Funding opportunities for African Businesses

1. Call for Applications: Education Changemakers Programme Cohort 3

Deadline: 17-Mar-23

Applications are now open for the Education Changemakers Programme Cohort 3.

The Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa (YALI RLC-SA) and the Trevor Noah Foundation have partnered to invest in a new generation of young African champions for education quality.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders, hosted by the University of South Africa at the Graduate School of Business Leadership in Midrand, South Africa. The Trevor Noah Foundation is a non-profit organization that equips underserved youth with the educational foundation and opportunity to become resilient future leaders of South Africa.

Programme implementation will be completed in two phases:

• four weeks of intensive classroom training focused on foundation leadership skills and the application of business and public institution management tools for the education sector and

• six months of post-graduation coaching and mentoring.

The programme will also include site visits and live case studies using highly interactive methodologies.

Benefits

• There is no fee to apply for or participate in the programme. Successful applicants will be provided round-trip transportation to the program, lodging, meals, and course materials. All other costs will be at the participant’s expense.

• The training is residential and requires a commitment to attend all sessions in person at the Regional Leadership Center in Midrand, South Africa.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• • Young leaders, Ages (18-35)

• • Demonstrated commitment to positively impact their communities, countries, and the African continent

• • Involvement and/or experience in the Education sector

• • Nationals of Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

• • Ability to commit to a four-week residential training program

• • English language proficiency

• The program encourages applications from:

• • Young African Leaders in the education sector i.e. principals, teachers, education enterprises or nonprofits, and policymakers

• • Rural based and economically disadvantaged young leaders

• • Young leaders with disabilities

• • People who are HIV positive or living with AIDS

• • Individuals that represent and advocate for the rights of LGBTI communities across the region

• • Other minority groups

For more information, visit Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

2. U.S. Mission to Lesotho: Small Grants Community-Led Monitoring Program

Also Read: Funding Opportunities for African Businesses

Deadline: 28-Apr-23

U.S. Embassy Maseru Special Projects Office announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a capacity building and coordination project for selected grantees of the PEPFAR Small Grants Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) Program.

In alignment with PEPFAR Country Operational Plan, CLM activities are required to ensure explicit focus on Key Populations. This does not mean KPs are the only focus on CLM activities but rather they must be included. Key Populations include men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and people in prisons and other enclosed settings.

The Community-Led Monitoring program is funded through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in support of the Ministry of Health’s effort to achieve HIV epidemic control through the implementation of evidence-based and client-centered interventions to accelerate progress in HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

Goal

• The goal of the CLM program is to help PEPFAR programs and health institutions identify persistent problems, challenges, and barriers to effective service and client outcomes at the site level in order to formulate workable solutions that overcome these barriers and ensure beneficiaries have access to quality services.

Objective

• The objective of the CLM program is to facilitate participation of local CSO players in the evaluation of HIV services, identify areas for improvement, advocate for change, guide the health care providers to incorporate monitoring as part of their routine activities, and popularize the CLM feedback tools among PLHIV groups.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $50,000

• Award Ceiling: $50,000

• Award Floor: $20,000

Activities

Based on the 2022 CLM implementation, some of the key activities will include;

• Conduct capacity assessments to unpack the grantees CLM technical capacity and the overall capacity of the organization

• Conduct CLM trainings, data collection, analysis and reporting and provide continuous technical support on implementation of the customized capacity building plans

• Consolidate CLM results, organize national level stakeholders feedback meetings and follow up on the agreed action plans and advocacy efforts

• Support triangulation of the results to the PEPFAR data streams and other related national data streams

• Liaise and coordinate with other CLM TA partners to leverage on the available resources

• Ensure that there is no duplication in the health facilities being monitored among all the grantees. This will include coordinating with Ministry of Health, CLM related partners and other key stakeholders.

• Ensure timely reporting of the grantees and prepare a consolidated report to be submitted to PEPFAR (through the Special Projects Office).

Eligibility Criteria

• Non-governmental organizations; networks of key populations, people living with HIV and other affected groups; or other entities that gather data and observations about components of HIV services, with a focus on getting input from recipients of HIV services.

