Federal Capacity Building Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that aim to enhance survivor involvement in anti-human trafficking programs by developing training, resources, and collaborative networks.

This program provides funding to libraries, archives, and educational institutions to develop a skilled and diverse workforce capable of meeting the evolving information needs of communities across the United States.

This program provides funding to foster collaborations among researchers, data management experts, and libraries to improve the accessibility and sustainability of research data across various scientific fields.

This program provides financial support to Tribal Colleges for improving facilities and purchasing essential equipment to enhance education and community access for Native American students.

This notice is subject to availability of funding. A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Belgrade, announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project that will establish a network of researchers, analysts, business leaders, and/or journalists in the Western Balkans, who promote responsible trade and foreign direct investment. This includes considerations for stewardship of the environment, development of human capital, advancement of long-term prosperity built on a market- and rule of law-based system, and engagement with Euro-Atlantic commercial and analytical partners. This network of diversified stakeholders will investigate the current effects of trade and FDI on economic growth in the six Western Balkan states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia), evaluate free trade agreements, promote Euro-Atlantic trade, and create mechanisms to maintain this network to promote economic reform that interests key stakeholders, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and academia.Please follow all instructions below. A.1 BackgroundThe six Western Balkan countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia can be considered small, open economies that have varying degrees of reliance on trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) for growth.The qualities that allow a country to trade and to attract FDI, however, do not always promote long-term prosperity. Economic reforms aimed at (i) improving resource allocation by eliminating market-distorting policies, (ii) minimizing the regulatory burden on business, (iii) reducing FDI volatility by increasing political and economic stability, and (iv) removing natural resource dependence by diversifying the economy can benefit the Western Balkan countries and induce growth in the long run. Moreover, continued integration with Euro-Atlantic commercial and academic institutions, including through trade and investment, often can enhance long-term prosperity in the Western Balkans.A.2 GoalsThe first goal of this project is to establish a network of researchers, analysts, business leaders, and/or journalists in the Western Balkans, who promote Euro-Atlantic trade, responsible foreign direct investment, stewardship of the environment, development of human capital, long-term prosperity built on a market- and rule of law-based system, and engagement with Euro-Atlantic commercial and analytical partners. This network of diversified stakeholders will investigate the current effects of trade and FDI on economic growth in the six West Balkan states and promote Euro-Atlantic integration through a trade and investment forum as well as through public discourse. A second goal is to create mechanisms to maintain this network, which will promote economic reforms that interest key stakeholders, including the government of Serbia, the Serbian civil society and private sector, in addition to the Serbian academic society.A.3 Expected ResultsIllustrative examples of anticipated program outcomes include: Publicly accessible information on the current effect of free trade agreements and FDI on economic growth in the six West Balkan states. In particular, this should emphasize the positive impacts of Euro-Atlantic trade and investment in the Western Balkans, A significant trade and investment forum to promote Euro-Atlantic commercial relations with the Western Balkans, Greater public awareness of and expert attention to the environmental effects of FDI, Greater public awareness of and expert attention to FDIs effects on human capital, for example the creation of jobs overall as well as the creation of high-level, high-wage employment in leadership and management positions of foreign-owned companies in the Western Balkans, Development and/or implementation of local, national, or European Union-led strategies to mitigate risks associated with existing FDI in infrastructure, mining, auto and battery production sectors. These risks might include the potential for exploitation of cheap labor and resources and the risk of cultural clashes and political instability.A.4 Main ActivitiesIllustrative examples of program activities include: Development of a public trade and FDI portal and creation of a mechanism to ensure it continues beyond the two-year program of the grant, Organizing and hosting a trade and investment forum in the Western Balkans and creation of a mechanism to ensure the forum has long-lasting spillover effects, commercial, political, and/or analytical, Articles and op-eds published in local languages and/or English discussing trade and FDI and emphasizing, when possible, the positive impact of Euro-Atlantic investment and trade, Roundtable discussions in covered countries, organized by local partners, to publicize findings and galvanize responses.A.5 Performance IndicatorsThe project should aim to have an impact that leads to measurable increases in public awareness of trade and FDI, increased public attention regarding the positive impacts of EU and transatlantic commercial ties and investment, and evidence of continuing networking on relevant issues in the Western Balkan region. A catalog of the number of media stories with such an emphasis could be an indicator of success. New and widely publicized data regarding positive impact of Euro-Atlantic trade and investment on job creation, especially high-wage managerial positions, would be another indicator as would an increase in such job creation, though the latter would take several years to produce. In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, programs should implement strategies for integration and inclusion of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries that can bring perspectives based on their religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, political affiliation, or