Strengthening Strategic Partnerships through Expert Engagement

The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil, is offering a funding opportunity titled Advancing U.S. Priorities in Brazil: Speaker and Specialist Program. This initiative is designed to strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Brazil by facilitating knowledge exchange and professional collaboration across key sectors. The program will support the implementation of a speaker and specialist engagement platform that brings American experts to Brazil to engage with local institutions and professionals. The overarching goal is to foster sustained partnerships and promote mutual understanding aligned with U.S. foreign policy priorities. The program focuses on thematic areas such as energy, innovation, freedom of expression, public safety, technology, and commercial development. Activities funded under this opportunity are expected to include lectures, workshops, seminars, and training sessions delivered both in person and virtually. These engagements are intended to provide practical expertise, enhance professional skills, and encourage dialogue between U.S. specialists and Brazilian stakeholders. The program is expected to deliver approximately 15 to 30 engagements across multiple regions in Brazil, reaching at least 500 participants from government, academia, industry, and civil society. Funding for this opportunity is provided through FY Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds, with a total anticipated award of up to 250,000 dollars. Only one award is expected to be issued, and projects must be completed within a performance period of 12 to 36 months. Funds may be used for program implementation costs such as travel, logistics, speaker coordination, translation services, and event execution. However, funding cannot be used for activities such as construction, direct social services, partisan political activity, fundraising, or scientific research. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and NGOs, as well as public and private educational institutions. For-profit entities are not eligible to serve as the primary recipient, though subcontracting arrangements are permitted. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier. Only one proposal per organization is allowed. The application process requires submission of standard federal forms (SF-424 and SF-424A), a detailed narrative proposal, a monitoring and evaluation plan, a detailed budget, and supporting documentation such as resumes and proof of nonprofit status. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to the designated grants inbox. The deadline for submission is June 22, 2026 at 23:59 Brasília time, as stated in the NOFO overview section. Questions regarding the opportunity must be submitted by June 15, 2026. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria including program quality and feasibility, organizational capacity, project planning, budget justification, and monitoring and evaluation approach. Successful applicants are expected to demonstrate strong alignment with U.S. foreign policy goals and the ability to deliver measurable outcomes. The review process includes an initial eligibility screening followed by a technical evaluation by a review panel. Applicants will typically be notified of results within 120 days after the application deadline. The selected recipient will enter into a cooperative agreement with the Department of State, which includes substantial involvement from the U.S. Embassy in Brazil in areas such as program design, speaker selection, and monitoring. The anticipated project start date is September 1, 2026, and award recipients will be required to comply with reporting, financial management, and branding requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

Align proposal closely with U.S. foreign policy priorities demonstrate measurable outcomes include detailed implementation plan and strong M&E framework ensure budget justification is precise and realistic