• All applicants must be legally registered and have been in operation for at least five years to be eligible for funding.

• Demonstrate experience in successfully delivering capacity building support to CSOs

• Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place. Please note that organizations currently funded by PEPFAR to deliver health services either in the community or at the health facility are prohibited from applying for this grant.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

3. Call for Applications: Slovak Development Cooperation Projects in Kenya

Deadline: 24-Mar-23

The Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation announces call for submission of applications for subsidies for Slovak development cooperation projects in Kenya for the year 2023.

Goal: Promoting sustainable and equitable socio-economic development in the Republic of Kenya through education, health and food security interventions.

Funding Information

• The indicative amount of funds allocated for the call is EUR 600,000.

• The maximum amount of the requested ODA subsidy is EUR 200,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• Within this call, the following entities are eligible applicants:

• • Budget organization and its facilities (Act No. The name of the condition 523/2004 Coll. on the budgetary rules of public administration and on the amendment and supplementation of certain laws as amended)

• • Contributory organization (Act No. 523/2004 Coll budgetary rules of public administration and on the amendment and supplementation of certain laws as amended)

• • Non-profit sector/non-governmental organizations (all civic associations (founded in accordance with Act No. 83/1990 Coll. on Associations of Citizens, as amended) and non-profit organizations providing public benefit services (established pursuant to Act No. 213/1997 Coll. on non-profit organizations providing generally beneficial services as amended), foundations and other legal entities that are not connected to the state budget and that are not established on business.

• All legal entities with an assigned ID number, i.e. businesses, public administration entities, organizations, associations and foundations registered at the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, which also meet the conditions stated in the call, can apply for a subsidy:

• • authorized to perform the activities specified in the application and at the same time

• • actively carry out activities related to the subject of business or the provision of generally beneficial services and the implementation of projects in the sector of the proposed intervention, which they will demonstrate with references and at the same time

• • have settled relations with the state budget of the Slovak Republic and at the same time

• • have settled financial relations with SAMRS and at the same time

• • submitted documents and documents proving the fulfillment of the conditions for providing the subsidy.

For more information, visit Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation.

4. European Commission invites Proposals from CSOs in Tunisia

Deadline: 18-Apr-23

The European Commission (EC) has launched a call for proposals to support the initiatives of civil society actors in the development of economically inclusive and viable models.

The main income of Tunisian associations is subsidies from international cooperation and, to a very limited extent, those from the public sector. Only rare associations have some equity thanks to the contributions of their members and the establishment of income-generating activities. However, the amounts remain modest and their level of collection is still too random, especially for structures offering expensive services. The absence of own funds, as well as the low capacity to mobilize funds from the private sector, are one of the main characteristics of Tunisian CSOs and precarious their independent and long-term action.

To respond to this finding of low sustainability of associative structures in Tunisia, this action will seek to support certain actors of civil society with a view to developing associative models that are economically viable and which develop the objectives of the association. Thus, this action will strengthen the sustainability, autonomy and independence of these actors. This will enable them to fully play their roles in political dialogue, at local, national and regional levels.

Objectives and Priorities

• This call for proposals has the general objective of:

• • Strengthen the engagement of local civil society organizations (CSOs) as actors of good governance and inclusive development at the national level

• • Number of grassroots and grassroots civil society organizations benefiting (or reaching) from EU support (EURF)

• This call for proposals has the following specific objectives (SO):

• • SO 1 – The participation of local civil society actors in the dialogue and monitoring of public policies (in their respective themes) is based on a gender and human rights approach and is effective, inclusive and sustainable

• • SO 2 – The capacity of local civil society actors to engage in socio-economic and/or public utility activities, with a gender and human rights approach, is strengthened.

