Grants for Public and State controlled institutions of higher education - International Development

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Consulate General in Erbil of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to build capacity among various civil society groups in support of diverse goals. Priority Region: Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR). Program Objectives: This is an omnibus grant with six distinct objectives and target audiences. 1) Law school students from rural universities (University of Raparin, University of Garmian, Soran University, Halabja University, and Koya University) in the IKR have few opportunities to engage with civil society and learn about the actual implementation of human rights-related laws and norms. Directly connecting them via paid internships with local civil society organizations (CSOs) to help them understand CSOs work helps ensure that rural residents in need of legal services will have better prepared legal counsel, who can help connect those clients in need to local CSOs able to support their needs beyond legal services, in support of overall human rights objectives. It also helps provide rural CSOs in need of legal services with legal teams better prepared to represent them in court. 2) Human rights related NGOs are typically operated by individuals with few opportunities for professional development or training, and as a result are largely ineffective at fundraising and lobbying. Providing training to smaller, more rural, and/or newer CSOs on advocacy and lobbying techniques, fundraising best practices, strategic planning, and leadership and management best practices will yield more effective CSOs better able to advocate for democratic advancement within the IKR. 3) Few IKR-based journalists attend journalism school, and journalism school students often graduate without effective understanding of tradecraft and ethics, yielding a media environment in which biased and substandard reporting are common, with a lack of fact checking, multiple sourcing, or other tradecraft skills. Providing training to journalists with fewer than 5 years of experience or journalism students will help rectify this issue. 4) Understanding of modern water management techniques in the IKR is limited, even among specialist academics and practitioners, leading to significant agricultural production issues in the face of climate change-related drought. Helping environmental or agricultural CSOs better understand these techniques, as well as best practices in community advocacy, can help them spread these techniques to major water users including the agricultural sector, reducing overall demand for water. 5) Similarly, environmental-focused academics have a key role to play in advising the government as to the best policies for improving overall water management within the IKR. Organizing a symposium or conference for water management and environmental science professors, academics, and industry leaders can help them come up with specific suggestions for implementation by both industry and the Kurdistan Regional Government. 6) Finally, students with disabilities including but not limited to ADHD and autism spectrum disorder often face both social exclusion and a lack of preparedness on the part of teachers and schools to effectively teach such students. Training employees of the KRG Ministry of Educations Training and Curriculum Development department on best practices in this field will help spread this knowledge throughout the IKRs teachers and ensure better outcomes for students with disabilities. Above-mentioned programs should be designed in a way that they strengthen cultural ties between the United States and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region through programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institutions in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Such inclusion may consist of U.S.-developed materials or resources, virtual speakers, or using key examples from the United States to advance outcomes. Participants and Audiences: Minimum envisioned outcomes: (1) 25 total rural law school students from at least three of the aforementioned universities; (2) 25 human rights advocates from smaller/newer NGOs; (3) 25 newer journalists or journalism school students representing the IKRs diversity; (4) 25 civil society activists from environmental organizations; (5) 25 academics working on water management or environmental issues; (6) 10 employees from the KRG Ministry of Educations Training and Curriculum Development department.

This funding opportunity supports U.S.-based nonprofit organizations or academic institutions to plan and execute a leadership summit for 50 emerging youth leaders from the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, focusing on trilateral cooperation and addressing security and economic challenges.

U.S. Embassy Guatemalas Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce funding now available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This Annual Program Statement outlines our funding priorities, the strategic themes on which we focus, and procedures for submitting funding requests. Please follow carefully all instructions below. Purpose of Small Grants: PDS Guatemala invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural, educational, professional, and/or scientific ties between the United States and Guatemala through cultural, educational, and/or exchange programming that highlights our shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural or educational element, or connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

The United States Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of International Visitors (ECA/PE/V) announces an open competition for the FY 2025 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) International Airport Arrivals and Departures Program, pending the availability of FY 2025 funds. Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the United States and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging leaders. These visits support U.S. foreign policy goals and reflect the participants professional interests.Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations and educational institutions in developing projects that promote environmental preservation and economic opportunities in the Congo Basin, while engaging local communities and protecting indigenous peoples.

This funding opportunity supports projects that preserve Kenya's cultural heritage, including historic sites, museum collections, and traditional practices, targeting eligible educational institutions, NGOs, and organizations dedicated to cultural preservation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. and Paraguayan non-profit organizations and individuals to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of community programs in Paraguay through data analysis, training, and accountability measures.

