Grants for Private institutions of higher education - Federal

The United States Department of Agricultures (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is announcing the availability of cooperative agreement funding to carry out the Antimicrobial Resistance Dashboard (AMR Dashboard) as described in the U.S. House of Representatives Report for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2021. Through public-private partnerships, USDA APHIS will develop and utilize antimicrobial resistance dashboard tools to improve access to information on antimicrobial resistance in domesticated animals, including livestock, poultry, and companion animals. All antimicrobial resistance dashboard tools developed will provide data protections similar to the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act. Once created, the antimicrobial resistance dashboard tools will be used to monitor trends in antimicrobial resistance patterns, detect emerging resistance profiles, and better understand relationships between antimicrobial use and animal health management practices and antimicrobial resistance. Additional details about the program and this funding opportunity, including additional information for applicants, are available at USDA APHIS One Health Funding Opportunities.

This funding opportunity supports U.S.-based institutions conducting open-source scientific research to promote transparency and collaboration in space and Earth sciences.

This funding opportunity supports community projects in New England that aim to reduce environmental risks and improve public health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those in environmental justice areas.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for short-term projects that enhance local governance, infrastructure, education, and public safety in U.S. territories and freely associated states.

This funding opportunity supports organizations working to improve access to information and promote democracy and human rights in North Korea.

As a center of learning, innovation, and leadership that shapes and advances effective correctional practice and public policy, NIC is a vital partner in planning, developing, delivering, and supporting training focused on gender-responsive approaches to working with justice-involved women. NIC training helps correctional staff address the significant challenges they face regarding gender-informed facility operations, policies and procedures, and the development and implementation of evidence-based programs and services that meet womens needs. The growth of knowledge about the types of women who may need to be considered in an agencys response to women and the management strategies that may be most effective for working with this population has also led to advancements in training.This solicitation is for a proposal to enter into a 12-month cooperative agreement to coordinate and deliver two trainings each of Gender-Informed Practices in the Management of Womens Prisons and Justice-Involved Women: Developing an Agencywide Approach, two training programs that address the importance of gender-responsive intervention in a correctional facility.

Agency Name: Army Research Office The Department of Defense (DoD) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), one element of the University Research Initiatives (URI), is sponsored by the DoD research offices. Those offices include the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) (hereafter collectively referred to as "DoD agencies#8220;DoD). This publication constitutes a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) as contemplated in the Department of Defense Grants and Agreements regulations (DoDGARS) 32 CFR 22.315(a). The DoD agencies reserve the right to fund all, some, or none of the proposals received under this FOA. The DoD agencies provide no funding for direct reimbursement of proposal development costs. Technical and budget proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this FOA will not be returned. It is the policy of the DoD agencies to treat all white papers and proposals submitted under this FOA as sensitive competitive information and to disclose their contents only for the purposes of evaluation. A formal Request for Proposals (RFP), solicitation, and/or additional information regarding this announcement will not be issued. DoD's MURI program addresses high-risk basic research and attempts to understand or achieve something that has never been done before. The program was initiated over 35 years ago and it has regularly produced significant scientific breakthroughs with far reaching consequences to the fields of science, economic growth, and revolutionary new military technologies. Key to the programs success is the close management of the MURI projects by Service Program Officers and their active role in providing research guidance. Awards will take the form of grants. FOR ARO SUBMISSIONS ONLY, awards will take the form of grants and/or cooperative agreements. Any assistance instrument awarded under this announcement will be governed by the award terms and conditions that conform to DoDs implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars applicable to financial assistance. Terms and conditions will reflect DoD implementation of OMB guidance in 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

Wastewater Based Epidemiology involves analyzing the chemical and biological components present in wastewater to gather information about the health and behavior of a population. Localities have used it to monitor drug consumption patterns in their communities and understand local drug usage trends. It holds promise for monitoring the emergence and geographic distribution of novel substances often referred to as emerging threats. In FY2023, the United States Government funded pilot WBE drug projects that collected wastewater samples in over 70 United States communities representing tens of millions of Americans. The samples were analyzed for parent drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, and metabolites. Researchers shared results with participating sampled communities, local and state partners, and to a limited extent, the government sponsors.

