Federal Youth Grants

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out programs strengthening bilateral ties between the United States and Luxembourg on Remembering our Shared History. 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 Remembering our Shared History, including, but not limited to: Programs that highlight significant WWII events, untold stories, and any elements of U.S.-Luxembourg collaboration that provide unique context, perspective, and meaning to the long-standing alliance between the Unites States and Luxembourg. Programs focused on youth and youth education to ensure the memory of WWII is not forgotten by the younger generations in Luxembourg. Programs that foster truthful recognition and remembrance of the tragedies of the Second World War and particularly the Holocaust Program activities such as historical/cultural exhibits, film screenings (movies/documentaries) and lecture series, book discussions, various media platforms (broadcast media, social media, etc.) and other types of public outreach campaigns. 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 for information on how to submit a Statement of Interest.

The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) announces an open competition for projects in support of the Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership between the United States and the Government of Nepal. The CPC Partnership is jointly developed and implemented by the United States and the Government of Nepal through a multi-year plan (approximately five years). The purpose of this CPC Partnership is to advance and strengthen the efforts of the Government of Nepal and civil society organizations in Nepal to combat forced child labor and child sex trafficking in a victim- 2 centered, coordinated, sustainable, and multi-sectoral approach to support an effective system of justice, prevention, and protection. This includes the implementation of a victim-centered prevention strategy that addresses targeted risk factors, promotes high-quality comprehensive victim protection, and investigates, prosecutes, and convicts perpetrators of child trafficking. The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC) is the primary focal point for the Government of Nepal under the CPC Partnership. However, the TIP Office anticipates close collaboration with additional government ministries and agencies at a federal, provincial, and local level including a full range of criminal-justice stakeholders. The full partnership will be posted online here: Child Protection Compact Partnerships - United States Department of State Nepal is the eighth CPC Partnership the US government has negotiated globally; the TIP Office has active CPC Partnerships in Peru, Mongolia, Colombia, and Cote d’Ivoire, and previous CPC Partnerships with the governments of Jamaica, the Philippines, and Ghana. More information is available at: . The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity is to advance and strengthen the efforts of the Government of Nepal and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nepal to combat child trafficking in a victim-centered, coordinated, sustainable, and multi-sectoral approach to support an effective system of prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. Applicants are expected to propose activities that align with the goals and objectives outlined below from the U.S.-Nepal CPC Partnership text. Applicants should use the following illustrative activities to guide their proposals but are not expected to include every item listed: Objective 1 (Prevention): The Government of Nepal, particularly local government, coordinates with NGOs on child trafficking prevention efforts that are comprehensive and contextualized into local community child protection initiatives. Illustrative Activities: • Capacity Building o Strengthen and empower Local Coordination Committees on Human Trafficking; Train Child Welfare Officers to further identify and combat child trafficking; o Provide technical assistance to the MoWCSC on effective prevention strategies. • Awareness Raising o Engage schools and communities on action plans to identify and prevent child trafficking; o Engage families and communities about the risks of child trafficking among vulnerable communities; o Work with government and local communities to increase child registration for identification. • Community Interventions: o Targeted interventions for most at-risk populations; examples include but not limited to working with cash plus programs, community savings and loans cooperatives, financial inclusion strategies, vocational training, and alternative livelihoods; o Pilot or support community resilience programs to minimize the effects of disasters and climate change that exacerbate child trafficking risk factors. Objective 2 (Protection): The Government of Nepal supports child trafficking victims by providing accessible trauma-informed, victim-centered care, and supports NGOs to protect children throughout the country. Illustrative Activities: • Training and Curriculum Development o Expand social workers’ use of victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches; o Build capacity of local