Federal Community Development Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that promote community engagement, youth development, and social cohesion in Libya, while fostering mutual understanding between Libyans and Americans.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. EMBASSY Nouakchott Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Section A. Funding Opportunity Program Description Assistance Instrument Type: Grant Funding Opportunity Title: PGO Request for SSH Proposals Funding Opportunity Number: PGO-MRT-FY2023 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.220 Funding Amount: $60,000 Number of Awards: 5 Key Dates: 1. Applications must be submitted by 11:59PM EDT on August 06, 2024. 2. Questions must be submitted by 11:59PM EDT on July 24, 2024. 3. Notification of project approval and award signing expected by September 2024. Eligibility Category: Local communities, cooperatives, associations, local NGOs, municipalities. Executive Summary: The U.S. Embassy Nouakchott / Program and Grants Office (PGO) at the U.S. Department of State (DOS), announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Request of Full Proposals from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that promote socioeconomic activities. Five to ten grants, with a combined total of $60,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2023 Special Self-Help program (SSH)/source of funding will be awarded (pending availability of funds) for work that will support socioeconomic activities. The period of performance is 12 to 16 months. Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. Contact Person: For questions on the application and technical content please contact Nouakchottgrants@state.gov Please read carefully the entire solicitation package if you plan to submit an application; there are steps that you should take immediately in order to make your submissions by the deadline. A.1. Background: U.S. Embassy Nouakchotts Program and Grants Office (PGO) announces a request for full proposals from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that promote socioeconomic activities under its Ambassadors Special Self Help program (SSH). PGO invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit their proposals that reflect the below goals - pending funding availability. Please carefully follow all instructions below. A.2. The Special Self-Help Program Objectives: Programming supported with SSH resources should address the following program objective: The purpose of the Special Self-Help program is to fund grants for small development activities that generate public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance efforts but that fall outside the structure of other established U.S. assistance projects. The program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with small community projects that have immediate impact, and further mission policies and objectives. Equally important, the Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. All Special Self-Help projects are community-based, initiated locally, administered at the local level, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor or materials. The implementation period for individual self-help projects is short - less than one year, and projects are small ranging in cost from $6,000 to $12,000. Projects proposed should not exceed $12,000.

The U.S. Embassy LIBREVILLE of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to support the persons with disabilities in Gabon to participate in the 2025 presidential elections and participate actively in educational settings. Disability rights is a nascent aspect of Gabonese civil society; this project will encourage inclusivity in Gabonese society, improve the participation of marginalized communities in the electoral process, and promote open dialogue between governmental actors and persons with disabilities. Currently, there is very limited public funding for accessibility projects and public advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities. Limited opportunities exist for persons with disabilities in Gabon. Most struggle to access basic education or gainful employment due to discrimination, lack of access, or lack of targeted outreach. Project activities aim to increase participation of persons with disabilities in the next national elections (expected August 2025), as well as create a cohort of Gabonese able to carry on this work in the future. Proposed project activities will include training on advocacy best practices, coordinating meetings with government officials to propose building code changes and equal access laws, advocating for changes to pensions for persons with disabilities, and developing language requiring government buildings to be accessible to persons with physical disabilities. Other projects will focus on training educators, legislators, and government officials on inclusive habits in classroom, business, and government environments. Participants and Audiences: Persons with disabilities, including women, youth, LGBTQI+ persons, and other intersecting identities. Educators, legislators, human rights advocates, and other members of civil society.

The U.S. Mission New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations interested in submitting proposals to organize a comprehensive small grants program designed to provide emerging Pacific leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to become leaders in the regions economic and civic development. As a Pacific nation, the United States has long been committed to working with partners in the region to ensure continued regional security, as well as economic growth and development. This program for young leaders will create ties across the Pacific to ensure that we are better prepared to address challenges together in the future. The State Department has convened a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) small grants program annually since 2018, with training workshops taking place in New Zealand. All these small grants programs shared the goal of building leadership capacity and creating ties among emerging leaders from across the Pacific region (see below for a list of participating countries). This year, the small grants program should bring together a group of emerging leaders, ages 25-40, with the goal of providing them with practical leadership skills and a deeper knowledge of regional issues related to the four pillars of the YPL program: civic engagement, environment/resource management, education, and economic and social development. The small grants program should also help participants work with their peers on issues that affect the region. The small grants program should emphasize experiential learning and capacity building in order to equip participants with the tools they need for success. We encourage pre- and post-small grants programming. The location of the in-person training workshops should be in New Zealand.

