Federal International Development Grants

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU) Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Funding Opportunity Title: VAU PDS Annual Program Statement Funding Opportunity Number: FY2024VE006 Deadline for Applications: June 30, 2024 CFDA Number: 19.040 Public Diplomacy Programs Total Amount Available: $100,000 Maximum for Each Award: $25,000 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The VAU of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Grants Program that strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and the people of Venezuela through programs that highlight shared values and promote a peaceful, democratic transition. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Purpose of Public Diplomacy Grants: VAU Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) invites proposals that support democratic initiatives, higher education cooperation and an active citizenry in Venezuela, highlighting shared values, bilateral cooperation, and support for diversity, equality, accessibility, and inclusion. Priority Program Areas: VAU PDS will prioritize grant proposals that address the following themes: Strengthening independent media through capacity-building programs and other professional engagement; Promoting democratic values and citizen participation through education and outreach, particularly for marginalized groups, including youth, women, LGBTQI+, persons with disabilities, indigenous, and Afro-Venezuelans; and Building university partnerships and other higher-education exchanges that focus on curricula development, research capacity building, and tech transfer/intellectual property policies. PLEASE NOTE: All programs must include an American component, conveying an element of U.S. culture, history, and/or shared values. This must be a concrete element that establishes or strengthens ties between people in Venezuela and the United States. For example, competitive proposals will include a connection with U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions that promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives and/or increased bilateral cooperation that continues after the program has concluded. IMPORTANT NOTE: At this time no U.S. citizen can travel to Venezuela for in-person programs with this funding. Therefore, speakers and other activities with U.S. organizations need to be conducted through online engagement. Participants and Audiences: Venezuelans in Venezuela and their U.S. counterparts in the sectors represented in the priority program areas listed above. The following types of programs are not eligible for funding: Programs relating to partisan political activity; Charitable or development activities; Construction programs; Programs that support specific religious activities; Fund-raising campaigns; Lobbying for specific legislation or programs; Scientific research; Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; Programs that duplicate existing programs; or Programs without an American component. Authorizing legislation, type, and year of funding: FY 2024 Public Diplomacy Funding. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: up to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: 4 awards (dependent on available funding) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $25,000 Total potential available funding: $100,000 Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2024 Public Diplomacy Funding Anticipated program start date: October 1, 2024 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant or Cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that VAU PDS staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation (Substantial Involvement). Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. If interested in applying, please visit https://ve.mwp.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/05/VENEZUELA-2024-VAU-PDS-APS-NOFO-FINAL-5-14-24.docx-1.pdf to review all information regarding this NOFO.

This funding opportunity supports U.S. higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations in developing collaborative curricula with Venezuelan universities to enhance academic exchange and educational development between the two countries.

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg, U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out programs strengthening bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg on Accelerating STEM and Climate Ambitions. The U.S. Embassy Luxembourg invites proposals from non-governmental organizations, think tanks, government institutions, academic institutions, and individuals for programs strengthening the bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg and Accelerating STEM and Climate Ambitions, including, but not limited to: Programs that raise awareness about space and satellite technology, space exploration, biotechnology, green technology, clean energy, climate change, the climate crisis, or sustainable finance. This could include educational programs for young people, trainings for educators, public debates, exhibits, speakers, etc. Educational programs with a focus on interactive STEM skills, such as computer programming, coding, and robotics, or programs about the importance of protecting the environment, clean air and water and sustainability measures. Projects that share American best practices in STEM and space research, climate change, sustainability, sustainable finance, renewables, environmental protection, or biotechnology by bringing U.S. experts to engage with Luxembourg audiences. All programs must engage Luxembourg audiences. All programs must include a U.S. element or connection with U.S. experts that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Any speaker paid with grant funding must hold U.S. citizenship. Please review the complete NOFO on the Funding Opportunities page on our website: https://lu.usembassy.gov/grants-program/ , or in the related documents tab on the announcement on grants.gov.

Ladies/Gentlemen: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Promoting Human Rights in Armenia Activity. Eligibility for this award is not restricted; both qualified U.S. and non-US organizations are eligible to apply. USAID intends to make one award to the applicant who best meets the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this NOFO subject to a risk assessment. Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements and selection process. Subject to the availability of funds, the total estimated amount for this five-year activity is $10,000,000. To be eligible for the award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this NOFO and meet eligibility standards in Section C of this NOFO. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov, and may be amended. It is the responsibility of the applicant to regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity and to ensure that the NOFO has been received from the internet in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion process. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at [email protected] for technical assistance. USAID will not make an award to an applicant unless the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements detailed in Section D. 6. (g) The registration process may take many weeks to complete. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to begin registration early in the process. Please send any questions to the points of contact identified in Section D. The deadline for questions is shown above. Responses to questions received prior to the deadline will be furnished to all potential applicants through an amendment to this notice posted to www.grants.gov. USAID currently anticipates doing only one round of Q However, interested applicants should feel free to submit additional questions to USAIDs POCs listed in Section D. If additional questions are received after amendment 1 is issued that merit answering, USAID may decide to do a second round of Q and issue a second amendment to this NOFO. Issuance of this notice of funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in preparation or submission of comments/suggestions or an application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicants expense.

