Public Diplomacy Grants, U.S. Embassy to Mauritania

I. Public Diplomacy
Program Office: Public Diplomacy (PD)
Announcement/Award Type: Grant, Individual Grant, Property Grant and Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-Nouakchott-FY17
Funding Opportunity Title: Annual Program Statement for Public Diplomacy, U.S. Embassy
Deadline for Applications: July 14, 2017 (12:00 pm. GMT)
CFDA- Number(s): 19.040
Individual award amount: The award floor is $2000 and the ceiling is $20,000

Contact Information:
For Assistance with the requirement for PD Grants: Please contact PASNouakchott@state.gov. Please indicate “PD Small Grants” on subject line.

Important Note:
All application materials must be submitted by the July 14 deadline at PASNouakchott@state.gov with subject line: “PD Small Grants.”

Program Description
The purpose of this APS is to award a limited number of grants to individuals, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions. Proposals funded by PD under this APS will further one or more of the U.S. Mission to Mauritania’s following Integrated Country Strategy and public diplomacy goals:

• Security: Promote greater security by countering both direct and indirect threats
• Environment/Climate change: Promote climate change education
• Professional Development: Promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills to key populations, including women and youth
• Political processes: Encourage active civil society participation in political processes; and Increase political party engagement in public discourse, focusing on professionalism and policy
• Tolerance and Social Cohesion: Promote inclusive national identity dialog.; Enhance focus on diversity in grant program; Encourage decreased bias in public attitudes through training and education; Improve cross-cultural dialogue and understanding between divergent social-identity groups, including an enabling environment for free speech and open engagement; Enhance critical and creative-thinking skills, including the integration of pro-social values and beliefs into decision making.

Projects Details

1. Security:

The following proposals will be considered: countering violent extremism (CVE); promoting greater security and safety within Mauritania; improving social justice among concerned communities by addressing core grievances and/or strengthening pro-social decision-making capacities of concerned youth populations and key influencers.

The following advocacy days or time periods are examples of internationally recognized days that would qualify under this area:

– 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
– International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

2. Environment/Climate change:
The following proposals will be considered: promoting climate change education with the private sector and/or the Mauritanian government.

The following advocacy days or time periods are examples of internationally recognized days that would qualify under this area:

– Earth Day
– World Environment Day
– International Oceans Day

3. Professional Development:

The following proposals will be considered: promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills to women and/or youth, with the goal to increase Mauritania’s ability to benefit from the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) and other United States government programs.

4. Political processes:

The following proposals will be considered: encouraging active civil society participation in political processes and/or increasing the engagement of political parties in public discourse, focusing on professionalism and policy.

5. Tolerance and Social cohesion

The following proposals will be considered: promoting inclusive national identity dialog; encouraging decreased bias in public attitudes through training and education; increasing focus on diversity in youth outreach to promote inclusive national identity; improving cross-cultural dialogue and understanding between divergent social-identity groups, including an enabling environment for free speech and open engagement; enhancing critical and creative-thinking skills, including the integration of pro-social values and beliefs into decision making.

Application Deadline:
Proposals are accepted anytime from February 28th, 2017 to July 14, 2017 at 12:00-GMT.
Submission Requirements for PD
All proposals must include the following items
1. SF 424 Application form which is available: http://aopefa.a.state.gov/content/Documents/SF424.pdf
2. A cover letter/application letter
3. The organization’s official registration documentation
4. The list of the member of the organization
5. A description of the proposed project’s activities and goals
6. A detailed budget.
7. The projected period of performance (start and end dates)
8. Support/recommendation letters (if available)
Reporting Requirements: Successful applicants will be required to submit a mid-year and final report after implementation of all activities. A mid-year report must be submitted prior to the second payment request. The recipient must provide a narrative report of the program to the Grants Officer Representative (GOR) 60 days upon receipt of the second and final payment. Impact should be measured through qualitative and quantitative indicators. Reports should describe implemented activities status and their impact on the community.

Appropriate use of U.S. Funds:
-The U.S. government does not provide assistance awards to cover more than 10% of the amount for salaries.
-The project must support one of the US Embassy’s Public Affairs Section’s strategic goals and must include promotion of the U.S. Embassy’s involvement.

II. Program and Grants Office
Program Office: Program and Grants Office, US Embassy, Nouakchott
Announcement/Award Type: Grant, Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-USADF-USAID-Nouakchott-FY17
Funding Opportunity Title: Annual Program Statement for the Program and Grants Office (PGO), U.S. Embassy
Deadline for Applications: April 28, 2017 (12:00 pm. GMT)
CFDA- Number(s): N/A
Individual award amount: The award floor is set for $5000 and the ceiling is set at $50000

Contact Information:
For questions related to the PGO Small grants program, please contact the Program and Grants Office at Nouakchottgrants@state.gov. Please indicate “PGO Small Grants” on subject line.

