Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.AU Trade and Investment

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa, has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity titled Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.–AU Trade and Investment. This opportunity is designed to support public diplomacy initiatives that strengthen economic ties between the United States and African Union member states. The funding is administered under the Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds and reflects the Department’s broader mission to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives through economic engagement, trade promotion, and private-sector collaboration. The initiative focuses on enhancing market access for U.S. companies and fostering durable partnerships that lead to measurable increases in trade and investment flows. The core purpose of this program is to deepen U.S.–Africa economic cooperation by supporting projects that promote commercial diplomacy. Applicants are expected to design programs that expand trade and investment connections, promote innovation and technology transfer using U.S. expertise, and improve the enabling environment for U.S. businesses operating in African markets. Activities may include business matchmaking events, workshops led by U.S. experts, sector-specific engagements, and initiatives that address structural barriers to market entry. Projects must demonstrate a clear American component and align with U.S. economic interests while delivering mutual benefits to participating stakeholders. Funding for this opportunity ranges from a minimum of 5,000 dollars to a maximum of 25,000 dollars per award, with a total program funding pool of approximately 40,000 dollars, subject to availability. The period of performance is between 6 and 12 months, and projects must be designed to be completed within this timeframe. While cost sharing is encouraged, it is not required. Certain funding restrictions apply, including prohibitions on construction, direct social services, partisan political activities, and projects that primarily support organizational growth rather than programmatic outcomes. Eligibility is broad and includes nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, business and trade associations, governmental institutions, public international organizations, and individuals. However, for-profit entities are not eligible to apply as primary recipients, though they may participate as subcontractors. Organizations must have a valid Unique Entity Identifier and active registration in SAM.gov, while individuals are exempt from this requirement. Applicants may submit only one proposal, and duplicate or substantially similar submissions will be disqualified. The application process requires submission of standard federal forms such as SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a detailed narrative proposal of up to ten pages. The proposal must include a summary, organizational background, problem statement, program design, timeline, key personnel, partnerships, sustainability plan, and a monitoring and evaluation framework. A detailed budget and budget justification narrative are also required, along with supporting documents such as resumes, letters of support, and proof of nonprofit status. Applications may be submitted via email or through Grants.gov. Applications are evaluated based on several criteria, including program quality and feasibility, organizational capacity, project planning, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Each criterion is weighted, with the highest emphasis placed on the strength and alignment of the program idea with U.S. foreign policy priorities. Successful applicants will be notified within approximately 120 days after the application deadline and must comply with reporting requirements, including quarterly progress and financial reports. The application deadline is June 8, 2026, at 4:59 PM East Africa Time. Projects are expected to begin around October 2026. Questions regarding the application process must be submitted via email and will be addressed through a publicly posted Q&A document. This funding opportunity represents a strategic effort by the U.S. government to leverage public diplomacy tools to expand economic engagement and strengthen bilateral and multilateral trade relationships with the African Union.

Align proposal with U.S. economic interests include measurable outcomes and strong monitoring and evaluation plan demonstrate organizational capacity and clear implementation strategy