The U.S. Embassy New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to develop and implement a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Conference sometime between May-July 2025 to provide emerging Pacific leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to become leaders, pending the availability of funding. The Conference should preferably take part in French Polynesia to coincide with the United Nations Ocean Conference being hosted by France in June 2025, but may be hosted in other Pacific locations pending logistics and costs. The State Department has convened a diverse Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Conference each year since 2013, taking place in American Samoa, Samoa, New Zealand, Hawaii, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Guam. Each conference shared the goal of building leadership capacity and creating ties among emerging leaders from across the Pacific region (see below for a list of participating countries). This year, the conference should bring together a group of emerging leaders, ages 25-40, with the goal of providing them with practical leadership skills and a deeper knowledge of regional issues related to the four pillars of the YPL program: civic engagement, environment/resource management, education, and economic and social development. The conference should also help participants grow their networks and enable them to work with their peers on issues that affect the region. The conference should emphasize experiential learning and capacity building in order to equip diverse participants with the tools they need for success. We encourage pre- and post-conference programming that will reinforce the learnings from the conference.

The U.S. Embassy New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to develop and implement a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Regional Workshop on Security sometime between July-October 2025 to provide emerging Pacific leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to become leaders in security, pending the availability of funding. The Conference should preferably take part in Vanuatu to coincide with or run alongside the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Conference being hosted by Vanuatu in 2025, but may be hosted in other Pacific locations pending logistics and costs. The proposed workshop will focus on building local capacity within Pacific nations to help participants develop intelligence capability to better inform decision makers, increase ability to manage large events and respond to natural disasters, and enhance investigations capability to address the highest regional crime priorities. Workshop sessions should be designed to introduce and operationalize best practices in this space to elevate Pacific regionalism and promote peace, security, and sovereignty in areas such as maritime, cybersecurity, and health. This workshop will bring together practitioners from all levels of society and administration including government, civil society, and experts to discuss challenges, develop action plans, and leverage opportunities for regional collaboration to foster the implementation of security practices. The workshop will ideally be held in Vanuatu.

The U.S. Embassy New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to develop and implement a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Regional Workshop on on Cultural Preservation and Storytelling Advocacy sometime 2025-2026 to provide emerging Pacific leaders with skills, knowledge, and networks to preserve cultural heritage leveraging digital tools and technologies like AI to support these endeavors. The workshop should preferably take part in a Pacific nation in 2025-2026. The proposed workshop will focus on building local capacity within Pacific nations to help participants develop storytelling as a tool for advocacy and a means to preserve cultural heritage leveraging digital tools and technologies like AI to support these endeavors. Workshop sessions should be designed to introduce and operationalize best practices in this space to elevate Pacific cultural heritage and sovereignty. This workshop will bring together practitioners from all levels of society and administration including government, civil society, and experts to discuss challenges, develop action plans, and leverage opportunities for regional collaboration to foster the implementation of security practices.

The U.S. Embassy New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to develop and implement a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Program on Unlocking Funding: a Comprehensive Grants Workshop for Success sometime between 2025-2026 to provide Pacific leaders with skills in writing grant proposals, managing large grants and budgets, developing strategic plans, developing and managing stakeholders and funders, and leveraging private-public partnerships. Target audiences will be individuals working in government, regional Pacific agencies, and businesses as grant writers, budget and resource managers, and stakeholder and partnership relationship managers. This practical skills-based program will connect participants to larger pools of funding like the Green Climate Fund, USAID, and other Partners in the Blue Pacific funding streams. The program should emphasize experiential learning and capacity building in order to equip participants with the tools they need for success.