This program provides funding for organizations in Brazil to preserve important cultural heritage sites, objects, and traditions that are at risk of being lost.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations working to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in rural communities across the U.S.

This funding opportunity is designed to help organizations acquire and assess commercial satellite imagery to improve flood monitoring and response capabilities in Alaskan communities affected by climate change.

Executive Summary: Competitive proposals will show the capacity to manage both the PD operational/programmatic and ASSF programmatic activities at the Spaces. Thus, the most competitive applicants will submit at least two proposals, as appropriate. Furthermore, applicants demonstrating the capacity to manage multiple Spaces will be highly competitive. The recipient will receive significant Public Diplomacy Section input and assistance to ensure the programming under both awards meets U.S. Embassy Dushanbe goals and objectives. The expected date range for implementation of all projects is October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Please follow the instructions below for the application. Background American Spaces are the premier public diplomacy platform of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan that has been strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the people of Tajikistan and the United States of America for almost 21 years. The eight American Spaces in Tajikistan are located in Bokhtar, Dushanbe, Gharm, Isfara, Khorugh, Khujand, Kulob, and Panjakent and offer English resources and development opportunities to meet interests of diverse audiences, while also serving as gateways for Tajik citizens to learn about American society, culture and education. The American Spaces are well known in the community for their regular English-language activities, such as conversation groups with native speakers, workshops with visiting specialists, and regular presentations by Americans on U.S. life and culture. American Spaces operate based on the global standards of the American Spaces program. These standards mandate that every American Space offer programming in six core areas free of charge for all the participants: 1. English language teaching and learning: Increase English language proficiency and instructional skills of English language learners and English language teachers, particularly for underserved audiences by facilitating a wide range of programs (designed and delivered by American Space coordinators, USG grantees, and volunteer networks) that build the skills of English language teachers and promote English language learning. American Spaces provide access to English language speakers and professional development/teacher training resources provided by the State Department. 2. Information about the United States: Increase awareness and understanding of school and university students about American history, culture, and society through people-people diplomacy. American Spaces also offer collections of English books, videos, newspapers, magazines, photo galleries, and Internet access and ensure these collections remain accurate, up to date, and audience appropriate. 3. Educational advising: Increase the knowledge and skills of high-school students on higher education opportunities in the United States by providing accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date guidance on applying to U.S. colleges and universities. In collaboration with Education USA, American Spaces conduct virtual sessions providing accurate, comprehensive, current information about opportunities to study in the United States. American Spaces host students/ alumna of different exchange programs to talk about their study, life in the States, sharing tips from their personal experience. They also conduct essay writing clubs and TOEFL sessions for the student who seek opportunity to study in the States. 4. Alumni engagement: Support continuing engagement with alumni of U.S. exchange programs and cultural enrichment programs, connecting them to local audiences by sharing their U.S. experience and expertise to benefit the local communities. 5. Skills Building: Develop skills and increase capacity of the Tajik population to meet global challenges, mitigate crises, increase trade, support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and opportunity and strengthen resilience to economic, technological, environmental and other global challenges. American Spaces continue offering programs to meet interests of diverse audiences in the regions especially by organizing projects that promote English language, innovation, entrepreneurship, environmental protection, and gender equality in STEM, as well as teach skills such as critical thinking and media literacy, resume writing and job promotion, how to launch entrepreneurial or social development projects, how to use makerspace equipment to conduct projects. 