veterans status. Programs should be demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible. All programs should be non-discriminatory, and implementers should include strategies for nondiscrimination of individuals/ organizations/beneficiaries based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, or veterans status.Priority Region: Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia)B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: Up to 36 monthsNumber of awards anticipated: 1Award amount: $500,000Total available funding: $500,000Type of Solicitation: Open CompetitionType of Funding: FY23/24 AEECA Funds under the Foreign Assistance ActAnticipated program start date: Your project should start no earlier than October 1, 2024, and no later than September 30, 2025.Funding Instrument Type: GrantProgram Performance Period: Proposed program activities should be completed in 36 months or less. (This includes the time for assessment and evaluation, as well as the drafting of the final report.)The Department of State may entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants: The following entities, from one of the six Western Balkan countries or from the United States, are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks, business associations, universities, and civil society/non-governmental organizationsIndividuals may not apply for this program.2. Cost Sharing or Matching.Cost sharing is allowed but not required and will not impact funding decisions.While filling out the application, you will be required to tell us whether you are also receiving funding from other donors for your project. Please be aware, however, that you must be able to carry out all the activities described in your application with the funding you receive, even if the contributions from other donors or other funding sources fail to materialize.3. Other Eligibility Requirements.In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.If an applicant has already received a grant from the U.S. Embassy the grant period for the new project will overlap with the existing one, or if an organization has submitted more than one project proposal, please use section y in the application form to explain how you will manage more than one project and describe your capacity to do so.4. Funding Restrictions.You may NOT apply for this grant if your project: involves partisan political activity; involves charitable activities and/or the distribution of humanitarian aid; is a fundraising campaign; is commercial in nature, i.e., you or a project partner are making money from this project, or the activity supports a current or future business or entrepreneurial venture. involves the provision of health care or services, childcare, food subsidies, or other social services to populations.This funding opportunity aims to support specific projects with objectives which can be achieved within a set timeframe. We will not accept applications which are aimed more broadly at supporting your organizations usual or typical daily activities and operations. Those will be deemed technically ineligible and will not be considered for funding by the review committee.For this particular NOFO, grant funding can be used to cover the cost of international travel as an essential part of the project.As a general rule, participants or audiences should not be charged for taking part in any the U.S. Embassy Belgrade-funded activity. If you envisage that your project activity will not be free for some reason, please contact the U.S. Embassy Belgrade while you are in the process of completing the application to see whether that could be allowed. Depending on the funding source, the U.S. Embassy Belgrade might be able to support your project, but only if you can demonstrate how the revenue generated will be used to support the larger objectives and explain that your organization will profit from the modest entrance fee.See also Guidelines for Budget Justification under Section H in the full text of the NOFO for more information on budget items.D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Requesting the Application Package Application forms required below are available at https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/ and www.grants.gov.2. Content and Form of Application SubmissionPlease follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.Please ensure that: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity All documents are in English All budgets are in U.S. dollars All pages are numbered All documents are formatted to 8 x 11 or A4 paper, and All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.The following documents are required:a. SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance organizations)b. SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)c. SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) if the applicant is an organization whose registration in SAM.gov is still pending.d. the U.S. Embassy Belgrade Grant Application Form for Fiscal Year 2024. Note: Detailed directions for filling out the grant application are included with the form.e. Budget Justification Narrative (Excel Spreadsheet): After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use the Excel spreadsheet template to describe and explain each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.f. Attachments 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner, if applicable. Official permission letters, if required for program activities. Proof of SAM registration. If you still have not completed SAM.gov registration, a screenshot from SAM.gov reflecting that you have started the process.Please follow all the instructions when filling out the Application Form. 3.Required Registrations:All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee. Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.4. Submission Dates and Times: Applications are due no later than August 28, 2024.5. Other Submission Requirements: All application materials must be submitted by email to BLGECON@state.If the U.S. Embassy Belgrade does not receive a complete project proposal at the above address by the deadline, it will be considered technically ineligible and will not be considered for funding. 6. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates: The U.S. Embassy Belgrade anticipates that final funding decisions will be made by September 13, 2024. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTSIf you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: BLGECON@state.For detailed information please see the full text of the Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Related Documents tab ..