YSEALI (yseali.state.gov) is the U.S. governments signature initiative to engage emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The program aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems. Through a variety of programs and engagements, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues. YSEALI is open to young leaders ages 18 to 35 who are both citizens and residents of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) or Timor-Leste. Responding to priorities from youth in the ASEAN region, YSEALI programs focus on four themes (i.e., Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship, Education and Environmental Issues). The YSEALI Seeds for the Future Program is one of YSEALIs many components and will be entering its 11th year. Since 2015, the program has awarded more than $2,500,000 to emerging leaders across ASEAN through the YSEALI Seeds for the Future grant competition held across Southeast Asia. While working closely with the U.S. Mission to ASEAN and the U.S. Department of States Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Office of Public Diplomacy, the recipient shall develop a robust program for the 2025 YSEALI Seeds for the Future with responsibilities as follows: Provide an online site to receive and manage subgrant participant applications, and answer questions from applicants. Provide virtual resources (e.g. webinars) to help applicants prepare. Collaborate with USASEAN to develop scoring criteria. Review and score all applications and provide a shortlist (maximum 40 projects). USASEAN will have substantial involvement in final participant selection. Work together with USASEAN to notify winning teams of approved proposals. Design and execute a two to three-day kick-off workshop in early 2025 at an ASEAN country for the selected participants, taking ownership of all logistics and programming. The goal of this workshop is to bring together all project participants (maximum 3 members per project), train them on subgrant expectations (e.g.budgeting, administration, communication, reporting, work plan, digital storytelling), and allow them to collaborate and improve their work plans. All logistics expenditures and travel costs for participants and trainers must be covered by the overall program budget. (e.g. flights, lodging, per diem, venue). The kick-off workshop should also have a cultural site visit and also include YSEALI swags to give out to the team members. Pair subgrantees with mentors that will help them with their project implementation throughout the program. Distribute funds to winning projects by January 2025 as follows: sixty percent of funding after submitting a detailed timeline and work plan (including marketing strategy for the project); thirty-five percent of funding after submitting a mid-term report (including direct and indirect impact metrics, both qualitative and quantitative); five percent of funding after submitting the final report with detailed project results. Oversee the implementation of projects and monitor subgrants by actively corresponding with the subgrant participants on at least a weekly basis. Collect monthly, mid-term and final reports. Track budget usage. Provide USASEAN with quarterly and final program and financial reporting. The program reports should summarize the progress on the subaward projects, identifying key milestones, successes, and challenges. Include both qualitative and quantitative success metrics to measure the impact of each project on their community. Collect media (photos/videos) and project stories to amplify on YSEALI website and social media through a robust and detailed communication and social media plan. Ensure that all program content and media adhere to the YSEALI and Department of State branding guidelines, including US flag and the YSEALI Seeds logo. Develop a lessons learned for future Seeds programs. The proposal should include workshop follow-on activities such as virtual collaborative work, projects funded through small seed grants, or ongoing mentorship. The follow-on activity should be included in the monitoring and evaluation plan. For example, design virtual engagement opportunities for a minimum once per two months post kickoff workshop for the grantees to keep connected with other participants, an implementing partner, and U.S. Mission to ASEAN as a way for them to connect and learn from each other and help run their projects throughout the year. The proposal should include a pre and post workshop survey to measure the overall effectiveness of the workshop as well as any changes to the participants knowledge of the workshop topic. The concepts of leadership, giving back, and strengthening a Southeast Asian/ASEAN identity based on shared values and shared challenges should be integrated into the program. Workshop speakers/facilitators/mentors should be citizens of the United States, an ASEAN member country, or Timor-Leste. The recipient is expected to develop syllabus materials and an event program with participant and speaker biographies, as well as design banners, backdrops, and other printed materials. The recipient is expected to design a digital engagement strategy for workshop participants and social media audiences, including live video or live online engagement during the program. No new website specific to the event should be created or launched. Domain, hosting and build costs will not be covered. Full NOFO is on the U.S. Mission to ASEAN website here.

