Federal International Development Grants

The U.S. Mission to the Republic of Italys Public Affairs Section (PAS) is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement outlining funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. PA Italy invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Italy through cultural and exchange programming that highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation. All programs must include a significant American cultural element, connection with American expert(s), organization(s), OR institution(s) in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Priority Program Areas: American and Italian voices countering malign influencers and misinformation campaigns Promoting strong transatlantic relations; Creativity and innovation in education and the arts, and problem solving of issues of mutual interest to both countries; American Studies, particularly American History and Literature, to include university linkages; Promoting diversity and inclusion; Empowerment and prosperity through STEM education and entrepreneurship; American English Language Study; Media Literacy.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to implement global initiatives that protect and assist vulnerable populations, such as refugees and stateless persons, with a focus on specific themes like disability, LGBTQI+ rights, and child protection.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to a wide range of organizations, including governments, educational institutions, and nonprofits, to strengthen public health systems and improve responses to infectious disease threats in Bangladesh.

The Department of States Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) is pleased to invite organizations to submit proposals to provide technical assistance focused on establishing survivor leadership and partnership structures in support of its global Training and Technical Assistance (T) Program. The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) announces an open competition for projects to provide technical assistance focused on establishing survivor1 leadership and partnership structures 1 For simplicity and consistency, the terms “survivor” and “survivor leader” are used throughout this document. While some individuals who have experienced trafficking choose to embrace the title “survivor,” others do not. Terminology regarding human trafficking varies based on a country’s respective laws and language(s). The word “survivor” is not generally defined by law, nor is it in support of its global Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Program. The TIP Office manages foreign assistance programs dedicated to combating human trafficking outside of the United States. The TIP Office awards grants to combat all forms of human trafficking—sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, forced labor, domestic servitude, forced child labor, and the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers. The Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) provides a diagnostic assessment of the efforts of governments to combat human trafficking and shapes our foreign assistance priorities. More information is available at: https://www.state.gov/international-programs-officeto-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons/. The TIP Office’s Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) program aims to increase government and/or civil society capacity to combat human trafficking. T&TA is most appropriate for addressing specific knowledge or other capacity gaps through targeted, short-term interventions. The TIP Office can provide training and/or technical assistance on topics spanning all 4Ps – Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership. T&TA interventions are most often initiated by requests from U.S. Embassies abroad, or sometimes from our T&TA implementing partners. The TIP Office reviews requests for T&TA on a rolling basis throughout the year. Selected T&TA requests are then referred by the TIP Office to the relevant implementer, depending on the type of assistance requested, the implementer’s areas of universally used or accepted in the context of human trafficking. In some countries, “survivor” may refer to those who have experienced historical, collective, or cultural trauma. Within the United States, there are some widely used terms for individuals who have experienced human trafficking and subsequently decided to engage in anti-trafficking related work on a professional level. Individuals may prefer to be referred to as “survivor leaders,” “survivor advocates,” or “subject matter experts with lived experience of human trafficking.” Some may have other titles or prefer not to identify based on this experience at all. In recognizing individuals’ full life experiences, skill sets, and professional goals, it is important to always ask someone how they want to be identified. Policymakers and stakeholders should not assume that someone who identifies as a “survivor leader,” “survivor advocate,” or “expert with lived experience of human trafficking” should be referred to as such in a professional setting or that identification as a survivor leader makes it acceptable to inquire about someone’s personal experience with human trafficking. expertise, and funding availability. The timeline to complete T&TA activities will depend on a variety of factors such as strategic priorities and country contexts. The selected implementer should be able to create an intervention concept note and budget in response to the specific T&TA request before the intervention is approved for implementation. The selected implementer should also expect to work closely with TIP Office staff throughout the development and implementation of interventions and activities. T&TA interventions can be standalone or they can lay the groundwork for or complement other programing, but they do not take the place of longer, multiyear programs. Individual T&TA interventions can sometimes also be structured in phases, with each phase being subject to TIP Office approval. T&TA activities may be conducted in countries across all regions of the world, so the scope of T&TA implementers’ capabilities must be global. The selected applicant should be able to respond to unanticipated requests for assistance in any country and/or region, with few exceptions. Some examples of what past T&TA interventions have looked like include the following: • Review of and edits to draft legislation or implementing regulations on a 24-hour turnaround; • Development and adoption of Foreign Government National Action Plan over the course of five months from receipt of request to final adoption; • Targeted technical assistance on the process to accede to United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Palermo Protocol; • Rapid diagnostic needs assessment on anti-trafficking capacity gaps of specialized anti-trafficking practitioners conducted within 4 weeks of initial request, followed by the development and delivery of a tailored training curriculum; • Tailored trainings delivered to law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges on how to build a human trafficking case in a country with limited resources and low capacity; • Tailored trainings delivered to shelter staff to improve identification, screening, and assistance of victims of trafficking, as well as technical assistance to develop necessary tools, such as screening forms and risk assessments; • Creation and implementation of a training series curriculum tailored to psychological and legal service providers to victims of trafficking in urban and rural locations both virtually and in-person, delivered over the course of several months; • Regional training for law enforcement and prosecutors, tailoring the materials to for applicability across various participating countries in the region. While some T&TA activities can be conducted remotely, and the ability to provide some programming virtually is an asset to the T&TA Program and to the selected implementers, the majority of T&TA activities are conducted in-person. Because T&TA interventions can take place in settings where utilities, such as internet connectivity, are unreliable, the TIP Office will not be able to consider applications whose model of T&TA delivery is entirely remote.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that promote U.S.-Angola and U.S.-São Tomé and Príncipe relations through education, cultural exchange, and professional development initiatives.

