Federal International Development Grants

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Conakry, Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for interested organizations to submit a statement of interest (SOI) for funding a variety of program proposals that strengthen ties between the peoples of the United States and Guinea. The U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal. 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 one-to-two-page statement of interest in English via this form [Click Here] that succinctly and clearly communicates the applicants 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 the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section to evaluate prior to requiring the development of a full proposal. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before a final funding decision is made. Purpose: The U.S. Embassy in Guinea invites SOIs for programs that strengthen ties between the United States and Guinea through cultural and exchange programming that highlight 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.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to bolster the capacity of obligated entities and government supervisors in El Salvador to develop and implement effective Anti-money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Finance (AML/CFT) compliance programs consistent with international standards and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations. The primary objective of the project is to ensure that entities with high risks of money laundering in El Salvador are closely monitored and supervised. The project aims to facilitate the implementation of effective risk-based AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism) compliance programs that are in line with the best practices in the industry. By adopting these measures, the project seeks to prevent and detect instances of money laundering in the country.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs in Nicaragua to develop projects that promote mutual understanding and collaboration between the U.S. and Nicaragua.

The U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to support the rehabilitation of an urban green site to mitigate climate change impacts, reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen community livelihoods and resilience.

This grant seeks input from stakeholders to design a project that will enhance agricultural growth and food security in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh, addressing local challenges such as poverty, malnutrition, and climate change.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, of the U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to enhance journalists reporting skills and ethical standards, support accurate reporting fieldwork, and strengthen media institutions ability to promote accurate reporting and to counter misinformation. Please follow all instructions below. Program Objectives: Thailands diverse media landscape is influenced by political, regulatory, and economic pressures, including the profit-driven nature of contemporary media. Pressured to prioritize sensationalism over comprehensive or accurate reporting, news organizations may unwittingly expose their journalists to legal and other consequences in pursuit of sensational stories and gripping visuals, or blur the boundaries between editorial content and advertorials, eroding journalistic integrity. Moreover, online media has ushered in an era of information sourced from social media and unreliable sources. While this is cheap and facilitates rapid news dissemination, it also facilitates the spread of misinformation and undermines the importance of on-the-ground reporting for factual accuracy and verification. Furthermore, journalists once reliant on editorial and support teams must be self-sufficient due to staff shortages. To improve ethical standards and media skills among reporters (including local journalists covering underserved communities), support their ability to do original reporting and research instead of relying on third-party sources, and strengthen networks between those reporters and Bangkok-based professional media organizations, mid-career journalists will participate in workshops or reporting tours to enhance reporting skills, media literacy, verification tools, and research capacity, thereby reducing their reliance on third-party sources (such as unverified social media) for content. The desired outcome is to strengthen Thai reporters capacity to investigate issues of public interest, distinguish facts from mis- or disinformation, and accurately assess the potential impact of geopolitical changes on Thailand. Through this, Thai decision-makers at both national and local levels will gain access to accurate reporting that reflects the views of people directly impacted by these changes, including marginalized voices. Stronger media institutions will support democracy by fostering informed and constructive public dialogue and enable more people to participate meaningfully in democratic processes. The grantee will work with Thai media members and/or media organizations, a majority of which should represent media markets outside of the Bangkok metro area, to improve media literacy and professionalism through workshops, reporting tours, research trips, and other events to highlight issues that matter but might be underreported due to limited newsroom resources. Specifically, participants will gain the ability to better analyze social media and other information streams and develop compelling story ideas and report on issues that matter or reflect marginalized voices that do not receive sufficient attention due to the budget constraints. The grantee will also strengthen understanding of journalists civic responsibilities to foster broad discussion on issues of public importance, to probe beyond conventional narratives, and to abide by strong ethical standards with respect to truth and fairness, building resilience against attempts to coopt or skew reporting. Grant activities might include, but are not limited to: media training, workshops, journalist matching or mentorship, reporting/fieldwork trips, or network building between established and emergent media (including citizen journalists). Participants and Audiences: 1. Early- to mid-career Thai reporters working in print, broadcast and/or web, representing both established and independent media; 2. Reporters from marginalized communities, or reporters dedicated to reporting on behalf of these communities; 3. Mid-level and senior decision-makers at the national and sub-national level who consume media subject to misinformation, or do not currently access reliable, accurate reporting about the impact of geopolitical challenges on Thai people B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: 2-5 awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $100,000 Total available funding: $125,000 Type of Funding: FY24 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act Anticipated program start date: September 2024 This notice is subject to Congressional notification and availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant, fixed amount award (FAA), or cooperative agreement. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations or professional organizations. Public and private educational institutions Individual journalists or not-for-profit media collectives. 2. Other Eligibility Requirements To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. Organization or individuals not based in Thailand should demonstrate cultural and linguistic competence to orchestrate programs in Thailand, along with necessary personnel to ensure the projects success. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family. 2. 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. Content of Application 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: (1.) Mandatory application forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance -- individuals) at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) (2.) 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. (3.) Proposal (8 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, including a proposed schedule and timeline for planned activities. 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? (4.) 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 section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. (5.) 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 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Please refer to attached announcement for details. 4. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than 11:59 PM on September 2, 2024 (Bangkok Time). 5. Funding Restrictions N/A 6. Other Submission Requirements All application materials must be submitted by email to [email protected]. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: [email protected].