1. NOFO HighlightsHUD will select up to 25 communities to participate in the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) to develop and execute a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness.Only CoC Collaborative Applicants may apply for a community under this NOFO [Section III.A]Community selection applications are submitted through grants.gov.Communities represented by the CoC Collaborative Applicant must include a Youth Action Board, the local or state public child welfare agency, and a broad array of other partners [V.A]The rating and ranking criteria included in this NOFO will be used to competitively select the communities; however, HUD has the right to select lower scoring community selection applications, as provided in section III.F.a and Section V.B.Selected Communities will:Develop and implement a CCP to prevent and end youth homelessness [Section III.F.b]Apply for project funding up to an amount between $600,000 and $15 million per community, based on each communitys youth population size and poverty rate, for a total demonstration amount of approximately $60 million [Section II.C]Request funding for all project types allowed under the CoC Program to support homeless youth, as well as innovative project types that may require a waiver of or an exception to CoC Program or McKinney-Vento Act requirements [Appendix A ]Request funding for a 2-year grant term that may be eligible for renewal under the CoC Program.Have technical assistance available to them to advise the development and implementation of the CCP [Section I.A]NOFO PriorityThe purpose of the YHDP is to implement projects that demonstrate how a comprehensive approach to serving homeless youth age 24 and under can dramatically reduce youth homelessness. The population to be served by this demonstration program is youth experiencing homelessness, including unaccompanied and pregnant or parenting youth. In order to effectively implement a system that addresses the needs of youth experiencing homelessness, Continuums of Care (CoCs) must understand the subgroups of unaccompanied youth and incorporate those understandings into the YHDP CCP and awarded projects. This will require CoCs to use innovative practices to design better projects and strong comprehensive plans to prevent and end youth homelessness.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to strengthen community policing practices in Uzbekistan. The Government of Uzbekistan has continued its broad reform efforts that began in earnest in 2017, including efforts to modernize the countrys security services. Despite reforms, public trust in security forces remains low, and allegations of corruption, unresponsiveness, and abuse persist. Civil society, which plays an important role in mobilizing citizenry to advocate for better community conditions, remains fragmented and generally lacks support and social capital to push for systemic change. This project will both strengthen Uzbek civil society organizations as they engage in community-based advocacy while also helping local government actors, especially the Ministry of Internal Affairs, develop protocols and procedures to be more transparent, responsive, and communicative in their relations with local communities. Goals of the project Enhance Civil Society Capacity for Community-Based Advocacy Strengthen Government Accountability and Transparency in Local Communities Foster Collaboration and Partnership Between Civil Society and Government Actors

OCPE is charged with promoting instruction and training on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. USCIS recognizes that naturalization is a key milestone in the civic integration of immigrants. Naturalization requirements, such as knowledge of English, U.S. history, and government, encourage civic learning and build a strong foundation upon which immigrants can fully integrate into American society. Through preparing for naturalization, immigrants gain tools to become successful citizens and meet their responsibilities as United States citizens. The goal of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) across the nation and to provide opportunities for immigrants to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate into the fabric of American society. Since it began in 2009, the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has awarded more than $55 million through 644 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Now in its 16th year, the program has helped more than 300,000 LPRs prepare for citizenship.The Citizenship Integration Training Academy (CITA) funding opportunity aims to train a new cadre of citizenship instructors and oversee the development of new citizenship programs. This funding will provide support to organizations that have not previously received USCIS grant funding. In year one of the grant, the CITA will provide twelve months of rigorous, mandatory virtual training for grant recipient staff designed to impart the requisite technical skills, knowledge, and capacity to enable them to establish and implement a high-quality citizenship education program for LPRs in years two and three. During years two and three, program implementation will be closely followed and supported by USCIS staff, who will provide technical assistance to grant recipients. This grant also offers an optional component for funded organizations to pursue and establish a naturalization application services program staffed by two Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representatives. Interested organizations may independently pursue status as a Department of Justice (DOJ) Recognized Organization during year one, with the cost of this training and designated staff time reimbursed through Citizenship and Integration Training Academy (CITA) grant funding. During years two and three, participating grant recipients will begin offering naturalization application services in conjunction with their citizenship education program.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to assist in building the capacity and professionalization of the Honduran National Preventive Police (HNP), increasing their ability to function as effective, efficient, and transparent officers, ultimately strengthening their relationships and connections with the communities in which they operate. The program will build trust between the Honduran National Preventive Police (HNP) and the communities they serve by expanding training opportunities, building capacity, and coordinating community events to promote community safety, minimize gang influence, and prevent youth recruitment from gangs.

