U.S. Embassy Zambia Public Diplomacy Section: Public Diplomacy Small Grants for Promoting Democracy, Prosperity, Health, Education, and Peace

The U.S. Embassy Zambia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement (APS) outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes upon which we focus, and the procedures for submitting proposals for funding. Please carefully read and follow the instructions below. Two-round process: In Round 1, applicants submit a concise Statement of Interest (SOI) of no more than 1,500 words that describes the project idea and its objectives. The Public Diplomacy Section will review SOIs and invite a limited group of applicants to continue in Round 2. In Round 2, applicants expand their ideas into full funding proposals for formal consideration. SOIs may be submitted for consideration through March 30, 2023. Please download the template found here and then submit your Statement of Interest to LusakaPASGrants@state.gov.

Successful SOI applicants will be notified via email by May 2, 2023. Instructions on the requirements of a full application submission will be provided at that time and full proposals will be due by June 1, 2023.

Purpose of Small Grants: The Public Diplomacy Section invites proposals from non-profit and non-governmental organizations for projects that support core U.S. government priorities in Zambia, including promoting democracy and good governance, building inclusive economic prosperity, strengthening health and education systems, and advancing peace and security. 

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. Successful proposals will clearly define the anticipated results of the program, when results will be expected, and how the U.S. Embassy can measure the anticipated results. Successful grantees will proactively show progress towards results through regular reporting to the U.S. Embassy. U.S. Embassy officials will visit project activities regularly to monitor progress. 

This grant program generally does not favorably review proposals to hold conferences. 

Examples of potential small grants programs include, but are not limited to, programs that:

• Help Zambian young people, especially young women and others from marginalized groups, explore and discover their potential through innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs, as well as entrepreneurship programs.
• Help young people participate in civic life through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement.
• Support young people, especially those from marginalized communities, to build advocacy and communications skills to successfully advocate for their priorities with government and other decision-makers.
• Support government transparency and accountability.
• Equip emerging community leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to grow their organizations or to enhance their engagement with youth audiences.
• Promote the development and application of new technologies and innovative solutions to economic, environmental, and social challenges. Projects could connect U.S. technology or public policy experts with Zambian peers or foster the application of American technology and innovations to address challenges in Zambian communities.
• Support civil society organizations (CSOs) in developing a vibrant and prosperous democratic society through programs that strengthen NGO management, enhance the skills of early to mid-career NGO/CSO professionals, strengthen networks between NGO/CSO professionals in the United States and Zambia, or demonstrate to the public the positive role CSOs play in advancing a prosperous, healthy, and informed society.

Participants and Audiences:

Proposals must identify a clearly defined target audience that the project seeks to influence or impact. Well-defined audiences are countable and accessible through the project’s activities. Proposals should specify the changes in knowledge, understanding, attitudes, or behavior change in attitudes or behavior action that they seek with the project—and how they plan to measure these outcomes. The Public Diplomacy Section is particularly interested in projects based in rural areas and small cities.