This notice is subject to availability of funding. A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION U.S. Embassy Belgrade of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the University Partnership Program. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region: Serbia Program Objectives: The U.S. Embassy works to assist the Serbian people to strengthen democracy, rule of law, and the protection of human rights; help fight brain drain and advance the countrys economic development; promote regional stability and cooperation; cooperate with international partners to combat crime, terrorism, human trafficking, and other global challenges; and make further progress towards Serbias accession into the European Union. We also strive to explain U.S. policies, culture, society, and values to Serbian audiences and deepen ties between our two countries. University Partnership proposals should support these goals while facilitating lasting connections between Serbian and American institutions of higher education. Proposals can involve in-person and/or virtual exchanges for students, faculty, and/or administrators as well as any of the following activities: curriculum development; needs assessments; joint online courses; joint research projects; development of a joint degree program; development of a study abroad program; sharing of best teaching practices and instructional methods; support for participation in academic conferences or student competitions (e.g., moot court, Model U.S. Congress, Model United Nations); establishing an American Studies course or academic program; setting up a center focused on American Studies; and/or establishing or strengthening a career development center or a research and development center. Participants and Audiences: Participants or primary audiences for university partnership proposals should be Serbian and American students, professors/academics, and/or administrators. Depending on focus, projects may have secondary audiences or beneficiaries including media, civil society organizations or wider professional audiences, which you may note in the proposal. If your project idea might involve citizens or any other countries, check D.7 in the full text of the NOFO to understand restrictions on funding. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 6 to 30 months (including the evaluation) Number of awards anticipated: 1-5 awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $300,000. For returning applicants to the University Partnership Program, (previous grantees seeking additional support) awards will be capped at $75,000. Total available funding: $450,000 Type of Funding: FY23/24 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act. Anticipated program start date: Flexible, but not earlier than September 1, 2024. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is allowed but not required and will not impact funding decisions. While filling out the application, you will be required to tell us whether you are also receiving funding from other donors for your project. Please be aware, however, that you must be able to carry out all the activities described in your application with the funding you receive, even if the contributions from other donors or other funding sources fail to materialize. C. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION Requesting the Application Package: Application forms required below are available at https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs and in the Related Documents Tab. 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. Content of Application 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: 1. Mandatory application forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance organizations) SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) 2. Grant Application Form for FY2024 (Fiscal year 2024). Note: Detailed instructions for filling out the grant application are included with the form. 3. Budget Justification Narrative (Excel Spreadsheet): After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use the Excel spreadsheet template to describe and explain each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. 4. 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. 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. To be eligible for consideration, every Serbia-based applicant organization must also be registered in the territory of the Republic of Serbia with the Agencija za privredne registre (APR), or the relevant court. Submission Dates and Times: Applications are due no later than May 15, 2024. Funding Restrictions: You may NOT apply for a grant from PDS if your project: Involves partisan political activity; Involves charitable activities and/or the distribution of humanitarian aid; Is a fundraising campaign; Is commercial in nature, i.e., you or a project partner are making money from this project, or the activity supports a current or future business or entrepreneurial venture; Involves the provision of health care services, childcare, food subsidies, or other social services to populations. This funding opportunity aims to support specific projects with objectives which can be achieved within a set timeframe. We will not accept applications which are aimed more broadly at supporting your organizations usual or typical daily activities and operations. Those will be deemed technically ineligible and will not be considered for funding by the review committee. Other Submission Requirements: All application materials must be submitted by email to [email protected] IF PDS does not receive a complete project proposal at the above address by the deadline, it will be considered technically ineligible and will not be considered for funding. Review and Selection Process: A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications. You may be asked to submit additional information and/or a revised budget. Please also be aware that, depending on the availability of funding, PDS might be able to fund only part of the budget that you have requested. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates: PDS anticipates that final funding decisions will be made by June 30, 2024. D. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: [email protected]. The full text of the NOFO and the required documents are available at https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/ and in the Related Documents tab. Information Session. PDS will hold a virtual information session on April 17, 2024, at 15:00 (3 pm) Central European time to discuss this funding opportunity and to answer questions from potential applicants. Please contact PDS at [email protected] for details.