The U.S. Embassy to Angola and Sao Tome e Principe in Luanda is pleased to announce the availability of an open competition funding opportunity to carry out a project to empower lawyers, legal professionals, and human rights defenders to advocate for access to justice for vulnerable populations and provide adequate defense in cases of human rights violations, particularly in cases related to freedom of speech and assembly and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders. The project aims to create a unified vision for the legal defense of human rights in Angola. While the law states that all detainees have a right to legal counsel, either chosen by them or appointed by the government on a pro bono basis, legal professionals report that there are an insufficient number of lawyers to handle the volume of criminal cases. This situation is exacerbated for vulnerable populations (women, youth, underrepresented ethnic groups), detainees outside of Luanda, and cases involving sensitive human rights issues. This project should complement and build upon prior and ongoing work in these areas by international organizations, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), but ideally would seek to meet challenges not currently being addressed by other projects.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations working to deliver humanitarian aid and support to refugees, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable communities in Iraq and Syria.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for U.S. and Jordanian organizations to create public programs that celebrate American history, culture, and civic values, fostering collaboration and engagement between communities in both countries.

This funding opportunity supports a variety of organizations and individuals in Togo to create projects that strengthen cultural ties and promote mutual understanding between the United States and Togo, focusing on themes like peace, democracy, and economic growth.

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi is pleased to announce an open competition to apply for the Media Sustainability Program aimed at supporting the sustainability of media organizations that inform Georgian audiences through a grants program. The program seeks to support media outlets looking to develop business and media management skills. It also supports outlets looking to build data or technological skills as a means of enhancing media sustainability. Program Objectives: The objective of the program is to provide support to media organizations in enhancing their sustainability by offering grants to address the following priorities: Develop or update business models to adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape. Implement strategies to better understand key audiences and inform decision-making. Improve digital presence. Integrate new technologies to improve efficiency. Explore opportunities for diverse revenue streams (one example could be offering production services to external clients). Collaborations with a U.S. expert or with a private sector entity are looked upon favorably.

This funding opportunity supports U.S. and Canadian organizations in creating public diplomacy projects that foster mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries, focusing on shared interests like innovation, security, and cultural exchange.

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) announces the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment (MRRA) Engagement Project. The project aims to facilitate group sessions for the MRRA Engagement Project team to develop comprehensive policies associated with the MRRA. The project will be funded through a cooperative agreement and has an estimated total program funding of $50,000. The expected number of awards is one. The funding opportunity is open until June 10, 2024. This notice is to inform that NIC intends to make an award without full competition.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to implement innovative projects in the Philippines that address key issues in peace and security, economic prosperity, and organizational capacity building.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Sri Lanka to support the establishment and operation of American Corner Jaffna, focusing on English language proficiency, cultural exchange, and leadership development for youth.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for a new project, Dignity in Documentation Initiative (DIDI). This effort focuses on global, integrated, and holistic CRSV documentation programming seeking truth and justice for victims and survivors as well as accountability for crimes committed in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. The DIDI must take a survivor-centered and trauma-informed approach, prioritizing the individual needs and efforts of CRSV survivors, while supporting survivor networks, civil society, and community-based organizations. This solicitation will result in the first tranche of these program efforts, with incremental funding envisioned over the life of the 5-year project, depending on the availability of funding.

This funding opportunity supports not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions in the UAE to develop programs that strengthen U.S.-UAE relations through cultural events, space exploration initiatives, and entrepreneurship activities.

This funding opportunity supports cultural, educational, and informational initiatives that promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and the Philippines, targeting not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions.

This grant provides funding to organizations in South Korea to strengthen collaboration in shipbuilding and maritime sectors between the U.S. and South Korea through research, networking, and policy development activities.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an FY 2024 open competition for three distinct regional Youth Ambassadors programs (previously called Youth Leadership Programs) with select countries in East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), and the Middle East and North Africa (NEA). U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to provide participants with four-week exchanges in the United States focused on the primary themes of civic education, leadership development, respect for diversity, and community engagement and to support the implementation of service projects in their home communities. The EAP and NEA programs also will engage approximately 3-5 adult mentors in programming alongside youth participants. Competitively selected U.S. secondary students will join participants in U.S.-based activities on the NEA exchanges. Only one proposal per region will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission per region 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 for the region from that applicant. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

The "Turkmenistan Livestock Local Works Activity" grant is aimed at improving Turkmenistan's agricultural sector, particularly livestock, by increasing the use of innovative technologies and sustainable practices through a program that empowers local actors to lead in addressing development priorities.

The U.S. Embassy Rangoon of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations or individuals to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a program (or programs) to strengthen the cultural ties between the U.S. and Myanmar through cultural 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. Please carefully follow all instructions below. The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise (two-page maximum) statement of interest designed to clearly communicate a program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before a final funding decision is made. Priority Program Areas: Priority will be given to proposals that address one or more of the following program areas: 1. U.S.MYANMAR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP - Programs that seek to promote a greater understanding of U.S. policies, culture, and society to Myanmar audiences; activities that promote shared values and interests between the American and Myanmar people; and projects that build people-to-people ties. 2. SUPPORTING INCLUSIVE DIVERSE SOCIETY - Programs that seeks to build inclusive society, promote a deepened understanding of diversity and inclusion, and encourage tolerance and peace through socio-economic development, dialogue, skills development, and economic empowerment. 3. EDUCATION CULTURE - Programs that promote understating of U.S education and culture or that help prepare for study in the United States; the building of linkages between American and Myanmar private academic cultural institutions; and training opportunities for Myanmar students or faculty and artists. 4. MEDIA LITERACY, INDEPENDENT MEDIA PRESS FREEDOM - Projects that promotes digital media literacy, support independent citizen journalism, and counter disinformation.