U.S. Embassy Bogota Public Affairs Section Grant for U.S.-Colombia Cultural and Societal Ties

PAS Bogota invites proposals for programs that strengthen societal and cultural ties, shared values, and bilateral cooperation between the United States and Colombia in support of U.S. Embassy Strategic Goals. All programs must include a U.S. cultural or educational 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, and build partnerships between our citizens.

Examples of PAS Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:

·      Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs;

·      Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions;

·      Awareness-raising programs on the challenges persons with disabilities face accessing the democratic process, including the lack of reasonable accommodations and information to exercise their political rights.

·      Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs;

·      Policy advocacy programs that promote and advance the human rights of historically underserved and marginalized groups such as Afro-Colombians, Indigenous, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+), persons with disabilities, and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent inequality. 

·      Workshops to strengthen networks of U.S. government (USG) programs alumni, CSO/NGO networks, entrepreneurial networks, and/or educational groups.

Priority Program Areas: The Embassy’s Cultural and Educational Grants Program supports U.S. Mission Bogota’s strategic objective of enhancing opportunities for citizen participation in support of peace through cultural and educational program and advances the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and climate and environment priorities.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)

·      Disability Rights:

o  Projects that advance the rights of persons with disabilities, build capacity of organizations that advocate for enforcement and effective implementation of disability-inclusive legislation and policies, and promote democracy and political participation of persons with disabilities, among others. 

o  Projects focused on improving access to educational opportunities for persons with disabilities.

·      LGBTQI+:

o  Policy advocacy programs that advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons, including efforts to safeguard LGBTQI+ youth from harmful practices (e.g., so called “conversion therapy”).

o  Programs that improve the quality of investigative journalism and transparency, increase awareness of the impact of stereotypical and biased reporting on LGBTIQI+ persons and women, and help counter disinformation.

Climate and Environment

·      Environmentally-focused activities addressing the climate crisis, combating wildlife trafficking, fostering resilience, conserving nature, water security, and reducing harmful pollutants, including, but not limited to, awareness raising campaigns, leadership, or capacity-building training workshops for youth and underserved communities, a recycled art installation or competition, among others.

In addition to the outlined priority program areas, the Public Affairs Section may give consideration to project proposals focusing on the following topics:

·      Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM)

·      Economic empowerment of women, girls, Afro-Colombians, Indigenous communities, the Venezuelan diaspora, LGBTQI+ persons, and other underserved populations.

·      Any other initiatives supporting Colombia’s transition to a sustainable and inclusive peace.

Project proposals managed by teams of U.S. government (USG) program alumni or designed to strengthen the USG alumni network in Colombia are highly desirable and will be given priority.