The U.S. Embassy Tashkent Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to implement the English Access Scholarship Program. The goal of the Access Program is to equip talented students who possess a minimal knowledge of English with effective communication and critical thinking skills through meaningful interaction, cooperative learning strategies, and real-life contexts. Additionally, Access seeks to prepare students for conversational English language skills with native and non-native speakers of English through a variety of experiential learning activities. Selected participants must be bright, economically disadvantaged students with a beginning level of English. Participants should commit to enroll in classes during the full two-year program. Students are expected to graduate with certificates of completion from the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan at the end of their two-year program. Applicants may submit proposals to manage one Access location, however, preference will be given to organizations willing to manage and implement several existing Access and Access Satellite Center locations across Uzbekistan. The selected implementer(s) must be willing to work with the existing Access and Access Satellite Center location(s) and venue(s) with the understanding that they would be responsible for recruiting participants and for ensuring those locations and venues meet the standards of the program. Organizations with previous experience and a capacity of working with educational institutions on a national level will be given priority. This experience should be documented in the organizations proposal.

The U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to carry out its U.S. Speaker Program. The Speaker Program brings dynamic U.S. citizen experts to North Macedonia to engage professional and student audiences throughout the country on topics of strategic importance to the United States and North Macedonia. Specifically, the program seeks to engage local audiences on rule of law reforms; judicial independence; government accountability and transparency; professional journalism practices; combating foreign malign influence; cybersecurity; climate and security issues; diversity, equity, and inclusion; encouraging civic action at the local and community level; culture, arts, and advancing womens economic empowerment through the shared knowledge, expertise, and know-how of U.S. experts. The program also seeks to establish concrete networking and contact-building opportunities among U.S. experts and local audiences. Programs may take place in person or virtually. We highly recommend potential applicants collaborate and coordinate with project partners in North Macedonia in order to implement the requested programs successfully. We expect to select one or more program implementers for grant awards of up to $50,000. U.S. Speakers address strategic policy priorities identified by the U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia. The U.S. Speaker Program promotes an understanding of U.S. policies and institutions as well as the political, economic, and social context from which they arise. Speakers can be programmed with a variety of professional audiences in a wide range of disciplines. In this regard, the U.S. Speaker Program intends to support the overall PAS outreach strategy, which focuses on two defined audiences: established leaders and emerging voices. For more details on the program target audience and their definitions, see below under the Participants and Audiences subheading.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy in Panama of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to administer a Panama Exchange Alumni Seminar with a networking reception for former participants of U.S. government-sponsored and U.S. government facilitated people-to-people exchange program alumni (exchange alumni) in Panama. The cooperative agreement includes a micro grants component to help participants take concrete actions as a result of their seminar experiences. Purpose: The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to enhance the U.S. Embassys engagement with exchange alumni in support of U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy objectives. During the course of this award, the award recipient will conduct one seminar on the thematic topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a particular focus on the use of AI to promote equity and inclusion and organize an alumni networking reception to celebrate the impact of exchange alumni in Panama. The award recipient will also manage a competitive small grants program for teams of seminar participants that builds on the seminar theme and empowers seminar participants to be catalysts and force multipliers on the seminar theme within local communities. The U.S. Embassy leads and coordinates efforts to maintain relationships with Panamanian exchange alumni. With over 4,000 exchange alumni in Panama, U.S. Embassy Panama is committed to providing resources to sustain engagement with and tap into the energy, enthusiasm, and expertise of this influential audience; most are established or emerging leaders in their fields of interest. The U.S. Embassy supports alumni programs that are strategic and designed to reinforce U.S. foreign policy objectives.

This funding opportunity supports U.S.-based organizations in creating exchange programs for Russian youth, promoting leadership, civic engagement, and environmental sustainability through immersive experiences in the United States.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for initiatives that promote collaboration and peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians, focusing on grassroots partnerships and addressing shared challenges.

PD Eswatini invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Eswatini through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Examples of PD Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to: Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs; Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions; Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs; Professional and academic exchanges and programs; Programs developed by an alumnus of a U.S.-sponsored or supported educational or professional exchange program.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations and other eligible entities to promote human rights and accountability in North Korea through innovative and inclusive programs.

Purpose of Small Grants:The U.S. Embassys Public Affairs Section (PAS) in Jakarta invites proposals for projects that further and support the strategic partnership between Indonesia and the U.S. through educational, cultural, informational, and media programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural or media-related element, or a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.Examples of small grants projects include but are not limited to: Educational seminars, and expert speaker programs; Professional and academic exchanges and projects; Professional development workshops and training; Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; and Cultural heritage conservation and preservation projects.