This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations working to improve health services and outcomes for underserved and vulnerable populations in the Philippines, focusing on areas like tuberculosis, family planning, and HIV/AIDS.

This funding opportunity is designed to support Jordanian startups in high-impact sectors by providing training and resources to help them successfully enter U.S. markets and strengthen economic ties between Jordan and the United States.

Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC): This grant program, managed by USAID, aims to fund collaborative research projects between Israeli and MENA region partners to address shared challenges, particularly in food security, and promote lasting peace through applied scientific research and technological development.

The "Reducing Barriers that Impede Access to Education and Decent Work for LGBTQI+ Youth in Brazil and the Latin American and Caribbean Region" grant is a $4 million funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Labor to support a project that enhances understanding of, coordination for, and capacity to provide safe environments for LGBTQI+ youth, thereby improving their access to education and decent work in Brazil and the Latin American and Caribbean region.

This program provides funding to organizations worldwide for projects that preserve and protect cultural heritage, including historic sites, museum collections, and traditional practices.

The MERC Program is funded as assistance to promote scientific cooperation, technology-led development, and capacity building between partners in Israel and eligible countries/territories in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Subject to change based on U.S. federal law and country-specific restrictions on funding, those countries include: Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the West Bank and Gaza (hereinafter eligible MENA partners). Emphasis is given to research and technology subjects of regional importance and relevance to the development in the MENA. Moreover, benefits should target developing, USAID-presence countries in the MENA and resource-limited populations.Strong, direct cooperation between Israel and the eligible MENA partners is required for proposals receiving funding under the MERC Program. Participation of partners from outside the MENA, including the United States, is not a key feature of the MERC Program, but they may be considered for modest roles in exceptional cases to meet an essential technical need that is not otherwise available among the partners. Applicants must be prepared to provide a well justified case for the involvement of partners from outside the MENA and accept that the MERC Program may not support their participation.The overall goal of the MERC Program is to enhance research and development cooperation between Israel and its regional neighbors in support of achieving a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace. As part of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the MERC Program is seeking to fund proposals in the following categories:Continuation grants: Funding to extend existing or recently ended MERC awards.Travel and workshop grants: Support for workshops, meetings, and researcher exchange.

