Safeguarding U.S. Critical Minerals Supply Chains- Tunisia

The Safeguarding U.S. Critical Minerals Supply Chains Tunisia funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the U.S. Embassy in Tunis. This initiative is part of a broader U.S. foreign assistance strategy designed to advance economic, diplomatic, and security objectives while strengthening commercial ties between the United States and strategic partner countries. The program reflects a commercial diplomacy approach, emphasizing private sector engagement, market-based solutions, and leveraging foreign assistance to catalyze investment rather than relying solely on traditional aid mechanisms. The primary purpose of this grant is to support the development of Tunisia’s phosphate sector by mobilizing U.S. private capital and strengthening supply chain resilience for critical minerals. Tunisia holds significant phosphate reserves, and the program aims to unlock this potential by facilitating investment into PhosCo Ltd, an Australian firm with development rights in the Northwest Mineral Basin. The initiative seeks to mobilize over 100 million dollars in U.S. private capital, generate substantial U.S. exports, and create jobs, while also improving Tunisia’s regulatory and commercial environment. The program includes objectives such as private capital mobilization, development of supply chain agreements, and technical assessments of mineral byproducts. Funding for this opportunity is provided through Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act. The total available funding is 1536511 dollars, with individual awards ranging from 1000000 to 1536511 dollars. The anticipated number of awards is one, though the agency reserves the right to issue up to two or none depending on proposal quality and funding availability. The period of performance is expected to be between 18 and 24 months, with a potential start date of October 1, 2026. Cost sharing is not required but is encouraged and may be used as a tie-breaking factor during evaluation. Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations such as U.S. and U.S.-aligned for-profit companies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental entities. However, applicants must meet stringent eligibility requirements, including active registration in SAM.gov, possession of a Unique Entity Identifier, and demonstrated experience in managing U.S. government-funded programs. Additional requirements include expertise in critical minerals, commercial diplomacy, and project finance, as well as experience operating in North Africa or similar contexts. Applicants may form consortia to meet these requirements. The application process requires submission through the Department of State’s MyGrants system. Applicants must complete mandatory federal forms such as SF-424 and SF-424A, and submit a comprehensive proposal including a narrative, budget, logic model, monitoring and evaluation plan, and risk mitigation strategy. The proposal must clearly articulate project goals, implementation methods, timelines, and expected outcomes. Additional supporting documents include resumes of key personnel, letters of support, and any applicable compliance documentation. All materials must be submitted in English and adhere to strict formatting guidelines. Applications are due by September 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Questions may be submitted until August 18, 2026, after which responses will be shared publicly. The review process includes a merit-based evaluation assessing strategic alignment, commercial impact, financial viability, institutional capacity, and monitoring and evaluation plans. Awards are expected to be announced by October 1, 2026. The program includes substantial involvement from the U.S. government, particularly in approving key activities and facilitating partnerships. Recipients of the award must comply with extensive reporting and administrative requirements, including quarterly progress and financial reports. Monitoring, evaluation, and learning are central to the program, with recipients required to dedicate at least three percent of the budget to these activities. The program is not recurring and represents a time-sensitive opportunity aligned with current geopolitical and economic priorities. Contact for this opportunity is NEA-Grants@state.gov.

Align proposal closely with US commercial diplomacy goals demonstrate clear pathways to private capital mobilization and provide strong evidence of technical and regional expertise