• To be eligible for funding, the activities proposed under this call for proposals must therefore necessarily and simultaneously fall within the two main areas. Activities in each of these axes could relate to:

• • Axis 1: Sustainability of civil society actors (indicative and non-exhaustive list):
    • Development of public interest and income-generating activities by associations promoting good governance and inclusive development. These revenues will be used to finance the mission(s) of these actors/actresses.
    • Development of economic initiatives in favor of third parties (such as agricultural groups, social and/or eco-solidarity entrepreneurship, etc.) which will directly contribute to the purpose of associative structures promoting good governance and inclusive development.
    • The establishment of civil society / private sector partnerships to respond to the duty of care of companies in terms of corporate social responsibility.
    • Establishment of alternative financing mechanisms such as, for example: crowdfunding, patronage, philanthropy, sponsorships.

• • Axis 2: Participation of civil society actors (indicative and non-exhaustive list):
    • Advocacy actions promoting the rule of law and democracy carried out by civil society actors at local and national level in their priority areas of action, preferably in a multi-actor network.
    • Technical and legal support to strengthen the capacity of civil society actors and that of their association partners to maintain, preserve and promote an enabling environment, including to combat defamation and demonizing discourse on social media platforms.
    • Support to networks, coalitions and platforms (at local and national level) of civil society actors and their alliance with other actors (in particular the media, the private sector, academia, political representatives), which will facilitate their participation in dialogue forums.
    • Strengthening the organizational capacity of associative actors in the field of internal governance, research capacities, internal accountability, financial management and digital skills.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 2,400,000.

• Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:

• • Minimum amount: EUR 300,000

• • Maximum amount: EUR 800,000

• Duration: The initial planned duration of an action may not be less than 24 months nor exceed 48 months.

Location: The actions must be implemented in Tunisia.

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant(s)

• • To be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • be a legal person and
    • have no profit motive and
    • be a non-governmental organization and
    • be established in a Member State of the European Union or in Tunisia or in any other country eligible
    • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and the affiliated entity(ies) and not act as an intermediary

• • The lead applicant can act either individually or with one or more co-applicants.

• • If the lead applicant is not established in Tunisia, it must have at least one co-applicant established in Tunisia.

• Co-applicants

• • Co-applicants take part in drawing up and implementing the action, and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as those borne by the lead applicant.

• • Co-applicants must meet the same eligibility criteria as apply to the lead applicant itself.

• • Co-applicants must sign the mandate form.

• Affiliated entities

• • The lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) may act with one or more affiliated entities.

• • Only the following entities can be considered affiliated to the lead applicant and/or co-applicant(s):
    • Only entities that have a structural link with the applicants (the lead applicant or a co-applicant), in particular a legal or capital link.
    • This structural link mainly encompasses two notions:
      • control on annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings.

• • • • • Entities affiliated with an applicant can therefore be:
          • entities controlled directly or indirectly by the applicant (subsidiaries or first-tier subsidiaries) or controlled by an entity itself controlled by the applicant (sub-subsidiaries or second-tier subsidiaries). This is valid for the other control levels;
          • entities directly or indirectly controlling the applicant (parent companies). Similarly, they may be entities controlling a company controlling the applicant;
          • entities with the same level of direct or indirect control as the applicant (sister companies); membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as, for example, a network, federation.

• • • • or association of which the proposed affiliated entity is a member, or the applicant is a member of the same entity (for example, a network, a federation or an association,) than the proposed affiliated entity.

For more information, visit European Commission.

Also Read: Funding Opportunities For African Businesses

5. Call for Project Concepts: GEF Small Grants Programme in Jamaica

Deadline: 10-Mar-23

The GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the UNDP, is offering financial and technical support to communities and CSOs to meet the overall objective of “global environmental benefits secured through community-based initiatives and actions”.

These “larger” projects allow for scaling up and cover many communities within a critical landscape or seascape. The GEF SGP has expanded to provide assistance to 132 countries. UNDP believes that community-driven and civil society-led initiatives can generate environmental benefits, while supporting sustainable livelihoods, community resilience building and local empowerment. This is one of the most effective ways to address global environmental challenges. SGP Jamaica became a member in June 2003 and started financing projects in June 2005. Since then, GEF SGP Jamaica has succeeded in funding and providing support for over 150 projects.

Objectives

OP7 Projects will enable eligible national stakeholders in Jamaica to carry out the following:

• Create greater impact and closer links between local efforts and global environmental benefits (GEBs) by supporting more extensive geographical coverage and/or thematic consolidation for policy improvement.

