U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, PAS Request for Statements of Interest: Annual Program Statement

Description

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Nouakchott Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Mauritania through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. PAS invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit Statement of Interest (SOI) applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal. Please carefully follow all instructions below. The submission of a SOI is the first step in a two-part process. Applicants must first submit a SOI, which is a concise, 3-5-page concept note designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants the opportunity to submit program ideas for PAS to evaluate prior to requiring the development of full proposal applications. Upon review of eligible SOIs, PAS will invite selected applicants to expand their ideas into full proposal applications. Purpose: PAS Nouakchott invites SOIs for programs that strengthen cultural, education, entrepreneurship, and Environmental ties between the U.S. and Mauritania through 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. Examples of PAS-funded programs include, but are not limited to: 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 programs; and American spaces programming outside of Nouakchott Priority Program Areas: Proposals should be related to one or more of the following U.S. Embassy priority program areas: Strengthened Security for Americans and Mauritanians Example projects under this program area could focus on: · Crime and safety awareness · Countering Violent Extremism Increased Opportunity and Reduced Poverty Example projects under this program area could focus on: · Entrepreneurship · Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) · Environmental protection Promoting an Inclusive Society Example projects under this program area could focus on: · Promoting social inclusion · Reducing discrimination in all its forms · Advocacy for inclusive national identity · Cross-Cultural dialogue and understanding · Human rights · Cultural and ethnic diversity Participants and Audiences: The target audiences should be youth, women, and culturally/ethnically diverse communities. 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; · Programs that are not Mauritania-specific; · Programs submitted on behalf of individuals; or · Programs that duplicate existing programs. Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding: The Statutory Authority for this program is the Smith-Mundt Act. The source of funding is FY2021 Public Diplomacy Funding. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 1 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: 3-10 awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $70,000 Total estimated available funding: $200,000 Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2021 Public Diplomacy Funding Anticipated programs start date: During Fiscal Year 2021 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award, or Cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that PAS staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION Eligible Applicants The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from U.S. and Mauritania, including: Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience Non-profit or governmental educational institutions For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing is not required. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal. Other Eligibility Requirements Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION The U.S. Embassy Nouakchott Public Affairs Section will accept proposals throughout fiscal year 2021 until May 28, 2021 at 12:00 noon UTC/GMT. A grants committee including U.S. Embassy employees will review eligible applications. The review and selection process may take up to six weeks from the deadline of the proposal submission. All application materials must be submitted by email to PASNouakchott@state.gov. All SOIs should ensure that the following requirements are met: Please follow all instructions below carefully. SOIs that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application Please ensure: The SOI 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 ½ x 11 paper, and All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. 1. Program Statement (not to exceed 3-5 pages in Microsoft Word) that includes: o Name of the organization. o The target country/countries. o The total amount of funding requested from PAS, total amount of cost-share (if any), and total program amount (PAS funds + cost-share); and, o Program length. o A synopsis of the program, including a brief statement on how the program will have a demonstrated impact and engage relevant stakeholders. o A concise breakdown explicitly identifying the program’s objectives and the activities and expected results that contribute to each objective; and, o A brief description of the applicant(s) that demonstrates the applicant(s) expertise and capacity to implement the program and manage a U.S. government award. The deadline for submission of SOIs is rolling until May 28, 2021 at 12:00 noon UTC/GMT. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal at a later date. An organization may submit no more than one SOI per Annual Program Statement. E. APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA Quality of Program Idea: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. The SOI should explain why the proposed program is needed. Program Planning: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the objectives. A proposed timeline for the program activities should include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Ability to Achieve Objectives/Institutional Capacity: A demonstration of the organization’s or individual’s expertise and previous experience in administering programs. A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. SOI applicants will be notified of the decision to present a full submission within six weeks after the panel review. Instructions on the requirements of a full application submission will be provided at that time.

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