This grant provides funding to empower and support women entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by equipping them with essential business skills, resources, and networking opportunities to help grow their businesses.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe U.S. Consulate General in Erbil of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to build capacity among social media influencers, journalists, and journalism students in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) and Kirkuk governorate. Please follow all instructions below.Priority Region: Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Priority will be given to projects which include audiences from outside the three major cities of Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimani. Program Objectives: The rise of AI-generated disinformation poses significant concerns to the ability of the public and media to fairly and accurately report on current events, given the ability of bots to spread information, and deepfakes to make it extraordinarily difficult to tell truth from fiction putting democracy itself at risk. This program will train 15 social media influencers and 100 newly minted journalists (fewer than 5 years of service) or journalism students on how AI is used to produce and disseminate disinformation, how to recognize disinformation, and how to explain this in clear language to their audiences without scare tactics, in a way that empowers audiences rather than demoralizes them. Influencers should, as a result, create at least two pieces of unique content on disinformation for their audiences; journalists and journalism students should write and publish at least two stories on disinformation. Participants and Audiences:This program envisions two separate trainings: one focused on 15 significant social media influencers (minimum numbers of followers to be determined), and one for 100 journalism students or journalists with fewer than 5 years of service.

This grant provides funding for U.S. and Luxembourg-based organizations to develop innovative STEM and space education projects that strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

Funding Opportunity Title: Trilateral Women in Security Funding Opportunity Number: PD-SEOUL-FY24-06 Deadline for Applications: August 12, 2024, 11:59 p.m. GMT+9 CFDA Number: 19.040 Total Amount Available: $180,000 This notice is subject to availability of funding. A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The United States is deeply committed to advancing gender equity and equality as a critical element of peace and security. The security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region depends on the meaningful integration of women security experts, particularly in the joint cooperation between the United States, Korea, and Japan. To promote this vital cooperation, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul seeks proposals from organizations (preferably Korea-based or in collaboration with a Korea-based organization) to gather five female-identifying experts from both Korea and Japan (a total of ten) to explore the importance of trilateral cooperation in achieving mutual prosperity and security in the region. The selected grantee will coordinate closely with the U.S. embassies in Seoul and Tokyo to design and implement this two-way exchange program to encourage discussion on shared security priorities and effective trilateral engagement. The grantee will also facilitate the publication of any key outcomes following the program, targeting security and foreign policy experts in both countries. Key Themes This program represents the second year of Embassy Seouls Trilateral Women in Security Program (TWIS). While the 2023-2024 iteration of the program focused broadly on trilateral U.S.- Korea-Japan security cooperation, this iteration of the program should promote themes related to trilateral U.S.-Korea- Japan security cooperation on the below issues: o Maritime security. o Critical and emerging technologies: Safeguarding responsible usage of critical and emerging technologies like cyber and space. o AI and Disinformation: Countering the weaponization of Artificial Intelligence and addressing the increasing national security threats posed by foreign information manipulation. Outputs/Outcomes Ten opinion leaders from Korea and Japan will participate in this year-long grant program, including virtual topic-based discussions, exchange activities in Korea and Japan, and the publication of advisory papers and articles detailing lessons learned from the program for secondary audiences. Details/Logistics This is a cooperative agreement. The selected grantee will work closely with U.S. Embassy Seoul and U.S. Embassy Tokyo to develop and manage the program schedule, identify participants, and design on-the-ground exchange activities. The program participants are expected to gather virtually once a month to develop a forward-looking agenda for U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation. Program participants should represent women in security, including experts in economic security, emerging technologies, Indo-Pacific Strategy and foreign policy. At the end of the program, participants should draft policy advisory papers, implement press interviews, publish columns in newspapers, and/or conduct public outreach programs to share their findings. Grantee Expectations Think tanks, research institutions, and academic associations are encouraged to apply. This project will facilitate in-depth discussions between Korean and Japanese participants and site visits to organizations in both countries, including ministries of foreign affairs, local research institutes, and other relevant sites. The grantee is expected to have close relations with stakeholders in Korea and Japan for effective communication, planning, and execution. Note: Not mandatory, but you may use the templates provided here: Proposal Template / Budget Template All application materials must be submitted by email to [email protected]

This funding opportunity provides financial support for a variety of organizations to promote American culture, sports, and innovation in El Salvador, fostering stronger bilateral relations and cultural exchange.