Advancing stability and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is critical to the achievement of the United States foreign policy. There are many challenges, however, which hinder efforts to improve transparent governance, provide inclusive economic opportunities, and encourage civic engagement. Two thirds of the population feel that economic hardship and corruption plague their countries, with trust in government decreasing since 2015. The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Local Grants Programs mission is to sustain the United States commitment to strengthen direct partnerships with local actors to promote prosperity and participatory governance. Its objectives are to support civil society organizations in (1) developing, promoting, and implementing locally-designed solutions to self-identified environmental, economic, or social problems through civic engagement or economic participation; (2) fostering inclusive economic growth that reaches marginalized communities, youth, and women; (3) advancing participatory governance through promoting citizens engagement and decision-makers willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations (CSOs); (4) improving civil societys representation of the needs of citizens through collective action on the local level; (5) working towards gender parity in economics and/or politics; (6) increasing youth engagement in meaningful economic and civic activities; and (7) fostering innovative approaches to solving social, economic, or political issues.

Through the Bank Enterprise Award Program (BEA Program), the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) supports FDIC-insured financial institutions around the country that are dedicated to financing and supporting community and economic development activities. The BEA Program complements the community development activities of insured depository institutions (i.e., banks and thrifts) by providing monetary awards for increasing investments in CDFIs and for increasing qualified lending, investment, and service activities within economically distressed communities. Providing BEA Program awards for increasing community development activities leverages the CDFI Funds dollars and puts more capital to work in distressed communities throughout the nation.

OCPE is charged with promoting instruction and training on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. USCIS recognizes that naturalization is a key milestone in the civic integration of immigrants. Naturalization requirements, such as knowledge of English, U.S. history, and government, encourage civic learning and build a strong foundation upon which immigrants can fully integrate into American society. Through preparing for naturalization, immigrants gain tools to become successful citizens and meet their responsibilities as United States citizens.The goal of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) across the nation and to provide opportunities for immigrants to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate into the fabric of American society.Since it began in 2009, the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has awarded more than $55 million through 644 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Now in its 16th year, the program has helped more than 300,000 LPRs prepare for citizenship.The Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (CINAS) funding opportunity provides support to organizations that offer citizenship preparation services to LPRs. Additional activities that support this goal include identifying, implementing, and sharing best practices in citizenship preparation; increasing the use of and access to technology in citizenship preparation programs; working with local libraries and museums which serve as vital resources for immigrant communities; and incorporating strategies to foster welcoming communities as part of the citizenship and civic integration process.

The United States Department of States Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to address systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes that challenge gender equity and equality in the Caribbean economy, to build the economic resilience and skills capacity of women and adolescent girls aged 16 and older to enable them to enter the labor force and obtain economic security. The project should start in October 2024, exact start dates to be determined. It is anticipated that the award will be executed through a cooperative agreement. This project will be administered by WHAs Office of Policy Planning and Coordination (PPC). Subject to availability of funds, WHA intends to issue one award to not exceed $1,973,359 in FY 2023 Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Economic Support Funds (ESF) for a project period up to three (3) years. WHAs Caribbean United for Womens Economic Empowerment (CUWEE) project seeks proposals that demonstrate how the potential grantee will strengthen local civil society support actors engaged in advancing womens economic security in the region to help provide economic gender equity and equality in the Caribbean region. The project should include plans to first identify problematic country-specific and/or regional systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes, and then work with local civil society organizations (CSO)s to address those barriers. The CUWEE project intends to support a competition that will promote local CSOs to develop and implement pioneering solutions to overcome the local systemic barriers to economic security for women in their country/region. Additionally, the project should provide a training curriculum that builds the capacity of and strengthens the regional Caribbean network of local CSOs engaged in womens economic security.