Important Note:
All application materials must be submitted by the deadline at Nouakchottgrants@state.gov or at the US Embassy Nouakchott Gate with subject “PGO Small Grants”

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Description: The U.S. Embassy in Mauritania is pleased to announce that it is accepting proposals – pending funding availability – through its Program and Grants Office. This is an Annual Program Statement outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please read the instructions carefully before applying. The purpose of the small grants program is to award a limited number of grants to civil society organizations, nonprofit-organizations, local associations, youth groups, cooperatives, and non-governmental organizations to empower vulnerable communities in order to break the cycle of poverty and improve living conditions.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Special Self Help Program (State/SSH) Supports proposals related to the following activities:
• Income generation: for example, gardening, community slaughterhouses, cooperative chicken farming, sewing services
• Water and sanitation: for example, construction of community wells, dams, or other water systems
• Health or education materials: for example, purchase of tables, desks, small equipment, supplies, and books and bookshelves for a library, construction of latrines, and schools,
• Equipment for a small business: for example, a weaving or sewing machine, a machine to grind millet or henna, or tools to support a trade
• Miscellaneous equipment: for example, an oven or refrigerator for a school or a clinic, a washing machine for a mother and children clinic
•
*Please Note: Projects proposed should not exceed $12,000 (about 4.0 million UM)

The Special Self Help Program (USADF/SSH):
This grassroots program aims at providing economic opportunities to communities, cooperatives, and village-based associations who aspire to undertake projects in small business, agriculture, health, education, and social sectors but lack the means to fund the project in its entirety. The projects that this program supports are frequently not supported by traditional assistance flows. This SSH project is designed to be self-supporting or income-generating. This program is an invaluable diplomatic tool that generates goodwill toward the United States among the Mauritanian people.

*Projects proposed should not exceed $15,000 (about 5.0 million UM)
Julia Taft
This fund is intended primarily to support projects that assist refugees or refugee returnees. Projects could range from income generating activities to capacity building programs. The fund seeks to meet gaps in ongoing refugee programs that can be filled locally through projects of up to $25,000.

*Projects proposed should not exceed $25,000 (about 8.0 million UM)
West Africa Ambassador’s Fund (WAAF):
The US Embassy in Mauritania in collaboration with the USAID AgirPF is providing funds through the West Africa Ambassador Funds (WAAF), which is available to organizations contributing to improving the reproductive health system in Mauritania through the provision of contraceptive products. The application deadline is March 06, 2017. Application is available at https://www.engenderhealth.org/about/procurement.php

*Projects proposed should not exceed $50,000 (about 17 million UM)
Application Information
Applications may be submitted for consideration at any time during the time frame provided in the call for proposal. All submission must be received by April 28, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. GMT.
Please note that applications that fail to meet deadlines noted above will be deemed ineligible and not be considered for funding.
Submission Requirements
All proposals must include the following items:
1. SF 424 Application form which is available: http://aopefa.a.state.gov/content/Documents/SF424.pdf
2. A cover letter/application letter
3. The organization’s official registration documentation
4. The list of the member of the organization
5. A description of the proposed project’s activities and goals
6. A detailed budget
7. The projected period of performance (start and end dates)
8. Support/recommendation letters (if available)
*Proposals should not exceed ten pages*
Please note that the Embassy will not accept any proposals before or after the call for proposals. Applicants can submit their proposal via our electronic email at Nouakchottgrants@state.gov or at the Embassy Gate following the call guidelines. Once the call for proposal is issued, the PGO and PD Offices will not accept any phone calls or exchanges related to the call for proposals. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of proposal. Both successful and unsuccessful candidates will receive a notification letter informing them of the decision on their application. Once regrets letters are sent, PD and PGO will discard all non-approved proposals. All approved proposals will be kept in compliance with proper grant records management.
Reporting Requirements: Successful applicants will be required to submit a mid-year and final report after implementation of all activities. Mid-year report must be submitted prior to the second payment request. The recipient must provide a narrative report of the program to the Grants Officer Representative (GOR) 60 days upon receipt of the second and final payment. Reports should describe implemented activities status and its impact on the community.
Appropriate use of U.S. Government Funds:
-The U.S. government does not provide assistance awards to cover more than 10% of the amount for salaries.
-The project must support one of the US Embassy’s Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) goals and must include the promotion of the U.S. Embassy’s engagement.
Application Information: Application materials can be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.