6. Strategic Cultural Programs: Foster people-to-people connections, increase understanding and build respect towards the United States with Tajikistan audiences through cultural programs and holiday celebrations, that can include visual and performing arts, film, literature, health, food culture/cuisine, sports, science and technology, volunteerism, makerspace activities, environment, civil society, and entrepreneurship. The American Spaces in Tajikistan also actively partner with international and local organizations to conduct highly impactful programs. Funding Opportunity 1: Operational/Programmatic (PD): Competitive proposals will show a cost-share for space/rent or staffing. Competitive proposals will seek to maintain current Spaces locations or justify proposals to relocate to a new facility. Project Goal: Strengthen relationships, deepen trust, and expand people-to-people exchanges between the United States and Tajikistan. Objectives: Objective 1: Oversee and administer American Spaces operations within the allocated budget over a 12-month period, demonstrated by implementation of innovative solutions to technical and logistical challenges, maintenance of staffs high professional standards, and cost-efficient maintenance of spaces, while maintaining the modern aesthetic and accessibility standards of American Spaces. Provide skilled, innovative staff, comfortable with social media, to attract and work with public audiences. Objective 2: Increase the reach and engagement outreach to target American Spaces audiences by creating and launching a unified social media strategy within the second months of the programs implementation. Objective 3: Improve program management, reporting, and other professional skills of American Space Coordinators at six American Spaces through in-person and virtual professional development training and activities. a. Training topics may include but are not limited to: project planning, report writing techniques, methods on tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics, budget management, data collection tools and techniques, data analysis, social media management, graphic design and content development, customer service, first aid, etc. b. Offer free-of-charge skills building workshops and educational programs to showcase American culture, holidays, and traditions at six American Spaces of Tajikistan: Gharm, Isfara, Khorugh, Khujand, Kulob, Panjakent. Objective 4: Design and execute a range of diverse programming activities across six core areas of American Spaces (described above) at six American Spaces in Tajikistan: Gharm, Isfara, Khorugh, Khujand, Kulob, and Panjakent, demonstrated by sustained participation and increases in participant turnout. Funding Opportunity 2: Programmatic (ASSF) Goal: Strengthen relationships, deepen trust and expand people-to-people exchanges between the United States and Tajikistan through the promotion of the English language, providing a supportive and tolerant community to combat violent extremism, increasing regional connectivity, and promoting economic opportunities. Objective: Design and execute a range of diverse programmatic activities across six core areas of American Spaces (explained below) in alignment with Mission goals at eight American Spaces in Tajikistan, demonstrated by sustained participation and increases in participant turnout. 7. English language teaching and learning: Increase English language proficiency and instructional skills of English language learners and English language teachers, particularly for underserved audiences by facilitating a wide range of programs (designed and delivered by American Space coordinators, USG grantees, and volunteer networks) that build the skills of English language teachers and promote English language learning. American Spaces provide access to English language speakers and professional development/teacher training resources provided by the State Department. 8. Information about the United States: Increase awareness and understanding of school and university students about American history, culture, and society through people-people diplomacy. American Spaces also offer collections of English books, videos, newspapers, magazines, photo galleries, and Internet access and ensure these collections remain accurate, up to date, and audience appropriate. 9. Educational advising: Increase the knowledge and skills of high-school students on higher education opportunities in the United States by providing accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date guidance on applying to U.S. colleges and universities. In collaboration with Education USA, American Spaces conduct virtual sessions providing accurate, comprehensive, current information about opportunities to study in the United States. American Spaces host students/ alumna of different exchange programs to talk about their study, life in the States, sharing tips from their personal experience. They also conduct essay writing clubs and TOEFL sessions for the student who seek opportunity to study in the States. 10. Alumni engagement: Support continuing engagement with alumni of U.S. exchange programs and cultural enrichment programs, connecting them to local audiences by sharing their U.S. experience and expertise to benefit the local communities. 11. Skills Building: Develop skills and increase capacity of the Tajik population to meet global challenges, mitigate crises, increase trade, support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and opportunity and strengthen resilience to economic, technological, environmental and other global challenges. American Spaces continue offering programs to meet interests of diverse audiences in the regions especially by organizing projects that promote English language, innovation, entrepreneurship, environmental protection, and gender equality in STEM, as well as teach skills such as critical thinking and media literacy, resume writing and job promotion, how to launch entrepreneurial or social development projects, how to use makerspace equipment to conduct projects. 12. Strategic Cultural Programs: Foster people-to-people connections, increase understanding and build respect towards the United States with Tajikistan audiences through cultural programs and holiday celebrations, that can include visual and performing arts, film, literature, health, food culture/cuisine, sports, science and technology, volunteerism, makerspace activities, environment, civil society, and entrepreneurship. Expected Activities by SpaceActivities and overall budget listed below, to include administrative oversight, per Space has been pre-approved by the State Departments Office of American Spaces. Please access the detailed announcement from the related documents tab.