• Make effective use of the built-up capacity of local NGOs, CBOs and communities for replication of successful technologies and approaches.

• Improve the capacity of the SGP and its partners to leverage larger funds from potential partners and donors.

• Strengthen the sustainability and replicability of SGP projects.

• Pilot innovative market mechanisms and financial instruments (i.e. such as Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES); environmentally friendly loans; revolving funds; and/or sustainable financing for clean energy technologies).

• Accumulate national and global experience in the development and implementation of projects of larger coverage enabling SGP to link more effectively with the MSP and FSP modalities of the GEF, as well as that of other donors and governments.

• Strategically position civil society participation and leadership in new and innovative policies and programmes with non-GEF funding (i.e. wide implementation of community-based adaptation (CBA), ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA), community-based REDD+, sustainable energy for all (SE4ALL), strengthening direct access to funding mechanisms such as the Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund).

OP7 Focal Areas & Strategic Initiatives

• Biodiversity Conservation: Community-based Conservation of Threatened Ecosystems and Species Improve management effectiveness of protected areas through ICCAs and shared governance with private sector and government.

• • Improve community-led biodiversity friendly practices and approaches, including promoting blue economy (e.g. agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, infrastructure, etc.)

• • Enhance community led actions for protection of threatened species.

• Land Degradation & Sustainable Forest Management: Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries, and Food Security.

• • Increase efficiency and effectiveness of overall food production and value chain, including in vulnerable ecosystems (mountains, SIDS, etc.).

• • Increase diversification and livelihood improvement.

• • Remove deforestation from supply chain and expanded restoration of degraded lands.

• Climate Change (Mitigation): Low-carbon Energy Access Co-benefits Support implementation of Paris Agreement and the NDCs.

• • Promote renewable and energy efficient technologies providing socio-economic benefits and improving livelihoods.

• CSO-Government-Private Sector Policy and Planning Dialogue Platforms

• • Promote/enhance community voices and participation in global and national policy, strategy development related to global environment and sustainable development issues.

• Enhancing Social Inclusion

• • Promote targeted initiatives.

• • Mainstream social inclusion in all projects (e.g. women/girls, indigenous peoples, youth, and persons with disabilities).

Funding Information

• SGP funds “small grants” up to a maximum of US$50,000.

• A 1:1 matching co-financing (cash and kind) is required.

Criteria

• Projects with tangible co-financing will be of priority.

• Projects should demonstrate collaborations and partnerships with other agencies, as well as broad community participation.

• Demonstrated ability to manage project processes.

• Projects should be aligned to National Policies/Priorities (i.e., Vision 2030 Jamaica, NDCs, SDGs and the UN Conventions to which Jamaica is a signatory.

• Projects should have cross-cutting results in poverty reduction, livelihoods, capacity development and gender with special focus on women and youth involvement.

For more information, visit UNDP.

6. Call for Proposals: Combating Food Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa through Civil Society

Deadline: 14-Apr-23

Norad – the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation has launched a call for proposals “Combating Food Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa through Civil Society” that stems from the strategy “Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency”.

The primary goal of the call is to increase productivity and access to markets for small-scale food producers, as a means of combatting food insecurity. Small-scale food producers are often among the most food insecure, especially women.

Objectives and target groups:

• This call focuses primarily on land-based food production and value chains within the first two objectives of Norway’s strategy for promoting food security in development policy:

• • Increased productivity and income for small-scale food producers and reduced food loss in production and harvest.

• • Effective local value chains and markets, with a strengthened role for small-scale food producers and small and medium-sized enterprises in the value chain.

• Efforts need to be climate resilient and environmentally sustainable. Efforts should be aimed at increasing food production for local consumption and provide incentives for food producers to produce mainly for local markets rather than exports. Efforts also need to be nutrition-sensitive and demonstrate a likely impact on increasing access to and availability of a healthy, sustainable and safe diet for food insecure populations including groups without access to land or the means to produce food themselves. A human rights-based approach, including gender-sensitive and intersectional considerations to programming is required.