child-care centers with curriculum on minimum standards of care and sustainability plan. • Direct Victim Support o Enable organizations to provide protection services to child trafficking victims; o Identify and support protection services for male victims of trafficking, including shelter services for boys; 4 o Support reintegration efforts, including but not limited to vocational/ apprenticeship training, paying of school fees, and small business support. • Standard Operating Procedures o Create SOPs and/or handbooks to guide victim support in partnership with local committees; o Support implementation of identification guidelines with MoWCSC; o Develop repatriation procedures, SOPs, and guidelines for crossborder trafficking cases. • Capacity Building o Support the rollout of the Social Information Management System (SIMS) as a data collection tool and ensure it meets data sharing and case tracking needs; o Assist the “1098 hotline” for victims of human trafficking to be more responsive to victims and increase capacity to identify and serve trafficking victims. • Advocacy o Support pending legal code amendments that align laws with the Palermo Protocol; o Ensure civil society organizations are adequately resourced to provide needed victim services. Objective 3 (Prosecution): The Government of Nepal, including law enforcement, prosecutors and the judiciary, utilizes existing trafficking-specific legal frameworks to identify child trafficking victims, investigate cases, and prosecute and convict perpetrators of child trafficking in a child-friendly, victim-centered, and traumainformed manner. Illustrative Activities: • Training and Curriculum Development o Comprehensive (basic and advanced) training for justice-sector actors on the human trafficking law and how to utilize it during investigations, prosecutions, and convictions; o Comprehensive (basic and advanced) training for justice sector actors on victim-centered, trauma-informed, and child-friendly practices; o Training for law enforcement entities on trauma-informed and childfriendly techniques for gathering evidence and testimony from survivors of child trafficking; o Victim-centered training in the National Police Academy to combat human trafficking; o Curriculum for the National Judicial Academy focused on human trafficking laws, trauma-informed and child friendly practices, in coordination with NGOs o Methods to investigate and monitor online violence and cybercrimes. • Standard Operating Procedures o Child-friendly procedures for accompaniment of child trafficking victims and witnesses before the courts; o Child interview SOPs for police investigators and MoWCSC social workers; o Nationwide SOPs on victim identification, referral, and case management; o Support airport and border officers with resources for improved screening tools. • Establish New Practices o Digitized Court or “E-court” using video conferencing or video testimony likely connected with protection homes to support criminal cases; o Victim service units and victim-friendly court environments within the Supreme court and District courts; o Child-friendly spaces in local police offices, and/or other relevant locations; o Create child-friendly space guidelines that are adopted and used to train relevant staff; o Promote creation of a secure network and data collection system for criminal justice actors to share case details. • Advocacy o Expand judges’ use of current legal frameworks with innovative prosecution techniques such as victim compensation; o Promote appointment of an Office of the Special Rapporteur for Human Trafficking within the National Human Rights Council; o Create a cybercrime law from current cybercrime policy. 6 Objective 4 (Partnership): The Government of Nepal addresses child trafficking in a coordinated manner across all relevant ministries, local authorities and NGOs. Illustrative Activities: • Expand Alliances o Engage with private sector actors to raise awareness and prevent forced child labor in targeted industries; o Engage telecommunications companies to prevent online sexual exploitation of children; o Encourage parliamentary involvement on child protection issues; o Analyze the use of information technology to support child trafficking prevention and protection. • Information Sharing o Encourage information sharing across different data management systems, including the Missing Children and National Police databases. • National Frameworks o Review and support the Master Plan on Child Labor; o Support regional referral mechanisms and/or intergovernmental MOUs on trafficking with neighboring countries in the region; o Foster development and implementation of a National Action Plan. • Advocacy o Empower the National Coordination Committee on Human Trafficking; o Promote creation of a national budget line to combat child trafficking to ensure programs and relevant ministries are properly funded; o Facilitate sustainability planning to maintain CPC investments beyond the end of the agreement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that promote U.S.-Angola and U.S.-São Tomé and Príncipe relations through education, cultural exchange, and professional development initiatives.

