2018 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program

Description

The U.S. Embassy Vientiane Public Diplomacy Section announces an open competition for organizations to submit project proposals for funding under the U.S. Embassy’s 2018 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicits proposals for projects that further the U.S. Mission’s public diplomacy goals of strengthening people-to-people ties between Laos and the United States, expanding educational opportunities for Lao people to better engage with the United States and ASEAN, and building and strengthening local partners through the specific objectives listed below. Proposals for projects must focus on one of the priority areas specified below. Applicants should pay close attention to the Public Diplomacy Section’s goals, priority program objectives, and target audiences when developing their proposals. Public Diplomacy Goals Public diplomacy programming includes communicating with international audiences, cultural programming, educational and professional exchanges, promoting education including English language, science, technology and math, and international visitor programs. Proposals funded under this NOFO will further one or more of the U.S. Mission to Laos’ public diplomacy goals: promoting partnerships between Lao and U.S. people and organizations; promoting strong, sustainable and inclusive economic growth for Laos through education, health, market orientation, governance, and the environment; improving security cooperation; enhancing education ties, strengthening media engagement, and/or building capacity of local partners. Priority Program Objectives and Target Audiences: Grant proposals must explicitly address one or more of the Public Diplomacy Section priority objectives listed below and create or extend the communities engaged in those areas: · Education: English teaching and skills development, improving teaching methods, curriculum development, modernizing education systems, science and technology, soft skills, cooperation among educational institutions, and English skills that can be applied to business, trade, medicine and other fields highlighted in the Public Diplomacy Section’s priority program objectives. · Inclusiveness and support issues related to: women, disabled persons, LGBT rights, ethnic minorities, other marginalized and stigmatized groups such as victims of human trafficking, underprivileged youth, or religious minorities. · Promoting fundamental American values: promoting freedom of expression, press, association, and religion through public dialogue and events, cultural performances, the arts. · Rule of Law, legal rights education and outreach, and promoting respect for and adherence to international norms and standards. · Health and wellness: projects to share public information on health issues, promote volunteerism and public support for healthy living, increase cooperation and professional exchange among health-related professionals and organizations in Laos and the United States and ASEAN member countries, and increase awareness among Lao youth and educators about educational needs and professional opportunities related to careers in health and medicine. · Youth: non-profit activities to help prepare Lao youth for competitive selection into exchange programs and educational opportunities, including academic pursuits as well as extracurricular activities such as sports, art, photography, film, music, dance, debate, speech communications, problem solving, writing, reading, soft skills, critical thinking, computer literacy, computer programming, STEM and test taking skills. · Women’s empowerment: promoting the leadership capabilities, professional development, educational opportunities, mentoring and economic prosperity of women. · Alumni: strengthening of connections and cooperation among exchange program alumni, building public awareness of alumni efforts to support Lao achievement of the country’s sustainable development goals, recruiting new Lao participants for U.S. government educational programs and exchange programs. · Volunteering: promoting volunteerism and the spirit of helping others through community service projects, public information and public awareness outreach about volunteering and community service, as well as partnering among individuals, communities and organizations to achieve common goals and build capacity / support for non-profit volunteer activities. · Entrepreneurship: encouraging entrepreneurship, enhancing essential business skills among Lao youth and underprivileged or marginalized individuals, soft skills, English skills for trade and business. · Environment: promoting and supporting the Lower Mekong Initiative, addressing climate change, wildlife trafficking, reducing deforestation and pollution, sustainable development and eco-tourism. · Cultural Preservation: promoting public awareness and capacity for cultural preservation, preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, capacity building for individuals and organizations to enhance cultural preservation in Laos, and partnering among organizations engaged in cultural preservation, including cross-border partnerships with U.S. organizations and those from other ASEAN member countries.

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