Background: Since 2017, the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan has funded the University Partnership Program (UPP) to connect U.S. and Kazakh higher education institutions, traditionally by awarding sub-awards to U.S. partners who applied for funding with Kazakh institutions. As a result, 34 Kazakh universities have partnered with 31 U.S. universities to strengthen educational programs, teaching approaches, and institutional and research capacities, and to pursue joint projects addressing issues such as air pollution, environmental protection, and economic diversification. In addition to the projects achieved under each UPP, many partnerships have successfully resulted in sustainable, continued partnerships separate from USG funding. In most cases, Kazakh universities do not have a clear strategy to engage the private sector in education and research projects that could potentially lead to research commercialization and bring investment from sources other than the Government and student tuition fees. Kazakh universities could benefit from using a diversified-income model used by U.S. universities, which would generate profit to reinvest into university operations. Building partnerships with the private sector could also generate income through commercialization while at the same time offer practical experience for university students. This will allow Kazakh universities to raise their institutional profile, improve their facilities and equipment, be better positioned to support faculty professional development, and be able to offer more student services. Since U.S. universities have a longstanding history of working with private sector and successful financial management models, pairing them with Kazakh universities through research projects in high growth economic fields can help Kazakh universities adjust to the per capita funding system that was introduced in November 2021 and speed up the design of more competitive programs for students and address private sector workforce development needs. Supporting Kazakh universities to learn more about American university best practices in managing business accelerators and research incubators to tailor Kazakh HEIs approach to pursue greater collaboration with the private sector and integrate a system will enable students to get competitive workforce development skills. Collaborating with the private sector and diversifying financial sources can also motivate university management to become more financially transparent and accountable. Medium to long-term successes in Kazakhstan would include the implementation of international management practices, research standards, and student-oriented programs and services. Success will also be gauged on increasing the sharing of best practices among Kazakh institutions with each other. This would help Kazakh universities have well-run, efficient university management models which would be better placed to be an equal and contributing partner with U.S. universities and academic associations. This is also expected to increase the number of Kazakh students and scholars studying in the United States and to contribute to a more competitive workforce equipped with the skills to support economic diversification in Kazakhstan. This NOFO looks to support innovative project mechanisms that advance U.S.-Kazakh institutional partnerships in the form of sub-awards or activities organized directly by the implementer. This can include incubation hubs, basic research capability, or professional development centers. The program should focus on building greater institutional and research capacity in fields that support diversified economic growth through joint U.S.-Kazakh research collaboration including through commercialization opportunities in research, partnerships with private sector, and workforce development programs. Partnerships that focus on curriculum development should be directed toward developing existing curricula rather than creating new curricula. Project Audience(s): Public universities in Kazakhstan (private universities can be additional partners, but not the main partner), and U.S. universities especially research universities, community colleges, and technical institutions. Beneficiaries may include students, teaching professionals, or university managers. Competitive proposals would consider working with several institutions to foster a network. Project Goal: Strengthen institutional and research capacities of Kazakh universities in fields that support workforce development and diversified economic growth through joint U.S.-Kazakh program partnerships and research collaborations. Project Objectives: Objective 1: Equip at least five Kazakh university administrators with the knowledge and skills necessary to attract investment and collaborate with U.S. universities and research centers. Objective 2: Improve the ability of at least two Kazakh HEIs to revise existing curricula and course content that incorporate U.S. best practices, real work application, and hands on learning experiences in high growth fields to address youth unemployment and workforce development. High growth fields include but are not limited to coding, IT, STEM, agriculture, and digital media. Objective 3: Facilitate at least two joint research projects between U.S. and Kazakh universities in high growth fields that demonstrate potential for commercialization. Note: Competitive proposals will include plans for preliminary discussions between American and Kazakh universities on potential roadblocks, challenges, and specifics of the local context in Kazakhstan before starting partnership activities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that empower young people in Pakistan to engage with governance and improve legislative drafting skills, promoting democratic principles and human rights.

The objective of the STEP-UP activity is to empower local organizations, businesses, and communities to participate in and guide their own development in conflict affected areas of Mozambique. USAID/Mozambique seeks to provide funding and capacity support to local businesses and CSOs through a partner managed grant-making mechanism. By providing businesses and CSOs with funds to implement economic, peace, and social development initiatives, the Activity will foster increased engagement and empowerment in terms of communities driving their own local development.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) is pleased to invite eligible organizations to submit applications for a cooperative agreement to conduct Physical Security and Stockpile Management in the Northern Triangle during fiscal year 2024. Specific goals, objectives, and technical requirements for application packages are detailed below. PM/WRA anticipates awarding up to $5,000,000 under this funding opportunity. PM/WRA may issue multiple awards, however, the sum of all awards will not exceed $5,000,000.

This funding opportunity supports U.S. government exchange program alumni in Rwanda to implement public service projects that address local and global challenges while fostering connections between Rwanda and the United States.

