The U.S. Embassy Ghana Public Diplomacy Section is offering the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program to strengthen U.S.-Ghana relations.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Ghana Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Department of State announces its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an open competition for organizations to submit a statement of interest to carry out a program aligned with our funding priorities and the strategic themes we focus on. This announcement outlines the procedures for submitting requests for funding.  The Public Diplomacy Section of U.S. Embassy Ghana invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit Statements of Interest outlining program concepts that reflect these strategic themes. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

The submission of a Statement of Interest (SOI) is the first step in a two-part process. Applicants must first submit an SOI, which is a concise concept note (maximum 3 pages) that describes your program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application. Upon merit review of eligible SOIs, PAS will invite selected applicants to expand their ideas into full proposal applications. SOIs may be submitted for consideration by February 26, 2023.

Purpose of Small Grants: to strengthen ties and build relationships between the United States and Ghana through activities that highlight shared values, goals, and cooperation. All programs must include a strong, American element, and/or connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) (separate and beyond any involvement with the U.S. Embassy or its American Corners) and have as a primary goal the promotion of increased understanding of American values, perspectives, and policies aligned with priority areas.

Examples of Public Diplomacy Small Grants Programs include, but are not limited to:

• Academic or professional speaker programs involving an American speaker, either in person or virtual;
• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, or exhibitions involving the work of American artists or American subject matter;
• Programs developed by U.S.-government sponsored educational or professional exchange program alumni that advance priority goals;
• Roundtables, panels, and workshops focused on U.S. policy priorities; or media training.

Priority Program Areas (sample program areas listed, not exhaustive):

• Improve Accountable Governance, Strengthen Democratic Institutions, and Promote Human Rights 
• increase transparency in the public sector and civic engagement
• protect human rights
• support anti-corruption efforts
• strengthen the judicial sector
• Protect Press Freedom 
• offer professional development for journalists
• promote media literacy among priority audiences
• combat and expose disinformation
• Engage Youth and Marginalized Communities to Bolster Peace and Security 
• counter violent extremism and gender-based violence
• promote social inclusion
• reduce discrimination in all its forms
• Promote Opportunity and Sustainable, Inclusive Economic Growth
• support entrepreneurship
• promote environmental protection, alternative energy, climate mitigation
• expand Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) learning opportunities

Participants and Audiences:

Programs may be geared to a variety of audiences, depending on the topic. Statements of Interest will be evaluated based on a well-reasoned strategy for addressing intended audience, as well as appropriate inclusivity, whether based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;
• Charitable, development, or social welfare activities;
• Construction programs;
• Programs that support specific religious activities;
• Fundraising campaigns;
• Lobbying for or against specific legislation or programs;
• Scientific research;
• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or
• Programs that duplicate existing programs.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 6-18 months

Number of awards anticipated: 8 to 10 awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $35,000

Total expected available funding: up to $225,000

Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2023 Public Diplomacy Funding

Anticipated program start date: On or before July 31, 2023

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

The Public Diplomacy Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described in the absence of worthy applications or under such other circumstances as it may deem to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government. All projects are subject to negotiation by the Grants Officer before final award.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant or Fixed Amount Award.

Competition Format and Timeline: This announcement requests concept notes from qualified organizations. After a technical review and a merit review, Statements of Interest that are determined to have met the criteria explained in this notice will be invited to submit full proposals. Additional guidance and detailed instructions will be provided in the request for a full proposal. 

• February 26, 2023 – SOI submission deadline*
• March 31, 2023 – invitations sent to selected applicants to submit a full proposal
• April 30, 2023 – full proposals due from selected applicants
• June 30, 2023 – notification of selected proposals**

Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 18 months or less.

*applications received after this deadline may be considered on a rolling basis dependent on available funding and priority program focus

**additional projects may be selected after this date subject to available funding

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from the United States and Ghana, including:

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

 Applicants should be able to document their experience implementing similar projects. For-profit businesses or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

In order 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.

Cost Sharing or Matching

Inclusion of cost share is not a requirement but cost-sharing or optional in-kind contributions will be considered favorably in the review process.

One Application per Individual or Organization

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

 Application Package

This Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) and any amendments and supplementary information can be found at www.grants.gov (search by DOS-ACC-RSOI-2023-01) or on the U.S. Embassy Ghana’s website at: https://gh.usembassy.gov/education-culture/public-affairs-small-grants/u-s-embassy-ghana-public-affairs-secton-notice-of-funding-opportunity/

 Application Deadline

PAS Accra will accept SOI proposals from the date this NOFO is posted until 11:59pm GMT February 26, 2023. A grants committee will review eligible applications received by this date. SOIs received after this time will be reviewed only as additional funds are available. All SOIs should be submitted by email to PASAccraGrant@state.gov