U.S. Department of State: Public Diplomacy Grant for U.S.-DRC Partnership

A.    PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Kinshasa Public Diplomacy Section (PD Kinshasa) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement (APS), outlining funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Purpose of Small Grants: PD Kinshasa invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the U.S. and the Democratic Republic of the Congo through programming that reflects the U.S.-DRC Privileged Partnership for Peace, Prosperity, and Preservation of the Environment, which focuses on improving governance, promoting peace and security, combating corruption, advancing human rights, creating conditions for greater U.S. investment and economic growth, and working together to preserve the DRC’s important natural resources and on combatting climate change. Programs should create opportunities for bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest and highlight shared values. All programs must include a U.S. element, such as an American expert, organization, cultural element, or institution, that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Priority Program Areas: PD seeks to engage the public, decision-makers, civil society leaders, and opinion-shapers at all levels of Congolese society on information, security, economic, cultural, and educational issues through public diplomacy resources and expertise, with the goal of broadening support for, and understanding of U.S. policies, culture, history, society, and values. Priority programmatic themes for the U.S. Mission in Kinshasa include:

§ Protection of the Environment and Countering Climate Change: Activities that raise awareness of the importance of protecting the DRC’s natural resources and of supporting community engagement on this effort

§ Health: Activities respond to the significant health challenges resulting from the COVID pandemic and Ebola outbreaks.

§ Prosperity, Trade, and Investment: Activities that support the expansion of U.S. exports and investments, improve the connections between U.S. and Congolese businesses, and/or expand economic opportunities, entrepreneurship, and financial independence among women, youth, and underserved populations. Activities that raise awareness of corruption and the need to/how to combat it.

§ Shared Democratic Values: Non-partisan activities that promote an understanding of U.S. democracy and how the United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo share democratic values, especially among audiences with little first-hand knowledge of the United States.

§ Media Freedom/Countering Disinformation: Activities that support promotion of media freedom, journalist training, and countering misinformation/disinformation.

§ Shared Values and Interests: Activities that promote the U.S.-DRC relationship and build people-to-people ties, including but not limited to commemorations of key historic events and commemorative programs.

§ Cultural Diplomacy: Activities promoting U.S. culture, building on shared U.S.-DRC appreciation for cultural excellence through art, film, sports, fashion, literature, and other cultural forms.

Examples of PD Small Grants Program projects include, but are not limited to:

§ Academic and professional lectures, seminars, or speaker programs;

§ Workshops to counter violent extremism, anti-Semitism, and disinformation;

§ Interactive programs that stimulate economic growth, promote entrepreneurship, and provide economic opportunities;

§ Professional and academic exchanges and programs.

Participants and Audiences: All applicants for awards must stipulate who their target audience is (age/gender/geographic breakdown) and estimate the expected audience reach through direct contact and, if possible, through indirect contact (via social media or traditional media).

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

§ Programs relating to partisan political activity;

§ Charitable or development activities;

§ Construction programs;

§ Programs that support specific religious activities;

§ Fund-raising campaigns;

§ Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

§ Scientific research;

§ Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the

§ organization;

§ Programs that duplicate existing programs.