• Applications should take a holistic approach to development. If applicable, they should also reflect on food crisis prevention and response and include a short assessment on the potential of preventing food crises, also within a climate change context. For successful applicants, phase two of the application process may include a crisis modification budget line of a maximum of 10% of the total direct costs of the program, which can be released based on a simplified application during the project period to create flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and needs on the ground.

• The primary target group is small-scale food producers. Within that group there is a specific need to strengthen the position of women small-scale food producers, in addition to youth, indigenous peoples and people living with disabilities. In addition, job creation for landless people in the food supply chain will be positively assessed.

• In order to sustainably increase productivity and income for small-scale farmers, reduce food loss and formal inclusion in value chains, it is important that the applicant can demonstrate a clear and realistic link to market actors, e.g. off-takers, traders or processors, when applicable.

Cross-cutting issues

The following four cross-cutting issues must be safeguarded in all initiatives:

• Human rights, particularly in relation to participation, accountability and non-discrimination

• Women’s rights and gender equality.

• Climate change and the environment.

• Anti-corruption.

For phase two, successful applicants must identify in the application risk factors that may have a negative impact on the four cross-cutting issues, and they must analyze and manage these risks throughout the project cycle. In the concept note (phase one) it is sufficient to describe how the applicant works to safeguard these cross-cutting issues.

Funding Information

This call for proposals provides a tentative total of up to 200 million NOK annually over five years within the period 2023-2028. Norad expects to enter into 4-8 agreements up to a total estimated amount of 200 million NOK annually. Applications below 25 million NOK annually will not be accepted. Applications should not exceed 100 million NOK annually. The selection of projects will reflect the quality of the proposals as well as a balance between different geographical areas and types of interventions.

Projects

Examples of projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Climate resilient agriculture including pastoralism;

• Small-scale inland fisheries and/or aquaculture producers

• Development of local value chains;

• Organization of small-scale food producers including organizations for women, youth, indigenous peoples or people living with disabilities;

• Increasing small-scale food producers’, processors’ and dealers’ equitable access to land, credit, working capital and concessional loans;

• Access to production inputs and technologies including seeds, fingerlings, fertilizers, guidance; policy and advocacy work;

• Open data, open content, and open source software related to food security and climate resilient food production;

• Solutions for insurance schemes to mitigate negative consequences of climate change for small-scale food producers.

In addition to well-proven concepts, they encourage the submission of concepts with innovations involving new solutions, business models, partnerships, financing and/or use of technology that have been tested and proven but not yet taken to scale. For such projects, they encourage the inclusion of a real-time or impact evaluation in the proposal, depending on the evaluation type’s relevance to the intervention. Proposals which have a significant potential for scalability will be prioritized.

Geographic focus area

The primary geographic focus are the following countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible recipients for this call for proposals are civil society organizations such as network organizations, non-governmental organizations, trade and farmer unions, independent media, religious organizations and sports organizations.

• The same criteria apply for co-applicants/consortia partners, whereas national-level sub-grantees in some instances can be governmental or business actors or research institutions/universities. The grant may only be used to cover actual costs, no profit will be allowed.

• The applicant must be able to document that the following criteria are met:

• • The applicant must be a not-for-profit legal entity meeting the definition of civil society organizations outlined above. The applicant must state the legal status of the organization in the application.

• • The applicant must have its own Articles of Association and a Board of Governance. The applicant’s Board of Governance should be administratively autonomous from the organization’s daily operations to ensure the Board’s independent control functions.

• • The applicant must have proven track record documenting the necessary thematic and administrative competence to implement the project. A minimum of five years of experience within the thematic field applied for is required.

• • The applicant must have an established partnership with, or itself be a civil society actor in the countries of intervention.

• • The applicant’s/consortia’s on-going agricultural programs in ODA countries must at a minimum be of the same value in Norwegian kroner (NOK) as the budget applied for in the application, as documented in the latest annual financial statements of the organization.

• • Applications below 25 million NOK annually will not be accepted. Applications should not exceed 100 million NOK annually.

