U.S. Embassy Brasilia Public Affairs Section: U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program for Brazil Grant

This opportunity aims to connect U.S. experts with Brazilian audiences and institutions by conducting lectures, workshops, and media engagements to improve understanding of U.S. priorities and strengthen bilateral relationships. Applicants are required to incorporate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) principles into their proposals. Programs can be held either in-person or virtually, and applicants should address both options in their proposals. In-person programs typically last between four days and one week, while virtual programs are scheduled for specific dates and times, potentially forming part of a series. Speakers will cover topics outlined by the Brasilia Public Affairs Section that align with their strategic objectives and will engage with diverse professional audiences across various Brazilian institutions.

Recipients should be prepared to identify and recruit experts in seven key strategic areas:

• Renewable energy, climate change, and environmental conservation
• Diversity, inclusion, and social justice
• Entrepreneurship and economic growth
• STEM fields
• Foreign policy and international affairs
• Journalism, misinformation/disinformation, and digital literacy
• Public Security

If deemed appropriate by the Brasilia Public Affairs Section, experts in additional Mission priority areas such as education, culture, and the arts may be selected to participate in this project. Should an expert be identified by the U.S. Mission Brazil, the recipient will not be responsible for recruitment services but will offer logistical and administrative support necessary for the expert’s travel to Brazil or their virtual involvement in an event.

Below outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Recipient and the U.S. Government (USG) through the Brasilia Public Affairs Section for the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Effective collaboration between both parties is essential for the successful selection, travel coordination, and program participation of U.S. experts invited to Brazil.

1) Recipient’s Role:

• Conduct research: The recipient will conduct research based on specific topics provided by Brasilia Public Affairs Section and suggest suitable U.S. experts for potential travel to Brazil. Responsibilities include sourcing experts, evaluating their credentials, and submitting resumes for USG vetting and Mission approval.
• Coordinate speaker interest and availability: Reach out to identified speakers and coordinate their interest and availability for travel to Brazil, including for virtual programs. Logistics such as providing virtual platforms, interpretation services, surveys, and event recordings will be handled by the recipient.
• Manage travel logistics: Manage all logistical arrangements for speakers’ travel according to instructions from Brasilia Public Affairs Section, including ticketing, visas, accommodations, per diem, and other travel essentials. Flexibility for last-minute itinerary changes may be required.
• Collect post-program reports: Collect post-program reports from speakers and submit them to Brasilia Public Affairs Section without edits.
• Organize additional activities: Organize additional activities as directed, such as web chats, speaker engagements, press events, and other related activities.
• Administrative support: Offer administrative support to speakers per requests from Brasilia Public Affairs Section.
• Budget for program support: Budget for interpretation, closed captioning, event landing page design, and online streaming platforms for both in-person and virtual programs.

2) U.S. Government Role (through Public Affairs Section, Brasilia):

• Program goals and speaker profiles: Brasilia Public Affairs Section outlines program goals and desired speaker profiles, approves speaker selections and may identify specific experts for consideration.
• Vetting speaker selections: The USG reserves the right to vet all potential speakers, including those identified by the Recipient. This vetting process will ensure speakers meet program objectives and USG qualifications.
• Travel and program details: Determines travel details, program schedule, and provides necessary support for experts traveling to Brazil.
• Speaker-audience matching: Explains program objectives, confirms event types and locations, and matches speakers with appropriate audiences and institutions.
• Final decisions: Makes the final decisions to ensure alignment between audiences and speaker qualifications.

Section III. Award Information:

·        Length of performance period: 12 to 24 months 

·        Number of awards anticipated: 01 awards (dependent on amounts)

·        Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of US$80,000.00 to a maximum of US$100,000.00.

·        Total available funding: US$100,000.00

·        Type of Funding: FY23 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

·        Anticipated program start date: 10/01/2024

This notice is subject to availability of funding. The U.S. Embassy Brasilia Public Affairs Section reserves the right to award less or more than the advertised amount based on the best interests of the U.S. government.

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

Budget Scenarios:

To assist proposers in developing their budgets, we recommend considering two different scenarios for U.S. Speakers and Specialist Programs.

·        Scenario 1:10 In-Person Speakers/ 20 Virtual Speakers

·        Scenario 2: 12 In-Person Speakers/ 20 Virtual Speakers

Budget Assumptions:

• Program Duration: 7 days (2 international travel days and 5 program days)
• Locations: Two different locations in Brazil
• Per Diem Rate: $400 per day (lodging, meals, incidentals)
• Honorarium: USD $200-$300 per working day
• Cultural Materials: USD $250 per trip for books, materials, and distribution to target audiences (including interpretation)