Eligible applicants are those that have been congressionally identified to receive FY24 funds for CD Community Project funding. Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-47). Other non-specified entities may not receive replacement grants or serve as successors-in-interest after the award is made. Application must address activities consistent with the purpose identified by Congress. The amount requested cannot exceed the amount identified by Congress.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for short-term projects that enhance local governance, infrastructure, education, and public safety in U.S. territories and freely associated states.

The United States Agency for International Developments (USAID) Mission to the Pacific Islands is developing a new program entitled Pacific Economic Growth Activity (PEG). The Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance (ROAA)/USAID Pacific Islands has drafted preliminary technical requirements for the purpose of market research and also to provide industry implementers and stakeholders an opportunity to review, comment, suggest and enhance areas of the draft document. It also provides an advance opportunity for interested parties to establish teaming arrangements and identify key personnel in the event a solicitation is issued. It is anticipated that this technical requirements draft will result in a final Statement of Objectives or Program Description that may lead to a formal solicitation issued for response. It is anticipated that this requirement will result in two separate awards with an expected period of performance of five years within an award range of $15-$18 million for Papua New Guinea/Solomon Islands/Vanuatu (PNG/SI/VAN) and $18-$22 million for Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu. Responses (comments, suggestions, and enhancements) to this RFI are due to the procurement office by July 24, 2024. Please email responses to manilaroaarfp@usaid.gov. Please include the subject title Response to PEG RFI in the e-mail subject line to ensure the response is directed appropriately.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Native American communities to develop sustainable economic projects, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance local infrastructure and social systems.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based organizations that develop and implement programs to help older adults with behavioral health conditions manage chronic diseases effectively.

This funding opportunity provides financial and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations and Tribal entities to strengthen their capacity for housing and community development projects in low-income rural areas.

The U.S. Embassy Algiers of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a capacity building exchange program with U.S. National Parks Service that will support Algerian efforts in remote site monitoring of Tassili Najjer and Ahaggar Cultural Parks. Please follow all instructions below.

This grant provides funding to higher education institutions that serve significant populations of Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students, helping them improve academic programs and institutional capacity.

This grant provides funding to Alaska Native tribes and organizations for community-specific projects that enhance self-sufficiency through social, economic, and governance development.

This funding opportunity is designed to support local nonprofit children's advocacy centers in enhancing their services and training related to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases across four U.S. regions.