• • Local partners must represent target groups in the country in which the intervention will be implemented. This includes partnership with representative organizations of marginalized groups, such as women, youth, indigenous peoples and people living with disabilities, when they constitute part of the target group.

• • Information about partners must be provided. Private individuals cannot be partners. In some cases, local or central authorities or local business actors can be partners if this leads to capacity development in their area of responsibility and when the applicant offers a specific, sought-after competence.

• • The applicant must confirm that they have established Ethical Guidelines for the organization, which, as a minimum, fulfil the requirements as laid out in Ethical guidelines – Guide for Norad’s Grant Recipients.

• • The applicant must confirm that they have made safety and security assessments for their employees, and initiated necessary measures, for example training, policies, insurance and equipment.

• • The applicant must have safeguards in place against corruption. The applicant must confirm that it has written anti-corruption, financial and procurement policies and procedures.

• • The applicant must have guidelines for the detection and prevention of sexual harassment and sexual abuse or exploitation (PSEAH). The applicant must adhere to zero tolerance and take necessary measures to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment within and related to the program.

• • The applicants must confirm that they can document (e.g. through an action plan) how they work to reduce the most significant negative environmental impacts of their own operations.

For more information, visit Norad.

7. Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program in Gambia

Deadline: 14-Apr-23

The U.S. Embassy Banjul Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.

Purpose of Small Grants: PDS in Banjul, The Gambia invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and The Gambia; cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or 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

• Strengthening Democratic Institutions, including press freedom

• Empowering civil society, with an emphasis on women and youth

• Bolstering education

• Strengthening economic development and entrepreneurship

• Encouraging cultural exchange

• Participants and Audiences: All proposals should focus on engaging Gambians in The Gambia. Proposals that reach marginalized communities and youth are encouraged.

Examples

• Examples of PAS Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited:

• • Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs;

• • Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions;

• • Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs;

• • Professional and academic exchanges and programs;

• • Academic clubs focusing on extracurricular activities and student achievement;

• • Professional training for journalists; or

• • Social movement programs and programs to support political transparency.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 3 to 24 months

• Number of awards anticipated: 7 awards (dependent on amounts)

• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $25,000

• Total available funding: $100,000

Eligibility Criteria

• The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from the United States and The Gambia:

• • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience

• • Individuals

• • Non-profit media organizations

• • Professional Trade organizations

• • Non-profit or governmental educational institutions

• For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following types of programs are NOT eligible for funding:

• • Programs relating to partisan political activity;

• • Charitable or development activities;

• • Construction programs;

• • Programs solely focused on purchasing supplies;

• • Programs that support specific religious activities;

• • Fund-raising campaigns;

• • Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

• • Scientific research;

• • Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or

• • Programs that duplicate existing programs.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Gambia.

8. U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa PDS Request for Statement of Interest (Ethiopia)

Deadline: 18-Mar-23

The U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Ethiopia through cultural, media and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation.

Purpose of Small Grants:

All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policies, values, and perspectives. Examples of PDS small grants programs include, but are not limited to:

• Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs;

• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions;

• Programs developed by an alumnus/a of a U.S. sponsored or supported educational or professional exchange program.

• Programs that strengthen U.S. college and university relationships with local higher education institutions, businesses, and/or regional organizations.

• Media trainings.

Themes

Also Read: Funding Opportunities For African Businesses

The APS is intended to inform individuals, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions about opportunities from the Public Diplomacy Section to support projects in at least one of the following thematic areas:

• Efforts to support Ethiopia’s economic and political reforms, including support for civil society, democracy, and governance, and/or entrepreneurship.

• Strengthening independent and state media through media literacy with a focus on workshops for general audiences, like high school classes or clubs, university groups, etc., to learn about how to discern reliable sources of information, how to identify mis- and disinformation, etc.

• Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

• Engaging emerging and under-represented populations, including youth, women, and persons with disabilities through education, art, sports, culture and other programs.

• Promoting tolerance and peace through dialogue.

• Promoting economic growth, especially via entrepreneurship.

• Promoting sustainable policies to protect the environment.

