U.S. Embassy Niamey Department of State Grant: Establishing an American Corner in Niamey

The following organizations are eligible to apply:
• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
• Public and private educational institutions

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. Embassy Niamey

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title: American Corner Niamey

Funding Opportunity Number: PDS-Niamey-FY21-Corner

Deadline for Applications: April 6, 2021    

Assistance Listing Number: 19.040            

Total Amount Available: Up to $70,000, pending availability of funds.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Niamey of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to establish an American Corner in Niamey. Please follow all instructions below. This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Priority Region: City of Niamey

Program Objectives:

After 30 years, U.S. Embassy Niamey has transitioned its American Cultural Center and Rosa Parks Library from Rue de La Tapoa in the Plateau neighborhood of Niamey to its new embassy building in Koira Kano. However, Embassy Niamey is interested in opening a new American Corner in a more central location in Niamey. Thus, we are seeking to partner with an organization to establish an American Corner.

The primary goal of the American Corner is to provide access to information about the United States, including U.S. culture, U.S. higher education system, the U.S. government and its policies, and provide access to American English language-learning resources. Additionally, organizations must be willing to host official embassy events at least weekly. Such events vary in scope, but will likely include receptions, discussion forums, cultural events, media interviews, official meetings, or lectures. Most events take place in the afternoon or evening, however, some may occur on weekends.

Applications should include a plan for managing a library focused on the United States and English language resources with public events targeted primarily at high school and university students and young professionals, The public events must include a drop-in language club that meets at least weekly, a quarterly book club, and a plan to create Niger’s first “Makerspace” which would offer Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math activities such as coding, robotics, 3D printing, and writers seminars..

In the proposal, organizations should explicitly state whether they have their own space to host the American Corner, or if they would prefer to occupy the site of the former American Cultural Center in the Plateau neighborhood. In either case, applicants must explain their plan for making the American Corner sustainable in that location, knowing that if the Corner is successful it may be eligible for annual funding.

The proposal should budget for at least one full time staff member to manage the American Corner for 40 hours each week. The proposal should include a suggested operating schedule, such as 11:00am-7:00pm Monday – Thursday, 9am-1pm Friday-Saturday. It should also include a budget for internet, computers, some furniture, and other necessary resources. The Embassy will provide a starter collection of library books as well as some computers and a limited amount of furniture.

Participants and Audiences:

The target audiences for successful projects are Nigerien students and young professionals ages 15-40.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 12 months

Number of awards anticipated: 1 award

Award amounts: award may be to a maximum of $70,000

Total available funding: $70,000, pending availability of funds.

Type of Funding: FY21 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

Anticipated program start date: June/July 2021

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements differ slightly from grants in that embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation.

In the case of this program, Embassy Niamey’s Public Diplomacy Section will be significantly involved in the set up and execution of the American Corner in Niamey. The Director of Public Diplomacy, the Cultural Affairs Officer, and the American Spaces team will work closely with the recipient organization to establish an array of public diplomacy programs and events at the host institution which share information about the United States and the highlight U.S. culture. Embassy staff will ensure events and programming match the embassy’s integrated country strategy goals. More information can be found here: ne.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/ICS-Fact-Sheet-English.pdf

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1.     Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

·        Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations

·        Public and private educational institutions

2.     Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not a requirement. However, the panel will consider voluntary cost-sharing during its evaluation. If there are two proposals of about equal strength the tiebreaker will likely favor the organization that provides at least some cost-sharing.

3.     Other Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations.

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.