The U.S. Mission to Ecuador announces an open competition to submit project applications to the 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Democracy Projects. We cordially invite individuals, organizations, and alumni to submit proposals aimed at fostering democratic values among the youth. The U.S. Mission in Ecuador seeks innovative projects that actively engage youth across Ecuadors diverse regionsthe coast, highlands, and Amazon. Proposals should creatively promote democratic principles, including civic education and strengthening civic awareness through communication strategies.

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop, organize, and oversee the 2025 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit, pending the availability of funds. The four-day Summit (exclusive of arrival and departure dates) in 2025 will gather over 150 YSEALI exchange program alumni from across ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. The award recipient is expected to design a youth-focused, high-energy, and dynamic Summit that will provide the next generation of Southeast Asian leaders the opportunity to build networks, discuss ideas, and develop solutions to contemporary challenges. The YSEALI Summit in Malaysia will be conducted in English. The content of the program should touch on each of the four pillars of YSEALI and include leadership, mentorship, and teamwork training. The Summit will enable participants to see how YSEALI members have become leaders in Southeast Asian communities through community service, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and education. The Summit should feature panels and presentations by prior YSEALI participants from each country who have become changemakers in their fields. The Summit should feature sessions giving participants the opportunity to work together to develop possible solutions to current environmental, social, political, and economic challenges in the region. Participants should learn innovative approaches to promote relations among ASEAN countries and with the United States through presentation, case studies and simulations. The Summit will also provide leadership and other soft skills training on topics such as advocacy, negotiation, and personal branding, which are core soft skills YSEALI alumni need to become successful leaders. Participants will also have a chance to join cultural activities, and other site visits that support the Summits theme. The Summit will include a mix of informational sessions, discussions and challenges, and break-out sessions on different topics and group presentations, as well as site and cultural visits.

This initiative provides funding to U.S.-based community organizations and agencies to develop and implement effective solutions that reduce menthol cigarette use among high-risk populations, including youth, LGBTQ+ communities, and racial and ethnic minorities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers with employment services, training, and housing solutions.

This funding opportunity provides $54,000 to organizations that will create and manage educational programs promoting American English, business practices, and technology skills for youth and professionals in Mozambique.

The U.S. Embassy Baghdad Public Diplomacy Section (PD Section), on behalf of U.S. Mission Iraq, is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Applications for programs are accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline of September 1, 2024. A grant review committee will review outstanding applications on a rolling basis. This Notice of Funding Opportunity covers the whole of Iraq, to include the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR). Please carefully follow all instructions attached. Purpose of Small Grants: The Embassy PD Section invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Iraq through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Examples of Projects include, but are not limited to: Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs. Youth leadership programs. Professional and academic exchanges and non-research projects. Entrepreneurship and innovation in technological or other fields. Priority Programming Areas: Strengthening Governance, Democracy, and the Rule of Law Strengthening Civil Society and Promoting Civic Engagement Enhancing Professionalism in the Media Combatting Disinformation Countering Violent Extremism Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship Empowering Women, Youth, or Religious and Ethnic Minorities Fostering U.S.-Iraqi Cultural Ties Protecting and Preserving Iraqi Cultural Heritage

The Bureau of lnternational Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $4,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for one cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project in the United Republic of Tanzania to improve implementation of laws, policies, and action plans to combat child labor (CL) and promote Acceptable Conditions of Work (ACW) in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). In order to achieve the project goal, applicants must propose strategies to achieve the following outcomes:Outcome(s)(1) Increased capacity of key stakeholders to collect and disseminate data on CL and ACW in ASGM;(2) Increased monitoring, identification, and reporting of instances of CL and ACW in ASGM; and(3) Increased capacity of key stakeholders to address CL and promote ACW in ASGM at the local level.Questions regarding this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Forecast may be emailed to [email protected].

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in Vietnam and the U.S. to create engaging programs that promote American culture and values in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

The Global Leaders Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, administer, and implement the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellows Program. The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program will bring a minimum of 320 emerging leaders, ages 25-35, from Southeast Asia to the United States to participate in leadership and professional development activities under the themes of Civic Engagement; Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Empowerment; Society and Governance; and Sustainability and the Environment. The U.S.-based exchange component will be five to six weeks in duration and consist of: 1) Professional Fellowship Institutes (Institute) related to each of the program themes which feature individually tailored fellowship placements at relevant U.S. non-profit, public, or private sector organizations; and 2) a program closing conference called the YSEALI Fellows Forum in Washington, DC. Upon the conclusion of the U.S.-based exchange program, a minimum of 80 American participants will travel overseas for minimum one-week reciprocal exchanges to assist the Southeast Asian Fellows in implementing action plans in their local communities. The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program will also include follow-on alumni engagement activities. The award recipient will be responsible for program planning and implementation, including the oversight and coordination of the eight Institutes under the YSEALI themes. One Institute under each of the four themes (a total of four) will take place in the Spring of 2025, with the remaining four Institutes occurring in the Fall of 2025. The recipient must also be committed to collaborating with ECA to support the Fellow;apos;s participation in broader YSEALI activities/events during the program lifecycle, including joint activities with ECAs YSEALI Academic Fellows Program (which is advertised under a separate NOFO). Applicants can administer the program fully or may propose to directly implement a minimum of two Institutes under a single theme (one in the Spring, one in the Fall) and administer sub-awards for the remaining six Institutes. No sub-recipient will be allowed to directly implement more than two Institutes (one in the Spring/one in the Fall). ECA welcomes applications from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations, consortium of organizations, and accredited post-secondary U.S. educational institutions meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Applicants may submit only one proposal under this competition. If multiple proposals are received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared ineligible and receive no further consideration in the review process. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