Priority Program Areas:

Proposals must identify how the proposal would fulfil a general U.S. Embassy priority:

• Spur Broad-based Economic Growth and Promote Development: strengthen role of women and youth in economic activity; improve trade and investment climate; and increase opportunities for employment transition.

• Promote resilient peace, security, and democratic institutions in Ethiopia: Strengthen transparent, democratic institutions that promote good governance, rule of law, peace building, and human rights principles at all levels of government and society; support pluralistic, inclusive dialogue processes.

• Promote sustainable development and mutual prosperity through expanded and deepened partnerships and mutual understanding: Support shared global interests in sustainable economic and human development for vulnerable citizens and communities; strengthen the U.S.-Ethiopian economic and commercial relationship by promoting market-oriented reforms and expanding two-way trade and investment; rebuild and expand people-to-people connections between Ethiopians and Americans.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months.

• Number of awards anticipated: Approximately five awards.

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $200,000

• Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $100,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from U.S. and Ethiopian:

• • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations with programming experience.

• • Non-profit or governmental educational institutions.

• Individuals will be considered, but priority is given to registered organizations and educational institutions with a proven track record of success. For-profit or commercial entities, including for-profit media organizations, are not eligible to apply.

Ineligible

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;

• Charitable or development activities;

• Construction programs;

• Programs that support specific religious activities;

• Fund-raising campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

• Scientific research;

• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or

• Programs that duplicate existing programs.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

9. Small Grants to Strengthen ties between the U.S. and South Sudan

 Deadline: 14-Apr-23

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Juba, South Sudan is pleased to announce that limited funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program, provided through the U.S. Department of State.

Purpose of Small Grants:

PDS Juba invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the U.S. and South Sudan through programming that advances core U.S. foreign policy goals, in particular those outlined in the BidenHarris Administration’s fact sheet and U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa. Project proposals should advance shared priorities and values and promote bilateral cooperation.

Examples of PDS Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:

• Training and workshops that advance and promote peacebuilding, democracy, transparency; strengthen a national identity, transcending historical divisions; support and develop the media community; address trauma, healing, and reconciliation; and support economic empowerment;

• Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs;

• Artistic and cultural workshops, performances, and exhibitions;

Priority Program Areas:

• Foster Openness and Open Societies

• Examples:

• • Promoting government transparency, accountability, and tolerance of marginalized communities, and citizens’ rights and responsibilities in a democratic society.

• • Increasing the focus on rule of law, justice, and dignity.

• • Assisting South Sudan to more transparently leverage its natural resources for sustainable development.

• Deliver Democratic and Security Dividends

• Examples:

• • Supporting civil society, empowering marginalized groups, centering the voices of women and youth, and defending free and fair elections.

• • Advancing regional stability and security.

• Advance Pandemic Recovery and Economic Opportunity

• Examples:

• • Prioritizing policies and programs to spur economic recovery and build capacities to increase preparedness for the next health threat.

• • Partnering to rebuild human capital and food systems that were further weakened by the pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

• Support Conservation, Climate Adaptation, and a Just Energy Transition

• Examples:

• • Partnering to conserve, manage, and restore the continent’s rich natural ecosystems.

• • Supporting efforts to minimize and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate, including enhancing community, economic, and supply chain resilience.

• • Working to accelerate just transitions to a clean energy future, energy access, and energy security.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: up to 12 months.

• Number of awards anticipated: at least one.

• Award Floor: $1,000

• Total available funding: Up to $100,000. Awards may be for a maximum of $50,000 but past award amounts for any individual project have not exceeded $25,000.

Participants and Audiences:

Programs should focus on a specific audience segment in South Sudan, e.g., youth between the ages of 14 to 35, women, civil society organizations, etc.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Applicants PDS encourages applications from:

• • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience and that are actively involved with projects in South Sudan.

• All programs must include an American cultural element, and/or connection with an American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) in a specific field that will promote an increased understanding of and appreciation for U.S. policy and perspectives. South Sudanese organizations based outside of Juba are especially encouraged to apply.

• For-profit, governmental, or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.