U.S. Mission Iraq Public Diplomacy Sections Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Mission to Iraq, through the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, has issued its Annual Program Statement under the funding opportunity number OFOP0001735. This discretionary grant program is intended to promote and strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and Iraq through cultural and educational programming. The overarching goal of this initiative is to enhance mutual understanding, promote U.S. values, and build people-to-people connections by supporting projects that foster cooperation and engagement in priority areas including cultural preservation, economic ties, investment promotion, and entrepreneurship development. This funding opportunity is a federal grant administered by the U.S. Department of State. It invites eligible organizations to submit proposals for programs that directly contribute to public diplomacy objectives. Specifically, funded programs must include an American cultural element or incorporate involvement from U.S.-based experts, institutions, or organizations. These elements are intended to help increase local understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives and to showcase U.S. excellence in various fields. The grant prioritizes projects that fall under the following thematic areas: showcasing U.S. excellence and values, strengthening U.S.-Iraqi economic ties, promoting investment in the U.S. economy, supporting entrepreneurship development in Iraq, and protecting and preserving Iraqi cultural heritage. Proposals that align with one or more of these themes and have strong implementation plans are encouraged to apply. All submitted projects must be designed to operate within Iraq, including the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Eligible applicants include U.S. and Iraqi not-for-profit organizations, civil society non-governmental organizations, public and private educational institutions, and public international organizations. Commercial entities and individuals affiliated with for-profit organizations are ineligible to apply. Each application will be reviewed quarterly, although applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the final deadline of August 30, 2025. The grant offers awards between $25,000 and $500,000, although the total program funding has not been specified. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Interested applicants must follow all submission instructions carefully and are encouraged to reach out to BaghdadPDGrants@state.gov with questions or access issues regarding the full announcement. As the opportunity is recurring and reviewed quarterly, applicants are encouraged to plan ahead and consider future submission opportunities if they cannot meet the current cycle. For further details and access to the full grant package, applicants should refer to the official announcement page hosted on Grants.gov under the listing number OFOP0001735. Given the competitive nature and thematic focus of this opportunity, applicants should prioritize relevance, clear U.S. linkages, and robust implementation plans to enhance their chances of selection.