This funding provides financial support to organizations that help improve job training, employment opportunities, and housing conditions for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families across the United States.

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.

This grant provides funding to higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations to develop doctoral programs that train leaders in special education and early intervention, addressing the shortage of qualified administrators for services supporting children with disabilities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations for delivering essential services to victims of crime, including children, the elderly, and other affected individuals, across the United States.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that offer mentoring services to children and youth affected by opioid and other substance use, helping them and their families through structured programs and supportive services.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to deliver specialized training and resources to law enforcement and affiliated agencies focused on investigating and preventing technology-facilitated crimes against children.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations for developing and implementing community-based substance use prevention programs targeting youth in schools and extracurricular settings.

Executive Summary The U.S. Embassy Ashgabat, Turkmenistan announces an open competition to implement a program to operate three (3) American Corners in Turkmenistan in Dashoguz, Mary and Turkmenabat. Other American Corners may be developed at the direction of the Public Diplomacy Section. American Spaces in Turkmenistan is a network of PD-funded cultural centers, which are a global network of over 600 State Department-sponsored cultural centers. The American Spaces in Turkmenistan conduct youth-oriented cultural and experiential learning programs to improve skills in English, STEM, entrepreneurship, and climate change awareness. The primary audience for these programs will be Turkmen youth, including girls and women, school and university students, teachers, young professionals, especially from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and USG alumni. The award recipient will be responsible for overseeing administrative aspects of the American Spaces program, to include staffing of selected corners, training logistics, and equipment and facility maintenance. The recipient will also assist in implementing American Spaces programming with significant Public Diplomacy Section input and assistance to ensure the programming meets Mission goals and objectives. Potential implementor will also be responsible for planning, executing, closing, and monitoring and evaluation of all the activities and programs conducted at the American Corners. The expected date range for implementation of this project is May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026. Please follow the instructions below for the application. Background American Spaces are the premier public diplomacy platform of the U.S. Embassy Ashgabat in Turkmenistan that has been strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the people of Turkmenistan and the United States of America for almost 20 years. American Spaces are located in Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Mary and Turkmenabat and offer English resources and development opportunities to meet interests of diverse audiences, while also serving as gateways for the Turkmen citizens to learn about American society, culture and education. The American Spaces are well known in the community for their regular English-language activities, such as conversation groups with native speakers, workshops with visiting specialists, and regular presentations by Americans on U.S. life and culture. American Spaces also partner with international and local organizations (e.g., the Smithsonian Institution) to conduct highly impactful programs, such as the Academy for Women Entrepreneurship in partnership with Arizona State Universitys School of Global Management, a variety of STEM programs to introduce local youth to web design and app development, as well as book festivals and eco festivals. Project Audiences The primary audiences for American Spaces in Turkmenistan are: a. School and university students b. School and university teachers c. Young professionals, such as current/aspiring entrepreneurs d. Girls and women e. Civil society representatives f. USG programs alumni Project Goal To deepen mutual understanding, foster collaboration and cultivate partnerships between the people of the United States and Turkmenistan through free-of-charge cultural and experiential learning programs conducted at American Corners in all the regions of Turkmenistan: Dashoguz, Mary and Turkmenabat. Project Objectives Objective 1. Oversee and administer American Corners operations within the allocated budget over a 12-month period, demonstrated by implementation of innovative solutions to technical and logistical challenges, maintenance of staffs high professional standards, and cost-efficient maintenance of spaces, while maintaining the modern aesthetic and accessibility standards of American Spaces. The implementer will maintain the American Corners physical space in safe, accessible, and welcoming and inspiring environment that is designed in accordance with modern American Spaces branding recommendations; provide logistical support with procurement, shipping and technical and Internet service to meet the Corners programming needs; and constantly seek opportunities