U.S. Embassy Djibouti Public Diplomacy Section: Small Grants for English, STEAM, and Economic Empowerment

All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

A. Program Description

1. Goals and Objectives

The U.S. Embassy Djibouti Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) 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, seeking to support creative, scalable projects that improve access to high-quality English language instruction, promote American leadership in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education for adults across Djibouti, and create economic opportunities to the mutual benefit of the United States and Djibouti. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Priority Program Areas:

• Providing high-quality English language instruction to students and community members through formal classes, conversation clubs, or informal learning opportunities.
• Developing and disseminating English language learning materials and curricula, particularly those that incorporate local context and digital or mobile platforms.
• Enhancing the capacity of educational institutions to deliver English language programs.
• Integrating STEAM education into English language learning to build practical, career-relevant skills.
• Fostering employment readiness and entrepreneurship and with a focus on supporting employability, small business growth, and access to economic opportunities for the United States and Djibouti.

Participants and Audiences:

The primary audience for this funding opportunity is young adults in the regions, particularly those seeking to improve their English proficiency to pursue educational or business opportunities.

Target audiences include (but are not limited to):

• Secondary school and university students
• Out-of-school youth
• Vocational trainees and job seekers
• English language teachers and educators seeking professional development in English and STEAM integration
• Emerging businesspeople and entrepreneurs

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; or
• Programs that duplicate existing programs.

B. Application Contents and Format

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
• All documents are in English
• All budgets are in U.S. dollars
• All pages are numbered
• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

• 1. Mandatory application formsSF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals) at https://grants.gov/forms  
• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at https://grants.gov/forms  
• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at https://grants.gov/forms   (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals, organizations exempt from registration, and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov)

2. Summary PageCover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Proposal (three pages maximum)The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.
• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.
• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed
• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
• Project Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
• Project Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.
• Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?
• Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
• Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it meets the goals of the grant?
• Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

4. Budget Justification NarrativeAfter filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section I. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments

• 1-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program
• Letters of support from project partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner
• If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, include your latest NICRA as a PDF file.
• Official permission letters, if required for program activities.

C. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

1. Address to Request Application PackageApplication forms required above are available at grants.gov. 

2. Department of State ContactsIf you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: Djiboutipdsubmissions@state.gov.

3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) 

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from the NOFO.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that subrecipients obtain a UEI. Please note the UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a subrecipient.

Important Notice: Applicants are advised that institutions of higher education must certify the following at the time of award, and that this certification requirement must be included in any subaward agreements to institutions of higher education: Its compliance in all respects with section 1011f of title 20, United States Code, and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements is material for purposes of section 3729 of title 31, United States Code, and for receipt of appropriate Federal grant funds.

Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience
Individuals
Non-profit or governmental educational institutions
Governmental institutions
For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply

All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

A. Program Description

1. Goals and Objectives

The U.S. Embassy Djibouti Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) 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, seeking to support creative, scalable projects that improve access to high-quality English language instruction, promote American leadership in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education for adults across Djibouti, and create economic opportunities to the mutual benefit of the United States and Djibouti. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Priority Program Areas:

• Providing high-quality English language instruction to students and community members through formal classes, conversation clubs, or informal learning opportunities.
• Developing and disseminating English language learning materials and curricula, particularly those that incorporate local context and digital or mobile platforms.
• Enhancing the capacity of educational institutions to deliver English language programs.
• Integrating STEAM education into English language learning to build practical, career-relevant skills.
• Fostering employment readiness and entrepreneurship and with a focus on supporting employability, small business growth, and access to economic opportunities for the United States and Djibouti.

Participants and Audiences:

The primary audience for this funding opportunity is young adults in the regions, particularly those seeking to improve their English proficiency to pursue educational or business opportunities.

Target audiences include (but are not limited to):

• Secondary school and university students
• Out-of-school youth
• Vocational trainees and job seekers
• English language teachers and educators seeking professional development in English and STEAM integration
• Emerging businesspeople and entrepreneurs

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; or
• Programs that duplicate existing programs.

B. Application Contents and Format

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
• All documents are in English
• All budgets are in U.S. dollars
• All pages are numbered
• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

• 1. Mandatory application formsSF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals) at https://grants.gov/forms  
• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at https://grants.gov/forms  
• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at https://grants.gov/forms   (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals, organizations exempt from registration, and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov)

2. Summary PageCover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Proposal (three pages maximum)The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.
• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.
• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed
• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
• Project Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
• Project Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.
• Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?
• Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
• Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it meets the goals of the grant?
• Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

4. Budget Justification NarrativeAfter filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section I. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments

• 1-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program
• Letters of support from project partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner
• If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, include your latest NICRA as a PDF file.
• Official permission letters, if required for program activities.

C. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

1. Address to Request Application PackageApplication forms required above are available at grants.gov. 

2. Department of State ContactsIf you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: Djiboutipdsubmissions@state.gov.

3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) 

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from the NOFO.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that subrecipients obtain a UEI. Please note the UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a subrecipient.