The U.S. Department of State through Embassy Bridgetown announces an open competition for a project to strengthen independent medias ability to increase access to objective and quality information in the Eastern Caribbean. Media outlets across the Caribbean face challenges including declining revenue sources and expensive operating environments. These challenges are compounded by the fact that many outlets have been traditionally under resourced. Media enterprises are suffering loss of advertising revenue and other funding streams. Many media houses also have gaps in adapting to the financial and editorial challenges of the current age and may lack fully developed business plans, leaving the outlets open to potential malign influence or interference efforts. Outlets also lack up-to-date equipment, computers, and software, hampering their ability to produce high-quality and timely content. Further, many operate under austere conditions and struggle to produce enough original, local content, exacerbating their vulnerability to disinformation, propaganda, and co-optation. Assistance is needed to ensure that journalists, outlets, and other media-related institutions have access to the training, networks, content, and equipment they need to resist false narratives and maintain a free and diverse media ecosystem. Embassy Bridgetown and partners seek to build the capacity of Eastern Caribbean media outlets using a third-party implementer. The implementer will scope its approach based on the following lines of efforts: Training and capacity building: training to include but not limited to: methods to increase content production on a wide range of stories, how to expand reach and advertising revenue, how to develop sustainable business models and plans, fact checking and other core journalistic skills, identifying and countering disinformation, and better educating the general public on how to spot disinformation. A training centered around World Press Freedom Day and multimedia training will be built into the program deliverables. Mentorship and network building: mentorship on journalism and media production skills building and financial/business practices. Network building to support joint reporting and fact-checking, and to create a sustainable community of practice that can share best practices beyond the life of this project. Content provision: providing Caribbean media outlets with access to wire service licenses to enable them to run high-quality, independent, third-party content (Associated Press in English, for instance). Content provision may draw on collaboration with other international wire services to offer an aggregated package to local media partners that they could pull from to disseminate themselves. Supplies: providing up-to-date media equipment, computers, and software on an objectively assessed needs basis to support independent, locally developed news content. Embassy Bridgetown seeks proposals that will provide financial and technical assistance to small and medium-sized media outlets to strengthen their ability to safely produce and disseminate accurate information to audiences in the Eastern Caribbean. The goal of this project is to support the independence of regional journalists and media outlets to increase access to information within the domestic and regional media ecosystems.