to reduce the cost of rent; hire and retain top talent to work at American Corners, provide professional development to staff; and ensure publicity of Corner offerings and programs via social/print media. The American Spaces standards mandate that all American Corners maintain collections of books, magazines, computer workstations, and an area for programs. All materials at the American Cornersto include internet accessmust be free and open to the public. American Corners may vary in size, but have the following minimum characteristics: Secure location with public access; Minimum size of approximately 100 square meters; Library containing a minimum of 500 English books selected and provided by the U.S. Mission; Program venue to accommodate 20 people; Open and accessible to women and girls; Accessible to people with disabilities; Furniture, such as: o 1520 chairs o 23 reading tables o 58 computer desks o 2 office desks with chair Equipment, such as: o 1 printer o 1 copier o 1 scanner o 1 digital camera o 12 gas heaters as required o 1 air conditioner as required o 510 computer workstations o 58 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units o 1 laptop o 5-10 iPads o 1 projector screen o 1 sound system (speakers + mic for public programs) o 3D Printer o MakerSpace robotic and technology materials The three existing American Corners in Dashoguz, Mary and Turkmenabat already have the equipment and furniture mentioned above, which will be made available for the new implementing partner. Objective 2. Design and execute a range of diverse programming activities across six core areas of American Spaces (explained below) in alignment with Mission goals, demonstrated by sustained participation and increases in participant turnout. American Spaces operate based on the global standards of the American Spaces program. These standards mandate that every American Corner offer programming in six core areas free of charge for all the participants: 1. English language teaching and learning: Increase English language proficiency and instructional skills of English language learners and English language teachers, particularly for underserved audiences by facilitating a wide range of programs that build the skills of English language teachers and promote English language learning. American Corners provide access to English language speakers and professional development/teacher training resources provided by the State Department. 2. Information about the United States: Increase awareness and understanding of our primary audiences about American history, culture, and society through people-people diplomacy. American Corners also offer collections of English books, videos, newspapers, magazines, photo galleries, and Internet access and ensure these collections remain accurate, up to date, and audience appropriate. 3. Educational advising: Increase the knowledge and skills of high-school students on higher education opportunities in the United States by providing accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date guidance on applying to U.S. colleges and universities. 4. Alumni engagement: Support continuing engagement with alumni of U.S. exchange programs and cultural enrichment programs, connecting them to local audiences by sharing their U.S. experience and expertise to benefit the local communities. 5. Skills Building: Develop skills and increase capacity of the Turkmen population to meet global challenges, mitigate crises, increase trade, support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and opportunity and strengthen resilience to economic, technological, environmental and other global challenges. American Corners continue offering programs to meet interests of diverse audiences in the regions especially by organizing projects that promote English language, innovation, entrepreneurship, environmental protection, and gender equality in STEM, as well as teach skills such as critical thinking and media literacy, resume writing and job promotion, how to launch entrepreneurial or social development projects, how to use makerspace equipment to conduct projects. 6. Strategic Cultural Programs: Foster people-to-people connections, increase understanding and build respect towards the United States with Turkmenistan audiences through cultural programs, that can include visual and performing arts, film, literature, health, food culture/cuisine, sports, science and technology, volunteerism, makerspace activities, environment, civil society, and entrepreneurship introducing Turkmen audiences to virtually any aspect of culture, from an American perspective. American Corners are encouraged to take advantage of the full scope of cultural programming resources offered by the State Department, including arts, sports, and science envoys; speaker programs; films; the GLOBE program (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment); Model UN programs; and print and digital offerings developed by the State Department and the Smithsonian Institution. Objective 3. Establish sustained partnerships with local organizations to curate and implement cultural and experiential learning initiatives for local communities, demonstrated by increased number of joint outreach efforts. Examples of those public engagement initiatives can include joint Book Festivals, Cultural Concerts, Eco Festivals, film screenings, and regional and national competitions. Objective 4. Increase participation of primary audiences from the regions in U.S. Embassy programs by facilitating access to exchange programs, training opportunities, and study tours, demonstrated by the increase in qualified applicants from the regions.