The U.S. Embassy to Papua New Guinea of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition to submit a statement of interested to implement the Civil Society Partnership Program: Building Organizational Capacity program focusing on empowering non-profits and civil society organizations in Papua New Guinea. This Program will emphasize holistic interventions that address fundamental inequalities and empower vulnerable groups, paving the way for a more peaceful and prosperous nation. By investing in the leadership development and public engagement capacity of these organizations, this program aims to drive positive social change and create a more equitable and thriving future for all Papua New Guineans.

The Recipient will: Provide personnel to run the daily operation of the museum (Sunday 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m., Monday Saturday 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.) year around during normal hours of operation (excluding posted holiday closures) Provide one full-time general maintenance and three part-time operations personnel. Provide services, including but not limited, interpretive services, welcome and sign-in visitors, coordinate event scheduling, and assist with running special events. Opening and closing the museum to coincide with the posted hours of operation. Assist with scheduling volunteers for front desk operation and provide museum tours. Assist with recruiting and training of new volunteers. Provide general minor facility maintenance, including but not limited to:o Maintaining and ensuring a clean, neat, and presentable appearance at all times for the public, etc.;o Performing minor maintenance for the interior and exterior building, motor vessel, and river model.o Coordinates the ongoing maintenance and repairs. Responsible for the security of any keys issued. Maintain communication with the District regarding all accidents and incidents occurring on museum property. Maintain the daily visitation logs and provide available information to the public. May be required to lift up to 15 lbs. on an occasional basis. Ability to climb up and down stairs and boat ladders daily. Act in conformance with State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to Wage and Hours, Equal Employment Opportunity, Civil Rights, and Child Labor. Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum is located at: 910 Washington Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180

Department of State U.S. Embassy Cotonou Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Federal Awarding Agency name: Political and Economic Section, U.S. Embassy Cotonou, Department of State Funding Opportunity Title: Ambassadors Resilience Fund (ARF) Funding Opportunity Number: Cotonou-ARF-FY2024-001 Opening of Submission: April 10, 2024 Deadline for Submission: June 12, 2024 Assistance Listing Number: 19.979 Total Amount Available: $100,000.00 Maximum for each award: $25,000.00 Point of Contact: CotonouGrants@state.gov ; Tel (+229) 21367658; (+229) 21367724 Eligibility Category: Benin-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs). A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES U.S. Embassy Cotonou is pleased to announce an open competition for non-governmental organizations to apply for the Ambassadors Resilience Fund (ARF). The United States is committed to strengthening global resiliency and democratic renewal, and promoting peaceful, self-reliant nations that become strong economic and security partners capable of addressing shared challenges. The United States Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability (SPCPS) seeks to break the costly cycle of fragility and promote peaceful and self-reliant nations. The goal of the ARF is to strengthen the ability of local actors to address cross-border security threats by reinforcing social cohesion, enhancing community engagement capabilities, mitigating education, economic and environmental vulnerabilities in the region and in particular in at risk communities in Benin. A detailed description of ARF grants and guidelines are below. Please read carefully to see if your project is eligible to apply for these funds. A grant of up to $25,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2024 Economic Support Fund (ESF) resources will be awarded (pending fund availability) for work that will support program objectives below. Priority Region: Northern Benin, including the Alibori, Borgou, Atacora and Donga departments. Background: The Coastal West African (CWA) region is facing a continuous deterioration of the security situation linked to several factors. In recent years, regions in and surrounding Benin have faced recurring economic and climate shocks and have become fertile ground for violent extremist organizations (VEO) expanding from the Sahel. U.S. Embassy Cotonou, in support of the U.S. Government efforts to prevent conflict and promote stability, calls for suitable proposals addressing poverty and vulnerability in the communities, focusing on entrepreneurship by youth and womens cooperatives, and contributing to building resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and promoting social cohesion. The ARF aims to improve access to livelihoods and economic opportunities, in support of the Beninese governments efforts to address the spread of violent extremism and insecurity in Benin. The program will specifically target youth who constitute the most vulnerable sector of the society, to curb poverty and vulnerability, which are the fundamental weaknesses that VEOs exploit for recruitment.