The U.S. Embassy Praia of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to economically empower and increase employment opportunities for at least 100 female, informal workers, through targeted capacity building, awareness, training, and other activities to be proposed by the organizations. Official data show that poverty in Cabo Verde disproportionately impacts women. Government officials and civil society representatives recognize that poverty has a female face. Poverty among women contributes to other issues as well. Women living in poverty, including informal and domestic workers, are particularly susceptible to abuse and gender-based violence, and sexual harassment. Lack of knowledge and of access to important information, including on their legal rights, also creates vulnerabilities for this group. For women with children, parental responsibilities sometimes hinder the ability of women to compete in the labor market and secure quality jobs. In Cabo Verde, over 60.1 percent of single parent families are led by women. Data suggest that women face more challenges in finding jobs. The latest survey on the informal sector found that 62.5 percent of informal workers are women, and their income is 28.7 percent less than men engaged in similar activities. Data indicate that more than 25 percent of Cabo Verdean women are domestic workers, from those more that 90 percent do not have a work contract and only 10 percent are enrolled in the social security system. Informal jobs are extremely vulnerable to shocks, as confirmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many women remain unemployed or engaged in precarious work. Project proposals should address the above problems by strengthening the capacity of women through the acquisition of relevant business management skills and practical tools, as well providing knowledge about their rights, all of which will improve their knowledge and skillset, and help women compete for better, more stable employment opportunities. The proposed implementation strategy should involve relevant expertise and know-how in the design and implementation phases of the project and include relevant partnerships with non-governmental, community-based organizations, municipalities, central government departments, and/or other relevant entities. Proposed projects should build monitoring and evaluation - including time-bound milestones for performance/results into the project. Participants and Audiences: Main project beneficiaries are female, informal workers (with majority being domestic workers). Priority Region: Project activities will be implemented in Cabo Verde. Project proposals should identify targeted island(s). Preference will be given to projects that propose a more inclusive and national approach, aligned with the available budget and anticipated period of performance. Program Goal: By the end of the performance period, the project will economically empower and increase employment opportunities for at least 100 women informal workers, with a majority being domestic workers, through targeted capacity building and awareness. Program Objectives: Objective 1: Equip female, informal workers, particularly domestic workers, with knowledge and skillset to access safer and more secure employment. Objective 2: Enhance the knowledge of informal workers, particularly domestic workers, regarding their rights. Objective 3: Organize relevant stakeholders to advocate for legal and procedural reforms for the benefit of informal workers, with a focus on issues and barriers facing domestic workers. Expected Results: Expected results of the program must at least include: At least 100 women adequately identified and trained in small business management and other practical training, and with stronger knowledge about their rights and duties. Selected women must represent diverse participants inclusive of marginalized populations. Support at least 100 women find an improved employment opportunity, including self-employment. A measurable increase in awareness of workers rights, including the rights of domestic workers. Further advance reforms for the benefit of female, informal workers. Main Activities: Detailed activities should be proposed by applicants, and should include at minimum: - Include a planning phase to clarify projects activities; public presentation of the project on the targeted islands; mapping and liaison with key partners on the beneficiary islands and at the central level, including through the establishment of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for relevant partnerships for project implementation; technical and logistical organization of the trainings and awareness campaigns. The projects technical team will work together with the partners to design the training program, awareness campaign and other project activities, and select the beneficiary women, trainers and other needs based on the implementation approach. - Implement capacity building which should include topics such as Small Business Management, Financial Education, Marketing and Stock Management, Gender/Gender Based Violence/ Harassment in the informal working environment, Workers Rights and Duties Health and Safety at Work, and Caregiver Training as an employment opportunity, and any others identified by the applicant. Proposed training modules should include the number of days required for completion, and criteria to be considered for a successful completion. - Design and implement a competitive cash award program for the establishment or sustainable continuation of a small business, with clear processes and criteria, to benefit women that had successfully completed training activities. The applicant should explain how these disbursements will be tracked and success measured.- Implement information and awareness campaigns on informal and domestic workers rights and duties. - Implement advocacy activities to advance reforms that would benefit female, informal and domestic workers. Performance Indicators: The project should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time bound. Applicants should establish, where possible, performance targets for each expected result and include details on sources that will be used to document performance, how the indicators will be measured and frequency of measurement. Applicants shall use and add indicators to the list below and insert it in the proposed application document. Subsequent to the award, periodic reporting of indicators will be required. - Number of women trained.- Number with increased economic opportunities as a result of the program, including engaged in income generating activities and self-employment. - Number of information campaigns informal and domestic workers rights and duties (radio, TV, social media) implemented.- Number of civil society organizations supported with project funds (sex disaggregated)- Meetings with government officials (or others to advance reforms). Although reflected in the preliminary indicators above, the following indicators are required: - Percentage of female participants in USG-assisted programs designed to increase access to productive economic resources (e.g., assets, credit, income, or employment).- Number of persons trained with USG assistance to advance outcomes consistent with gender equality or female empowerment through their roles in public or private sector and/or civil society institutions or organizations (sex disaggregated).- Percent of individuals with better employment following participation in USG-assisted workforce development programs (sex disaggregated).The funding will be for U.S. Government Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 (ESF/Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Fund.)This notice is subject to availability of funding.

The anticipated funding opportunity announcement (FOA) aims to support research and development projects under the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). The goals include the demonstration of smart charge management for electric vehicles, improvement of 12-volt lead-acid batteries for safety-critical electric vehicle applications, development of strategies to reduce the likelihood of cascading effects of electric vehicle fires, reduction in battery electrode, cell, and pack manufacturing costs, advancement of silicon-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries, and development of high-energy density conversion cathodes. The FOA emphasizes advancing equity, addressing the climate crisis, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Eligible applicants are encouraged to include underrepresented groups and underserved communities in their project teams. The FOA will fund activities related to electric vehicle (EV) technologies, focusing on areas such as smart charge management, safety improvements in EV batteries, cost reduction in battery manufacturing, and the development of advanced battery materials. The Department of Energy aims to drive innovation in clean energy technologies, ensuring environmental justice and inclusion. Specific areas of interest include wide-scale demonstrations of smart charge management, enhancement of safety-critical 12-volt lead-acid batteries, reduction of cascading effects of battery fires, cost reduction in battery manufacturing, and the development of high-energy-density battery components.

This program provides funding to organizations and individuals in the museum sector to enhance their professional skills and improve museum services.

This program provides training and support at no cost to small businesses, particularly those that are socially and economically disadvantaged, to help them compete for federal contracts and grow their operations.