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Mission Afghanistan is pleased to announce an open competition for eligible organizations to submit applications to carry out a program providing educational advising services to public diplomacy program participants and alumni, and to current undergraduate and high school students in Afghanistan, with the goal of assisting qualified applicants in Afghanistan who are ready to pursue higher education at institutions in the region, and in the U.S. This program aims to provide a range of educational advising services, in group and individualized sessions, to promote awareness of educational opportunities for Afghans, and build Afghan capacity to successfully apply for and participate in international higher education opportunities. This program supports increasing access to higher education and should focus on improving access to education for Afghan particularly the women.

This grant provides funding to U.S. and Cabo Verdean non-profit organizations and educational institutions for projects that promote cultural exchange, democratic governance, and economic growth between the United States and Cabo Verde.

The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Pilot (USFCS) Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for Masters degree students in the fields of International Affairs, International Relations, International Studies, Economics, Business, Trade, Public Administration, or Public Policy, to increase their level of knowledge and awareness of the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) and its vital role in promoting American exports and facilitating trade and commerce around the world. The program also provides a pathway to potential employment with the Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Global Markets, and particularly encourages students from underserved communities to apply. The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is dedicated to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of every action and every decision. Having varied perspectives helps generate better ideas to solve the complex problems of a changing world. It also enables us to be effective stewards and reflect the communities in which we live, work, and play. As such, creating a culture that is welcoming and inclusive of all helps to ensure the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is able to effectively execute on its mission of creating prosperity by strengthening the international competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements. Individuals who are U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals and are in the first year of an eligible Masters degree program, or will complete their first year in the spring or summer of 2024, at a U.S. accredited institution, may apply. Given the structure of the Program, individuals enrolled in Masters degree programs of less than a two-year duration are not eligible to apply. Fellowship selections are based on academic excellence, letters of recommendations, a personal statement, relevant experience, skills demonstrated during interviews, and financial need. Applicants must have either 1) a cumulative 3.30 grade point average (GPA) in their graduate program or 2) have earned a cumulative 3.30 grade point average from undergraduate studies to be eligible to apply. Applicants must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 per either semester or quarter for the duration of their Masters degree program. If Fellows engage in fraudulent conduct or fail to comply with any term or condition of the fellowship, funding may be withdrawn, or Fellows may be required to repay monies already received. Additionally, if the selecting official determines that satisfactory progress towards market research and the Fellowship paper is not completed within the timeframe of the award, Fellows may be required to repay any expenses borne by the government for their participation in the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Pilot Fellowship Program. The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Pilot Fellowship Program may provide, subject to appropriations, up to $35,000 of support per person for up to an eight-week fellowship program in an overseas U.S. diplomatic mission. Recipients of a U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Pilot Fellowship will be required to participate in a mandatory one-week Office of Global Talent Management Orientation and Training in the spring of 2025. As a recipient of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Pilot Fellowship, you become a recognized member of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service community. Global Markets will provide financial resources to help you increase the level of knowledge and awareness of the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) and how