Africa Regional Services Paris Annual Program Statement: ARS Speaker Program

The Africa Regional Services Paris Speaker Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State through its Bureau of African Affairs, specifically the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. This initiative is designed to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities across sub-Saharan Africa by facilitating engagement between American experts and diverse African audiences. The program operates by maintaining a vetted roster of U.S. citizen speakers, artists, and athletes or coaches who can be deployed for short-term public diplomacy engagements. These engagements aim to strengthen mutual understanding, promote American values and expertise, and support long-term partnerships between the United States and African nations. The program’s core purpose is to support outreach activities that align with strategic themes such as security cooperation, economic development, innovation, and cultural exchange. It also emphasizes the celebration of American achievements, particularly in alignment with initiatives like the 250th anniversary of the United States and the Decade of Sport in America. Activities funded under this program may include lectures, workshops, artistic performances, athletic training sessions, and other forms of professional exchange. These programs can be conducted either in person or virtually, depending on the needs of U.S. embassies and consulates in the region. Funding is provided through small grants awarded to individuals selected from the roster when their expertise matches a specific request from a U.S. diplomatic mission in Africa. The total funding available for the program is $50,000, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $12,000. The performance period for funded activities is between one and twelve months. Funding supports programmatic costs associated with delivering outreach activities, but it does not support activities such as partisan political engagement, construction, scientific research, or institutional development unrelated to public diplomacy objectives. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to U.S. citizen individuals with demonstrated expertise in relevant subject areas. Applicants must be capable of delivering programming in English and either French or Portuguese, with strong preference given to those proficient in both. Eligible individuals may reside in the United States, Africa, Brazil, or Europe. Organizations, non-U.S. citizens, and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply. Applicants must also provide proof of U.S. citizenship and meet administrative requirements such as possessing a Social Security Number for reporting purposes. The application process begins with the submission of a Statement of Interest through an online form, followed by the submission of supporting documents via email. Required materials include a description of expertise and proposed topics, language proficiency details, presentation style, prior experience, credentials, a passport copy, and a résumé or CV. After submission, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by a Grants Review Committee. Selected candidates are invited for an interview and language assessment before being added to the speaker roster. Evaluation criteria focus on subject matter expertise, relevant experience, language ability, and the clarity and alignment of proposed topics with program priorities. Inclusion on the roster does not guarantee funding; instead, roster members are contacted when opportunities arise that match their skills. The application deadline for Statements of Interest is August 31, 2026, and the anticipated program start date is June 1, 2026. Awards are contingent upon funding availability, and selected participants must comply with federal grant regulations and reporting requirements, including submission of final program and financial reports.

Align expertise with priority program areas emphasize language proficiency and provide strong evidence of prior speaking or training experience