The DoD Kidney Cancer, Clinical Trial Award is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting the implementation of clinical trials that have the potential to significantly impact the treatment or management of kidney cancer, with a focus on new products, pharmacologic agents, devices, clinical guidance, and emerging approaches and technologies.

This initiative provides $52.5 million in cash awards to teams developing innovative technologies for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with a focus on promoting environmental equity and community benefits.

This program provides funding for initiatives that foster cultural, educational, and professional exchanges between the United States and Bahrain, targeting non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and individuals with a strong U.S. connection.

This funding opportunity is designed to support the establishment of collaborative research centers that enhance the study and treatment of bone, muscle, and orthopaedic conditions through shared resources and multidisciplinary approaches.

This funding opportunity supports organizations that provide free or low-cost tax assistance and education to low-income individuals and those with limited English proficiency, ensuring fair access to the tax system.

With a focus on enhancing research capacity and broadening participation of new faculty of biology at minority-serving institutions (MSIs), predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs), and other universities and colleges that are not among the nations most research-intensive institutions, the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) offers theBuilding Research Capacity of New Faculty in Biology(BRC-BIO) program. The BRC-BIO program aims to a) broaden participation by expanding the types of institutions that submit proposals to BIO, and b) expand opportunities to groups underrepresented in the biological sciences, including Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities, especially those serving at under-resourced institutions. Awards will provide the means for new faculty to initiate and build independent research programs by enhancing their research capacity. These projects might also include biology-focused research collaborations among faculty within the same institution, across peer-, or research-intensive institutions, or partnerships with industry or other non-academic partners that advance the candidates research program. By providing this funding opportunity, BIO recognizes the national urgency to broaden, strengthen, and diversify the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. In particular, these awards will build capacity for research at institutions that have a primary focus on teaching and undergraduate education, or that have limited capacity for research. Projects should enable the establishment of sustainable research programs for faculty and also enrich undergraduate research experiences and thereby grow the STEM workforce. BRC-BIO welcomes proposals from principal investigators who share NSF's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Proposals in response to this solicitation must be submitted to the Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO).

