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

The U.S. Mission Iraq Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement is administered by the U.S. Department of State through its Public Diplomacy Section in Iraq. This funding opportunity supports initiatives that strengthen cultural, educational, and people-to-people ties between the United States and Iraq. The program is funded through Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy funds and reflects broader U.S. foreign policy objectives of promoting stability, prosperity, and mutual understanding. The opportunity is structured as an Annual Program Statement, allowing applicants to submit proposals aligned with clearly defined priority areas throughout the application window. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that highlight American values, expertise, and systems while fostering collaboration between Iraqi and U.S. individuals and institutions. Projects must include a clear U.S. cultural element or engagement with American experts or organizations. Priority program areas include academic exchanges, cultural programming, media and digital freedom initiatives, English language development, cultural preservation, and economic engagement. Additional emphasis is placed on countering misinformation, promoting freedom of speech, and strengthening economic partnerships in sectors such as energy, technology, healthcare, and education. Funding is available for a range of project types, with awards ranging from 25,000 to 500,000 dollars and a total program funding pool of 5,000,000 dollars. Projects must be completed within a period of 3 to 24 months. Funding instruments may include grants, cooperative agreements, or fixed amount awards, with some level of involvement from the U.S. Mission depending on the mechanism. Allowable expenses include programmatic costs, personnel, travel, and monitoring and evaluation, while restrictions prohibit funding for construction, direct social services, partisan political activities, religious programming, and commercial ventures. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes Iraqi and U.S.-based nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, individuals, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. However, for-profit entities are not eligible to apply as prime recipients. Organizations must typically maintain registration in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier, although individuals are exempt from this requirement. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required, allowing applicants flexibility in structuring their proposals. The application process requires submission through the MyGrants platform and includes several mandatory components. Applicants must complete standard federal forms such as SF-424 and submit a detailed proposal of up to ten pages outlining objectives, methodology, timeline, and expected outcomes. Additional requirements include a monitoring and evaluation plan, a detailed budget with justification, resumes of key personnel, and supporting documentation such as proof of nonprofit status and organizational registration. Proposals must clearly demonstrate alignment with program goals and include measurable objectives and a sustainability plan. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the final deadline of August 15, 2026, with review cycles occurring periodically, including in June and August 2026. Questions regarding the application process must be submitted by June 30, 2026, and responses are provided publicly. Applicants can expect notification of funding decisions within approximately 120 days after the deadline. Successful proposals are evaluated based on criteria such as program quality, organizational capacity, feasibility, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Following award selection, recipients must comply with federal reporting requirements, including quarterly program and financial reports and final reports at the end of the project period. Additional compliance requirements include adherence to federal regulations, branding guidelines, and risk assessment procedures. This program is expected to recur annually, providing ongoing opportunities for organizations to engage in public diplomacy initiatives that strengthen ties between the United States and Iraq.

Ensure strong alignment with U.S. policy objectives include measurable outcomes detailed M&E plans and realistic budgets demonstrating organizational capacity