The U.S. Embassy Nouakchott Public Diplomacy Section is offering an Annual Program Grant to strengthen U.S.-Mauritania ties through cultural, educational, and exchange programming.

Funding Opportunity Title: U.S. Embassy Nouakchott Public Diplomacy Section: Annual Program Statement

Funding Opportunity Number: PDS-Nouakchott-APS-FY-2023

Deadline for Applications: March 24, 2023, at 12:00 noon UTC/GMT. Applications for

programs are accepted on a rolling basis.

Assistance Listing Number: 19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs

Estimated Total Amount Available: $300,000

Maximum for Each Award: $150,000 Requests for funding above this amount will not be

considered. 

Minimum for Each Award: $30,000

A.   PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Nouakchott Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces a request for Full proposal from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that strengthen ties between the United States and Mauritania through cultural, educational and exchange programming that highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation. PDS invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit an application outlining program concepts that reflect this goal. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Applicants must submit a full proposal, which is a concise, 8–12-page proposal designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives with the development of a full proposal application. Upon review of eligible applications, PDS will invite selected applicants to be in touch with PDS team for award procedures.

Purpose: PDS Nouakchott invites full proposals for programs that strengthen education, entrepreneurship, cultural and environmental ties between the U.S. and Mauritania through 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 PDS-funded programs include, but are not limited to:

·        U.S. experts conducting lectures, seminars, or speaking tours

·        Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions

·        Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs

·        Professional and academic exchanges and programs

·        Libraries, community centers, or other institutions that are interested in becoming an American Space

·        Programs developed by an alumnus/a of a U.S. sponsored or supported educational or professional exchange program

·        Projects to promote English language teaching skills or widen access to books and other sources of information about the United States

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Priority Program Areas:

Proposals should be related to one or more of the following U.S. Embassy priority program areas:

1. Strengthened Security for Americans and Mauritanians

           Example projects under this program area could focus on:

• Crime and safety awareness
• Countering Violent Extremism

1. Increased Opportunity and Reduced Poverty

           Example projects under this program area could focus on:

• Entrepreneurship
• Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM)
• Environmental protection

1. Promoting an Inclusive Society

           Example projects under this program area could focus on:

• Promoting social inclusion
• Reducing discrimination in all its forms
• Advocacy for inclusive national identity
• Cross-Cultural dialogue and understanding
• Human rights
• Cultural and ethnic diversity

Participants and Audiences:

The target audiences should be youth, women, culturally/ethnically diverse communities, and/or marginalized groups.

The following types of programs are among those 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 are not Mauritania-specific
• Programs submitted on behalf of individuals.
• Programs that duplicate existing programs

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from the United States and Mauritania, including from:

• Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience.
• Educational institutions
• Non-profit or governmental educational institutions

For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.  

1. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal.

1. Other Eligibility Requirements

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1.     Application Package

The U.S. Embassy Nouakchott Public Affairs Section will accept proposals until March 24, 2023, at 12:00 noon UTC/GMT. A grant committee composed of U.S. Embassy employees will review eligible applications. The review and selection process may take up to about six weeks from the deadline of the proposal submission. All application materials must be submitted by email to PASNouakchott@state.gov.

All proposals should ensure that the following requirements are met. 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.

2.     Content and Form of Application Submission

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses a project description summarizing goals, objectives outcomes, performance indicators, beneficiaries, and proposed timeline.
• A clear statement of the applicant’s organizational capacity to carry out the proposed activity and manage U.S. Government funds.
• All documents are in English.
• All budgets are in U.S. dollars.
• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

3.      Program Statement (about 8-12 pages in Microsoft Word) that includes:

• Name of the organization
• The target country/countries
• The total amount of funding requested from PDS, total amount of cost-share (if any), and total program amount (PDS funds + cost-share), and program length.
• A synopsis of the program, including a brief statement on how the program will have a demonstrated impact and engage relevant stakeholders.
• A concise breakdown explicitly identifying the program’s objectives, activities and expected results that contribute to each objective.
• A brief description of the applicant(s) that demonstrates the applicant’s expertise and capacity to implement the program and manage a U.S. government award.