Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy Harare Public Diplomacy Section, is offering funding under the U.S. Embassy Harare, PD Annual Program Statement, opportunity number AF-HAR-FY26-03. The Public Diplomacy Section administers this opportunity as part of its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. The program seeks to strengthen networks between the people of the United States and Zimbabwe through activities highlighting shared goals and values. Every proposed program must include an American component in a specific field, and proposals incorporating strong American components will receive priority. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning the Embassy expects substantial involvement in implementation, including participation in key decisions, approval of work plans or deliverables, monitoring, and collaboration on program design and evaluation. Projects should support one or more Embassy priority areas: commercial diplomacy and U.S.-Zimbabwe trade, artificial intelligence for improved prosperity, cybersecurity, technology literacy and resilience, free speech, and American excellence in education, media, sports, creative industries, and civil society. The four stated program goals address free speech and open expression; U.S.-Zimbabwe commercial ties and economic prosperity; emerging technology and artificial intelligence; and professional networks and people-to-people ties. Desired results include greater media literacy and stronger independent media, expanded bilateral trade and market access, increased use of American technology and AI, and stronger professional and alumni networks with sustained engagement between Zimbabweans and U.S. counterparts. Applicants may propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority areas. The announcement anticipates three awards, dependent on award amounts, with $30,000 in total available funding pending funding availability. The official NOFO states that individual awards may range from $10,000 to $20,000. The expected performance period is 12 to 18 months, and proposed projects must be completed within 18 months. Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but is not required. Funding cannot support partisan political activity, charitable or development activities including direct social services, construction, specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying, scientific research or surveys, commercial projects, projects primarily intended for organizational growth or institutional development, projects duplicating existing efforts, or illegal activities. Award funds also cannot be used for alcoholic beverages and entertainment-related expenses. Pre-award costs are generally unallowable unless approved in advance by the Grants Officer and justified in the proposal. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations such as think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations, public and private educational institutions, individuals, Public International Organizations, and governmental institutions. For-profit entities are ineligible. Organizations may subcontract with other entities, but the prime recipient must be a single non-profit, non-governmental entity and subcontracting responsibilities must be clearly described. Organizations generally must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain an active SAM.gov registration, while individuals are exempt from those registration requirements. The announcement also provides a case-by-case exemption process for qualifying organizations. Applicants with exclusions in SAM are not eligible for an assistance award. Applications follow a two-stage process. The controlling submission section of the NOFO establishes September 9, 2026 as the concept note deadline. Stage 1 requires a concept note of no more than three to five pages addressing the proposed project, objectives and expected outcomes, target beneficiaries and geographic focus, estimated budget range, and organizational capacity and relevant experience. Selected applicants are expected to be notified by September 10, 2026 and invited to Stage 2. Invited applicants have until September 13, 2026 to submit the full application. Full applications submitted without an approved concept note and invitation will not be reviewed. Required full-application materials include the applicable SF-424 or SF-424-I, SF-424A, SF-424B when applicable, a complete narrative proposal, detailed line-item budget, budget justification narrative, monitoring and evaluation plan, resumes or position descriptions for key personnel, partner support letters where applicable, the latest NICRA where applicable, proof of nonprofit status, and proof of registration. Applications must be submitted by email to PublicDiplomacyGrants-ZIM@state.gov with the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line. Applications are evaluated for quality and feasibility of the program idea for 30 points, organizational capacity and record on previous grants for 25 points, project planning and ability to achieve objectives for 20 points, budget for 10 points, monitoring and evaluation for 10 points, and sustainability for 5 points. Reviewers consider alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities, potential effects on America's reputation, clear and achievable objectives, implementation capacity, responsible financial management, reasonable and allowable costs, measurable indicators, milestones, and continuation or advancement of project goals after the award. If two or more applications receive equivalent scores, preference is given to the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate as a tie-breaking mechanism. Technically incomplete applications are considered ineligible. Applicants will generally receive notification of review results within 120 days after the APS deadline. The Grants Officer will issue and administer any resulting award, and recipients may incur project expenses only from the start date stated in the signed award document. The NOFO identifies a rolling anticipated project start beginning in September 2026. Most recipients will be required to submit quarterly program progress and financial reports, generally due 30 days after each reporting period, with final certified programmatic and financial reports due 120 days after the project period closes. Questions about the application process should be directed to PublicDiplomacyGrants-ZIM@state.gov. The Grants.gov listing also provides the Mission Harare Public Affairs Grants Management Team phone number 02428677011000. The opportunity is an Annual Program Statement; for data planning purposes, the next cycle is anticipated in August 2027 based on the current cycle's August posting month, although the source does not explicitly announce the next cycle's dates.

Use a strong American component because all programs must include one and projects with strong American components are prioritized. Align the project directly with one or more Embassy priority areas and current U.S. foreign policy priorities. Make objectives clear, achievable, measurable, and supported by a realistic implementation timeline. Provide detailed, reasonable, allowable, and allocable costs rather than rough estimates. Include a substantive M&E plan with output and outcome indicators, milestones, and measurement timing. Explain sustainability beyond the award period. Ensure every required form and document is included because technically incomplete submissions are ineligible. For tied scores, a lower indirect cost rate receives preference.