it facilitates the growth of global trade, commerce, and American exports, as well as provide mentorship to assist you with your learning experience. There will be two separate program deliverables required of each Fellow. The first deliverable is the Individual Post Analysis Report (IPAR) which will document the up to eight-week summer enrichment program at an assigned overseas post, summarizing industry sector-focused market research that helps clients understand the opportunities available in selling their specific products and services in a select market as well as any specific tariff or non-tariff regulatory barriers that may impede market access. The IPAR must be submitted by July 31, 2025. During the succeeding Professional Development and Networking phase of the fellowship, which runs from August 2025 through September 2025, the fellows will be assigned their second deliverable, a Capstone Project. Fellows will be provided with the Capstone Project requirements including specific prompts that highlight how they will transfer the knowledge and skills learned through the fellowship into her or his professional career. Mentors will be assigned to enhance the fellows growth and help them understand their own personal career development opportunities. At the culmination of the fellowship, the Fellow will be required in September 2025 to present their project virtually before a diverse panel of ITA/Global Markets senior managers. Fellows must be ready to travel overseas and pass a Security Assurance Check. Placements to an overseas location for the duration of the fellowship are required for every fellow. Federal financial support (grant) for the summer enrichment program may be used toward allowable costs such as: travel to and from the Department of Commerce facility, housing, per diem, books/materials costs. Funds cannot be used toward research costs. Fellows are required to provide their own health insurance coverage during the program collaboration. Health insurance coverage and any supplemental insurance can be paid for with grant funds. More details on allowable costs can be found in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E Cost Principles. Applications for the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Pilot Fellowship Program will be assessed on the criteria listed below. As a reminder, if you are in the last year of your Masters program, you are not eligible for this program. For a complete list of review criteria, please see Section V, subsection A. 1. Your statement of intent aligns closely with the International Trade Administration Foreign Commercial Service mission, with a particular interest in a career with the Foreign Commercial Service. This is 30 points of your application score. 2. You have exceptional letters of recommendation. This is 20 points of your application score. 3. Additional relevant experience and communication skills. This is 15 points of your application score.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit organizations and educational institutions working to strengthen law enforcement and justice systems in Kenya and Tanzania to combat wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. and international non-profit organizations, particularly Belizean NGOs, to strengthen democratic governance and civil society engagement in Belize by addressing corruption, enhancing transparency, and supporting marginalized communities.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) is pleased to invite eligible organizations to submit applications for a cooperative agreement to conduct a physical security and stockpile management program in Nigeria during fiscal year 2025. Specific goals, objectives, and technical requirements for application packages are detailed below. PM/WRA anticipates awarding up to $500,000 under this funding opportunity.

The U.S. Mission to Ecuador announces an open competition to submit project applications to the 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Democracy Projects. We cordially invite individuals, organizations, and alumni to submit proposals aimed at fostering democratic values among the youth. The U.S. Mission in Ecuador seeks innovative projects that actively engage youth across Ecuadors diverse regionsthe coast, highlands, and Amazon. Proposals should creatively promote democratic principles, including civic education and strengthening civic awareness through communication strategies.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) is pleased to invite eligible organizations to submit applications for a cooperative agreement to conduct physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) support in Jordan during fiscal year 2024. Specific goals, objectives, and technical requirements for application packages are detailed below. PM/WRA anticipates awarding up to $2,400,000 under this funding opportunity.