Executive Summary U.S. Embassy Colombo, in collaboration with the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Office of Press and Public Diplomacy, invites proposal submissions from U.S. public and private academic, cultural, and exchange-of-persons institutions, and other not-for-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501 (c) (3) (see section C. Eligibility Information) for the design and implementation of U.S. and regional workshops for the inaugural cohort of the Young South Asia Leaders Initiative (YSALI). This is an exciting opportunity to inform a new youth leadership initiative at the U.S. Department of State in a dynamic region with a significant youth population. YSALI is a new network, modeled on existing programs like the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and others, designed to deliver on the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) by building the capacity of young leaders in South Asia. South Asias more than 420million young people will be pivotal to meeting regional and global challenges. YSALIs investment in youth from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will help empower young leaders in the region to tackle shared challenges. Background YSALI is a new network conceived by the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Office of Press and Public Diplomacy in consultation with constituent posts, drawing on best practices from existing State Department networks for young leaders in other regions. SCA intends to build the YSALI network from existing country-specific and regional youth initiatives, offering membership to already identified young people, and moving them up the ladder of engagement with the United States by offering new opportunities and a shared platform for connection. This configuration will help build the network in a controlled growth format. The YSALI themes are: 1) driving prosperity through entrepreneurship, 2)democratic resilience and a vibrant civil society, and 3) regional climate resilience. Project Audience Participants will be undergraduate students, recent graduates, or young professionals aged 18-30 from the seven countries in South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Mission India will manage the YSALI membership for Bhutan. All programs will be conducted in English and all participants must be able to understand and communicate in English. As needed, the implementer will be required to provide accommodations for Deaf, hard of hearing, and/or visually impaired participants to ensure they are ability to fully participate in workshops. For each individual workshop, the recipient will coordinate with the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Embassy Colombo, and the other U.S. embassies in South Asia to recruit and select 80-100 participants from among the pool of YSALI members. For the regional climate resilience workshop, participants should have demonstrated strong community leadership skills, and the drive to make impactful change in their communities. For the civic engagement workshop, participants should have a demonstrated commitment to develop and sustain community projects, and the initiative to promote civic participation and good governance. Participants may not participate in both workshops; each will have a unique cohort of 80-100 participants. YSALI Network Goal YSALI will become a powerful network to advance the vision of a connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific by connecting and empowering promising young leaders through the region to tackle shared challenges. YSALI Network Objectives: To connect like-minded young leaders across the region, through participatory workshops and subsequent collaboration across the region via a small grants program. To sustain connections through the creation of a virtual network of emerging leaders. To deepen participants’ understanding of current issues and opportunities and equip young leaders with the confidence and skills to address regional challenges. To instill a shared sense of place and identity within the larger Indo-Pacific community. The concepts of leadership, giving back to the community, and strengthening a sense of identify and place within the broader Indo-Pacific based on shared values and shared challenges should be integrated into the program. To build leadership capacity among cohort members, and foster the spirit of community service, while increasing understanding of the United States and the South Asia region, to address common goals. FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING EXPECTED ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAM SPECIFIC GUIDANCES, PLEASE REVIEW THE FULL NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY IN THE ATTACHMENTS.

The U.S. Embassy Tashkent Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations or individuals to submit applications to conduct innovative and creative programs to promote and improve English language usage, teaching, and learning for certain specific purposes. As part of the cooperative agreement, priority areas will be identified by Tashkent PD. Potential priority areas include but are not limited to cyber security, law enforcement and forensics, geology and mining, tourism, agriculture, water management, and cultural heritage preservation sectors across Uzbekistan. Proposals must support initiatives such as: improving the English language capacity within one or more of these specific sectors, creating sustainable development models to support the continued development of English language within the identified sector, and increasing the usage of the English language for professional purposes such as publications, international conferences, and international communities of practice. This funding opportunity seeks to improve the quality of English for specific purposes by supporting new programming and projects focused on: increasing English language capacity among those working or studying in designated fields, furthering knowledge of new and innovative ways to support engagement with potential English-speaking partners and developing sustainable programming to support the growth of English within the designated area of study throughout Uzbekistan. More specifically, this opportunity is looking for English language educators and institutions to be creative and establish centers or programs that can increase English language ability for current and future professionals.