Public Diplomacy Section of the Palestinian Affairs Unit: Opportunity Grants for Peace and Development

The Public Diplomacy Section of the Palestinian Affairs Unit (PAU-PD) announces an open competition for a grant through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The Opportunity Grants Program is designed to partner with Palestinian non-profit organizations and individuals to implement activities which advance the organization’s or individual’s goals and the PAU-PD mission: to advance a comprehensive, lasting, negotiated peace between Israelis and Palestinians and the development of a prosperous, stable, and transparent Palestinian society, economy and system of governance through substantive engagement with American people, institutions, ideas and ideals in order to improve American-Palestinian relations and create greater opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation.

Priority Region: Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza

Program Objectives:

Working primarily at the local level and using an evidence-based approach, all proposed projects must aim to advance the PAU-PD mission goals stated above, contain a substantive American element, and achieve at least one of the following specific objectives:

1.    Foster entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among Palestinian youth, young professionals, and educators.

2.     Provide students with the skills and experiences that will make them more competitive for higher education and work opportunities. May include soft skills, English skills, technology skills and other skills that will prepare them for success.

3.    Support trade and economic growth through encouraging Palestinian businesses to adopt an outward orientation and integration into world supply chains. 

4.    Foster awareness and understanding of some of the common/shared economic interests of Americans and Palestinians, encourage economic partnerships between Americans and Palestinians, and/or support the implementation of U.S. businesses practices within the Palestinian private sector, particularly inclusivity practices that encourage the participation of marginalized communities, youth and women. 

5.    Address the current skills gap that exists between the skills of Palestinian university graduates and those necessary for graduates to compete in both the Palestinian and regional private sector, especially in high-tech markets, including by providing students and/or the workforce with education and vocational programs that will make them more competitive for employment opportunities. 

6.    Support participation by Palestinian social media activists and influencers in international social media conferences in the United States for individuals who can also demonstrate a solid plan to use connections and insights gained from such participation to implement projects or activities that will advance PAU-PD mission goals (see section A above)

7.    Support participation (travel and/or tuition costs) of emerging Palestinian media professionals in the annual Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change (scheduled for July/August 2021) for applicants who demonstrate clear plans to teach, use, or otherwise amplify what is learned in the seminar among Palestinian peers or in their communities to achieve a measurable impact.

8.    Support gender advocacy, inclusivity, and empowerment, through training or awareness campaigns aimed at achieving gender equality throughout society and/or work towards gender parity.

9.    Support collaboration between Palestinians and Americans in the arts to improve mutual understanding, particularly with respect to promoting tolerance and a strong civil society through the arts. Activities may include joint performances, exhibits, workshops, trainings, and projects/works.

10. Promote exchange of expertise in health, social, and environmental sciences, particularly in support of marginalized communities, to equip local leaders and organizations with skills, networks, and knowledge to serve individuals and communities most at risk of not receiving support or social services.

11. Promote greater understanding of U.S. policy, culture, society, institutions, and best practices in industry and civil society.