The "U.S. Embassy Monrovia PDS Annual Program Statement" grant aims to fund programs by Liberian non-profit entities that strengthen U.S.-Liberian cultural ties and promote mutual understanding through activities such as lectures, workshops, cultural preservation, academic exchanges, and media training, all of which must include an American cultural element or connection.

The U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanons Public Diplomacy Section (PDS Beirut) is pleased to invite proposals for its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This Annual Program Statement outlines thematic priorities and the procedure to submit funding requests. Please carefully follow all instructions below. PDS Beirut invites proposals for projects that address one or more of the thematic priorities listed below. All projects must include an American cultural element or a connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. values, policies, and/or perspectives. Proposals with diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or accessibility components are highly encouraged. Priority Program Themes: PDS Beirut seeks proposals that address the following priority program themes: Inclusive/creative approaches to civic engagement, good governance, free speech/expression, and/or advancing human rights. English Language learning and programming. Educational partnerships between Lebanese and American academic institutions.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for the FY 2024 Leaders Lead On-Demand program (LLOD). LLOD takes ideas generated across the U.S. Department of State and develops them into uniquely tailored, multi-segmented projects. LLOD supports U.S. foreign policy goals by enabling ECA to quickly respond to emerging foreign policy priorities. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to provide a series of multi-segmented exchange projects ranging in size and scope, each involving current or potential government, business, and civil society leaders. It is anticipated that this cooperative agreement will support four to six distinct exchange projects for approximately 75 participants including approximately 55 foreign participants and 20 from the United States.A central component of each project will include a group of foreign participants who will ideally travel to the United States for an intensive, tailored program. Activities could offer a range of program components that may include participation in workshops, meetings, events, mentorships, or working placements in U.S. organizations or businesses. Any U.S.-based program should be complemented by at least one additional segment overseas that should include U.S. participants. Both foreign and U.S. participants should have experience or expertise in the field of the exchange project and U.S. participants should engage with the foreign participants during both the U.S. and foreign program components. The award recipient will work closely with ECA, other Department of State representatives, in-country or regionally-based partner organizations, as appropriate, to recruit, screen, and select the participants and develop program activities that best address the specific project goal(s). The final list of participants should be approved by ECA. U.S. participants will be selected in close consultation with ECA. Additional project components, such as regional gatherings of participants overseas, small grants competitions, or local trainings should be developed, as appropriate, based on the scope and goals of the specific exchange. Please see the announcement for additional information.

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop, organize, and oversee the 2025 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit, pending the availability of funds. The four-day Summit (exclusive of arrival and departure dates) in 2025 will gather over 150 YSEALI exchange program alumni from across ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. The award recipient is expected to design a youth-focused, high-energy, and dynamic Summit that will provide the next generation of Southeast Asian leaders the opportunity to build networks, discuss ideas, and develop solutions to contemporary challenges. The YSEALI Summit in Malaysia will be conducted in English. The content of the program should touch on each of the four pillars of YSEALI and include leadership, mentorship, and teamwork training. The Summit will enable participants to see how YSEALI members have become leaders in Southeast Asian communities through community service, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and education. The Summit should feature panels and presentations by prior YSEALI participants from each country who have become changemakers in their fields. The Summit should feature sessions giving participants the opportunity to work together to develop possible solutions to current environmental, social, political, and economic challenges in the region. Participants should learn innovative approaches to promote relations among ASEAN countries and with the United States through presentation, case studies and simulations. The Summit will also provide leadership and other soft skills training on topics such as advocacy, negotiation, and personal branding, which are core soft skills YSEALI alumni need to become successful leaders. Participants will also have a chance to join cultural activities, and other site visits that support the Summits theme. The Summit will include a mix of informational sessions, discussions and challenges, and break-out sessions on different topics and group presentations, as well as site and cultural visits.

