Public Diplomacy Grants/Small Grants Program - Ghana

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy Accra Public Diplomacy Section, is offering the Public Diplomacy Grants/Small Grants Program - Ghana under funding opportunity SGHANA-PDS-FY26-001. The program is an Annual Program Statement supporting projects that advance U.S.-Ghana bilateral relations and U.S. foreign policy priorities in Ghana and West Africa. The Embassy seeks programs that contribute clearly to U.S. foreign policy priorities and positively affect America's reputation among Ghanaian government partners and publics. The program emphasizes emerging voices such as youth, students, and young professionals; established opinion leaders such as business executives, academics, policymakers, and military leadership; press and media professionals; and partner organizations including NGOs, think tanks, business associations, universities, and law enforcement institutions. Proposals must support one of two principal program goals. The first is to strengthen the U.S.-Ghana partnership and shared values by deepening bilateral ties, celebrating democratic values, promoting mutual understanding, and recognizing the United States' 250th anniversary of independence in 2026 and 70 years of U.S.-Ghana diplomatic relations in 2027. Potential outcomes include commemorative cultural and educational programming, religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue, engagement of U.S. government exchange alumni, American arts and culture activities, and professional development supporting freedom of speech and the press. The second goal is to advance economic prosperity and innovation through U.S.-Ghana collaboration. Activities may promote U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, STEM, innovation, trade, entrepreneurship, commercial engagement, and stronger institutional and economic relationships. Approximately USD 120,000 is available, subject to availability of funds. The Embassy anticipates making approximately two to eight awards, depending on award amounts. Individual awards may range from approximately USD 15,000 to USD 60,000. The performance period is stated as three to ten months, proposed projects should be completed within ten months or less, and the anticipated project start is within 90 days of award. Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but is not required. Funding cannot support partisan political activity, charitable or development activities including direct social services, construction, specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying, scientific research or surveys, commercial projects, organizational growth or institutional development as the primary purpose, duplication of existing projects, or illegal activities. Additional restrictions apply to UNRWA funding, certain migration-related activities, prohibited unmanned aircraft systems, pre-award costs, construction, and direct social services. Award funds also cannot be used for alcoholic beverages or entertainment-related expenses. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations such as think tanks and civil society or nongovernmental organizations, public and private educational institutions, individuals, Public International Organizations, and governmental institutions. For-profit entities are not eligible. Organizations may subcontract with other entities, but the solicitation states that only one non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient when subcontracting, and responsibilities must be clearly defined. Organizations generally must have a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration, while individuals are exempt from those registration requirements. An organization may submit only one proposal; if an organization submits more than one proposal, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible. Applications require the applicable SF-424 or SF-424-I, SF-424A, and, when applicable, SF-424B. Applicants must provide a proposal of no more than five pages containing a proposal summary, applicant introduction and relevant experience, problem statement, program methods and activities, measurable goals and objectives, deliverables, project schedule and timeline, key personnel, project partners, sustainability information, and a Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Monitoring Plan. The monitoring plan must include If-Then statements and a short datasheet identifying activities and indicators. Applicants must also submit a detailed line-item budget and budget justification narrative. Required attachments include one-page resumes or qualifying position descriptions for key personnel, applicable partner letters of support, the latest NICRA when indirect costs are charged under an existing agreement, proof of nonprofit status, proof of registration, and a security package addressing relevant transportation, lodging, emergency accountability, evacuation, and security procedures. All documents must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, and required signatures must be supplied. Applications may be submitted at any time before the closing date and must be sent by email to pdsaccragrant@state.gov. Email submissions must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line. Questions about the solicitation must be received at pdsaccragrant@state.gov by August 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The final application deadline is August 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST, and applications will not be accepted after that date. Eligible submissions undergo technical screening followed by review by a technical review panel. Applications are scored for quality and feasibility of the program idea at 30 points, organizational capacity and previous grant record at 25 points, project planning and ability to achieve objectives at 20 points, budget at 10 points, monitoring and evaluation at 10 points, and sustainability at 5 points. Equivalent scores may be resolved in favor of the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate. Applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the APS deadline regarding review panel results. Before an award is made, the Department will conduct the required risk review, including consideration of financial stability, management systems and standards, performance history, audit findings, and the applicant's ability to implement project requirements. Successful recipients will receive a written award administered by the Grants Officer and may incur project expenses only from the authorized start date. Recipients will be required to submit financial and program reports, with most recipients expected to report quarterly; progress and financial reports are generally due 30 days after each reporting period and final certified programmatic and financial reports are due 120 days after the project period closes. The solicitation does not state a future application cycle date or expressly establish a recurring submission schedule beyond identifying the solicitation as an Annual Program Statement.

Align the project directly with current U.S. foreign policy priorities and the stated U.S.-Ghana program goals; define innovative and achievable objectives, target audiences, geographic implementation, recruitment, activities, and a realistic timeline; demonstrate relevant organizational expertise, internal controls, fiscal management capacity, and responsible performance on previous grants; provide a detailed and accurately determined budget with reasonable, allowable, and allocable costs rather than rough estimates; include measurable output and outcome indicators with milestones and explain how and when results will be measured; clearly explain how project benefits or goals will be sustained after grant activities end.