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Africa Regional Services, Bureau of African Affairs Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (AF/PDPA) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition to submit applications to organize a training on Media Smart: Spotting Truth in a Fake News World for Non-Journalists. The program aims to empower youth, young adults, education professionals and community leaders and organizers with the skills and knowledge to effectively counter misinformation and disinformation. The series of workshops should include but are not limited to the following topics: Understanding Media Literacy: Identifying bias, evaluating sources, recognizing types of media. Information, news, and opinion. Types of Disinformation: Misinformation, propaganda, fake news. Impact of Disinformation: Effects on public opinion, democracy, and social cohesion and real-world examples. Spotting Disinformation Critical Thinking Skills Media Bias, Objectivity and Trust Digital Citizenship and Responsibility Strategies to Combat Disinformation Understanding AI and Recognizing AI-generated content The project will be conducted in French and English, virtually over six months. It will consist of online presentations and dialogues between American experts and African audience, discussing theories and case studies, and sharing best practices, strategies and resources. Budget permitting the project will design an in-person colloquium with selected participants. The project should also provide a strategy for and facilitate peer-to-peer contact and content sharing between program participants following program completion. All subject matter experts must be American citizens. Targeted countries are sub-Saharan African countries, with a priority given to West African countries. Please follow all instructions below. Background: In Africa, the rise of disinformation, accelerated by digital technology, demands urgent media literacy initiatives among youth. Recent studies, such as those by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, reveal an alarming escalation in false information targeting African media, facilitated by digital channels. This surge correlates directly with societal unrest and democratic erosion. With over 60% of Africa's population under 25, empowering youth with media literacy skills is critical. It not only safeguards against disinformation but also prepares them to navigate the complexities of AI-driven content and fosters informed citizenship crucial for democratic resilience. Africa Regional Services announces a call for institutional partners and individuals with extensive experience and capacity in training and outreach among youth, African NGOs and African educative organizations in the field of information fluency to submit proposals for online and in-person training of African youth on media literacy. Subject to availability of funds, Africa Regional Services will award a grant as described below. The successful applicant must have previous experience managing the award amount of $250,000 or greater and must demonstrate capacity to manage a continent-wide grant in countering disinformation. The criteria for the competition should ensure that proposals be tailored toward African audiences. Proposed projects should include monitoring and evaluation plans. Project Audience(s): Male and female youth, educators, NGO representatives. Must ensure gender balance among target audience aged 18 to 30. Project Goal: The program will empower young adults to better understand and navigate the complex intersection of AI, disinformation, and media literacy in today's digital landscape, while utilizing American subject-matter expertise. Project Objectives: Projects should be designed to achieve the following: Objective 1: Enhance the media literacy skills of African youth through engaging workshops focused on combating misinformation and disinformation. Objective 2: Empower participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training sessions by creating and sharing stories that demonstrate their newfound skills in critical media analysis and responsible reporting, thereby fostering a culture of digital citizenship and encouraging them to fulfill their responsibilities as informed and ethical communicators in the digital age. Priority Regions: Sub-Saharan African countries including but not limited to Cote DIvoire, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry, Chad, Cameroon, Togo, Benin. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations Public and private educational institutions Individuals For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via https://sam.gov/content/home as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at www.grants.gov. Content and Form of Application Submission Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Please ensure: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity All documents are in English All budgets are in U.S. dollars All pages are numbered All documents are formatted to 8 x 11 paper, and All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The following documents are required: Mandatory application forms SF-424(Application for Federal Assistance organizations)or SF-424-I(Application for Federal Assistance--individuals)atwww.grants.gov. SF-424A(Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at www.grants.gov. SF-424B(Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at www.grants.gov. Summary Page:Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. Proposal (10 pages maximum):The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed Program Goals and Objectives: The goals describe what the program is intended to achieve. The objectives refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate. Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Key Personnel:Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan:This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? Future Funding or SustainabilityApplicants plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See sectionH. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissionsbelow for further information. Attachments: 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file. Official permission letters, if required for program activities Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registrations All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications. The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee. Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible. Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. Exemptions An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if: An applicants identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organizations status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant. For an applicant, if the Federal awarding agency makes a determination that there are exigent circumstances that prohibit the applicant from receiving a unique entity identifier and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a Federal award. In these instances, Federal awarding agencies must require the recipient to obtain a unique entity identifier and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the Federal award date. Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than June 15, 2024. Other Submission Requirements All application materials must be submitted by email to [email protected]. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below: Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea 25 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants 15 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. Program Content 15 points: Objectives are clear, and content is clearly linked to the U.S. and is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. Budget 15 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. Monitoring and evaluation plan 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured. Sustainability 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program. A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications. If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact:[email protected]

The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar and Comoros, part of the U.S. Department of State, is pleased to announce its Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement (APS). This Annual Program Statement outlines the Embassys funding priorities, strategic themes, and procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Purpose of the Annual Program Statement: The Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement supports projects proposed by U.S., Malagasy, and/or Comorian educational, cultural, and other non-profit organizations or individuals that promote U.S. values, strengthen understanding between U.S. and Malagasy and/or Comorian people and institutions, and/or support U.S. Embassy goals of promoting human rights, transparency and good governance, economic and social prosperity, environmental stewardship, educational achievement, and sustainable development of natural resources. All programs must include a U.S. cultural element or a connection with U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions that will encourage increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Priority Program Areas: Strengthening regional security and stability and combat transnational threats through engagement with diverse, targeted stakeholders on key issues like human trafficking, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, and climate change related challenges. Addressing barriers to the advancement of women in STEM fields and business. Strengthening the business skills of young entrepreneurs. Promoting the development of trade and investment with the United States, including entrepreneurship, small- and medium-sized businesses, and innovation as the basis for strong, sustainable, inclusive economic growth that creates quality employment and incorporates diverse and excluded groups. Participants and Audiences: The list below delineates our target audiences: Community associations; Civil society professionals; Academic institutions; Business leaders and entrepreneurs; Community leaders; Women and youth from underserved communities; and Youth