for-profit organizations, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. For-profit entities and individuals are not eligible. Applicants must possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. Only one application per organization is permitted, and submission of multiple applications will disqualify the organization. Applications must be submitted in English and include mandatory federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B), a detailed proposal of up to 10 pages, a budget justification narrative, CVs for key personnel, and supporting documentation. Proposals should address clear goals, objectives, project design, sustainability plans, and a monitoring and evaluation framework. Documents must be formatted according to specified standards, and applications should be emailed to praiagrants@state.gov or submitted via Grants.gov. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CVT. Proposals will be reviewed and scored based on six key criteria: program idea quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity and past performance (20 points), ability to achieve objectives (15 points), budget clarity and realism (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plans (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). The review process also includes a risk assessment in accordance with 2 CFR 200.206. Final award decisions will be made by a designated Grants Officer, and funding will be disbursed in at least two installments based on reporting requirements and approved expenditures. Applicants must comply with all applicable federal laws and executive guidance, including those concerning non-discrimination, anti-trafficking, and transparency. Programs may not use funds for alcoholic beverages or to support activities associated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Reporting and data tracking will be required as outlined in the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR) framework. Questions regarding the program should be directed to praiagrants@state.gov.

Proposals must be in English, budgets in USD, and documents formatted to U.S. letter size. Only one proposal per organization will be considered.