The U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires Public Affairs Office (PAS) Offers Annual Grants for Public Diplomacy Initiatives

The Office of Public Affairs of the United States Embassy in Argentina (PAS) announces the Public Diplomacy Annual Grants Fund. This announcement describes our funding priorities, strategic themes, and procedures for submitting funding requests. PAS will accept proposals on a rolling basis until August 15, 2024. 

All awards must include a U.S. element or a clear, explicit connection with experts, organizations, or institutions from the United States in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy, values, and perspectives. 

Priority Region: Project activities must take place or be initiated in Argentina and be directed towards Argentinian audiences/participants. Priority will be given to projects taking place in underserved, marginalized areas. 

 Priority Audiences: 

·        Historically underrepresented groups in the public commons, e.g.: women, people with disabilities, racial and ethnic minority groups and the LGBTQI+ community. 

·        Residents of Argentine provinces outside of the City of Buenos Aires. 

·        U.S. government (USG) program Alumni 

·        Students from less-resourced backgrounds who can’t afford U.S. university tuition but have the potential to win scholarships. 

Authorizing legislation, type, and year of funding:

Funding authority rests primarily in Smith-Mundt Fiscal Year 2024 Public Diplomacy funding.

PAS will consider applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

Grants will be awarded in amounts between $15,000 and $50,000 U.S. dollars. The overall program will be administered by RACI (Red Argentina para la Cooperación Internacional). RACI will coordinate the disbursements of funds, monitor compliance with the proposed activities and objectives, and receive the corresponding performance and financial reports. Payments will be made either in U.S. Dollars or its equivalent in pesos. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate cost-sharing, public-private partnerships, cooperation among multiple partners, or innovative means to implement cost savings in their proposals. 

PAS reserves the right to award less or more than the funds requested. In general, up to 20% of the award total is withheld as a final payment to ensure final reports completion. All successful applicants receive the terms and conditions of the award upon selection.

A review committee will evaluate each application submitted under this call for proposals. The evaluation criteria assess the quality and likelihood of a proposal’s success. The specific criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. Applications will be reviewed on the basis of their coherence, clarity, and attention to detail. Selection decisions are final and not subject to appeal. 

To receive a grant, applicant organizations must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov. Registration is free of charge.

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