This grant provides funding for projects that strengthen U.S.-Czech relations through cultural, social, and political initiatives, particularly targeting audiences outside Prague and focusing on young adults and underserved communities.

This grant provides funding for U.S. educational and research institutions to collaborate with Ukrainian partners on projects that enhance security, stability, and innovation in areas such as cybersecurity, defense technology, and agriculture.

YSEALI (yseali.state.gov) is the U.S. governments signature initiative to engage emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The program aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems. Through a variety of programs and engagements, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues. YSEALI is open to young leaders ages 18-35 who are both citizens and residents of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) or Timor-Leste. Responding to priorities from youth in the ASEAN region, YSEALI programs focus on four themes (Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship, Education and Environmental Issues). One component of YSEALI is the annual Regional Workshops held across Southeast Asia on strategic topics. Focusing on youth and community action, the YSEALI Blue Economy Regional Workshop aims to advance the YSEALI theme of Sustainable Development and U.S. Embassy Jakartas strategic goals by examining how technology and regional collaboration can create sustainable economic growth in sectors related to ocean ecosystems. These include the emerging sectors of renewable blue energy, desalination, and blue carbon, as well as traditional sectors of fisheries, marine conservation, and marine transportation. It also supports U.S. Embassy Singapores strategic goals by bringing Singapore, limited in space and natural resources, into regional partnership roles on blue economic issues, from green shipping and renewable energy to desalination and ocean-based food security. The workshop should be a minimum of five and maximum of six days - inclusive of travel days (with international travel into and out of Singapores Changi airport). Lodging and conference venue should be in Batam with the majority of workshop sessions taking place in Batam, but day trips to Singapore and other areas around Batam to explore sustainable fishing, blue energy, or green port initiatives like the U.S-Singapore green shipping corridor can be included. The program may also include meetings and activities in Singapore on arrival or prior to departure. Travel to and from Batam should be via high-speed ferry services. This workshop will bring together 60 YSEALI members from ASEAN countries and Timor Leste who have an interest in emerging energy technologies, coastal economic development, environmental development, environmental science, green technology, marine conservation, social equity, economic vitality, and the ability to lead. Proposals may also include participation of the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) network to create synergy between communities working on blue issues economy across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. YSEALI leaders will have the opportunity to share new ideas and perspectives on how to harness the potential of the blue economy to increase economic growth in a sustainable and science-based way. The workshop should include sessions on defining blue economy, introducing ASEAN and ASEAN member state initiatives related to blue economy, regional collaboration, and multi-nation funding opportunities. The workshop should look at blue economy issues in a globalized society and examine approaches taken by the United States and countries in the region. The concepts of leadership, giving back, and strengthening a Southeast Asian/ASEAN identity based on shared values and shared challenges should be integrated into the program. Workshop speakers/facilitators/mentors should be citizens of the United States, an ASEAN member country, or Timor-Leste. The workshop should include site visits to companies, government-affiliated programs, or non-governmental organizations where innovative approaches are being taken to harness blue economy potential. The proposal should include workshop follow-on activities such as virtual collaborative work, projects funded through small seed grants, and/or ongoing mentorship. The follow-on activity should be included in the monitoring and evaluation plan. The workshop should also include a cultural or community service component that promotes ASEAN unity, and the United States as a partner to ASEAN. The recipient is expected to develop syllabus materials and an event program with participant and speaker biographies, as well as design banners, backdrops, and other printed materials. The recipient is expected to design a digital engagement strategy for workshop participants and social media audiences, including live video or live online engagement during the program. The proposal should include workshop follow-on activities such as virtual collaborative work, projects funded through small seed grants, or ongoing mentorship. The follow-on activity should be included in the monitoring and evaluation plan. The proposal should include a pre and post workshop survey to measure the overall effectiveness of the workshop as well as any changes to the participants knowledge of the workshop topic. No new website specific to the event should be created or launched. Domain, hosting and build costs will not be covered.