U.S. Mission Iraq Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement 2026

The U.S. Mission Iraq Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement is a federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of State through its Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the Public Diplomacy Section in Iraq. The program is designed to support initiatives that strengthen cultural, educational, and professional ties between the United States and Iraq. The funding aligns with broader U.S. foreign policy objectives focused on promoting mutual understanding, countering malign influence, and enhancing economic and institutional partnerships between the two countries. This opportunity provides financial support for projects that incorporate a clear American cultural or institutional component. Programs must demonstrate engagement with American experts, organizations, or perspectives and should promote understanding of U.S. values, policies, or systems. Key programmatic focus areas include academic exchanges, cultural programming, media and digital literacy, English language education, cultural heritage preservation, and economic engagement initiatives. Projects are expected to contribute to outcomes such as increased awareness of U.S. values, strengthened partnerships, and enhanced resilience against misinformation and extremist narratives. Funding is available through multiple award instruments, including grants, cooperative agreements, and fixed amount awards. The distinction between these instruments depends on the level of involvement from the U.S. Mission Iraq during project implementation. Projects must be completed within a period ranging from three to twenty four months. Awards are subject to the availability of federal funds and may be continued beyond the initial budget period based on performance and strategic alignment. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad and includes Iraqi and U.S. nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, individuals, and certain public international or governmental entities. However, for profit entities are not eligible as primary applicants. Applicants must meet registration requirements, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and maintaining an active registration in the System for Award Management. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required, allowing applicants flexibility in structuring their budgets. The application process requires submission of standardized federal forms, a detailed proposal narrative, a comprehensive budget with justification, and supporting documentation such as resumes, partnership letters, and proof of nonprofit status. Proposals must clearly articulate objectives, implementation strategies, monitoring and evaluation plans, and sustainability considerations. Applications are submitted electronically through the MyGrants platform and must comply with strict formatting and documentation requirements. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the final deadline of August 15, 2026. Review cycles occur periodically, with preliminary reviews noted in June and August. Proposals are evaluated based on criteria including program quality, organizational capacity, feasibility, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Successful applicants are typically notified within approximately 120 days after the deadline, and selected projects are expected to begin implementation around September 2026.

Align proposals clearly with U.S. policy priorities demonstrate strong monitoring and evaluation plans and ensure detailed budget justification