U.S. Embassy Paramaribo PAS Annual Program Statement

1.Funding Opportunity Description The U.S. Embassy Paramaribo Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is accepting applications for the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and awarded pending funding availability. This is an Annual Program Statement outlining our funding priorities, strategic themes, and procedures for submitting proposals. Please follow all instructions below carefully. Purpose of Small Grants: PAS Paramaribo invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Suriname, including cultural and exchange programs that highlight shared values and promote 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, culture, and perspectives. Priority Program Areas In Order of Priority 1. Climate change and environmental education – Efforts that seek to connect with U.S. expertise to further efforts that promote environmentalism in Suriname and those that expand efforts to preserve and protect Suriname’s biodiversity. 2. Supporting a free and expressive media environment – Programs that strengthen the professionalism of the media and advance media literacy within the population. 3. Academic exchange – Exchanges and programs designed to increase college and university professional linkages between the U.S. and Suriname, especially with community colleges and technical schools. 4. Artistic exchange — Cultural performances, artistic workshops, trainings, and exhibitions that highlight the deep and ongoing ties between our two nations and our shared democratic values. 5. Alumni development — Efforts supporting, led by, supporting, or involving the Suriname American Alumni Association, its members, or alumni of U.S. exchange programs. 6. Women’s economic empowerment programs – Including programs focused on the mentorship of women entrepreneurs and efforts supporting women’s increased participation in civil society. 7. Trade and investment development — Efforts leading to increased bi-lateral trade and investment ties by developing greater fiscal transparency, enhancing the rule of law, protecting intellectual property rights, and promotion of sustainable development. 8. Efforts advancing diversity, equality, inclusion, and accessibility for all marginalized communities, including but not limited to issues involving ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical disabilities, and/or indigenous communities. 9. Entrepreneurship and innovation — Efforts that promote sustainable economic policies, especially those inclusive of historically economically disadvantaged populations. 10. Cyber security — Efforts to strengthen cybersecurity awareness within the general population, advance cybersecurity planning, and develop the local talent pool in the field. Activities that are typically funded include, but are not limited to: · bringing an American expert, speaker, trainer, or performer to Suriname; · conferences on American themes or issues of mutual interest; · exhibitions of works by Americans or on American themes; · youth empowerment, leadership, and education programs reflecting the priority areas; · cultural programs, particularly those that target underserved or at-risk communities; · radio, television, and social media programming in support of the above objectives. Activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to: · ongoing salary costs; · office equipment; · paying to complete activities begun with other funds; · projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single party electoral campaigns; · citizen exchange programs with foreign countries; · social welfare projects; · political party activities; · projects that support specific religious activities; · scientific research; · fundraising campaigns; · commercial projects; · trade activities; and · projects aimed primarily at the institutional development of the organization. Note on COVID Prevention Protocols: Grantees will be required to follow all pandemic prevention protocols when conducting their programs. This could require re-scheduling or delaying a program. Proposals are encouraged to explain any preventative measures that might mitigate COVID’s impact on the proposal, for example moving in-person training to virtual as needed. Authorizing statutes for the funding opportunity are: 1) Fulbright-Hays Act, which allows the Department of State to use funds for the purpose of supporting international exchanges that address issues of mutual interest to the United States: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/fulbrighthaysact.pdf (PDF 88 KB) 2) Smith-Mundt Act which specifies the terms in which the United States government can engage global audiences: http://www.state.gov/pdcommission/library/177362.htm 2. Award Information Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement or Grant. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that Embassy staff are more actively involved in proposal execution and anticipates having moderate to substantial involvement once the award has been made. While the Public Affairs Section will consider proposals up to $15,000, projects that are smaller in scope are more likely to be awarded. Most grants selected are between $5,000 and $10,000. In very rare circumstances, applications above $15,000 will be evaluated. Applicants should carefully consider their budget requests and submit a budget commensurate with their project goals. The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described in the absence of worthy applications or under such other circumstances as it may deem to be in the best interest of the U.S. government. Project and Budget Periods: Estimated start date should be on or after August 1, 2023. Local grants projects generally must be completed in one year or less. The Public Affairs Section will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards, beyond the initial budget period, on a noncompetitive basis, subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the applicants, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Department of State. 3. Eligibility Information: The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from U.S. and Surinamese: · Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience · Individuals · Non-profit or governmental educational institutions · Governmental institutions For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. The U.S. Embassy Paramaribo encourages applicants to provide cost-sharing from additional sources in support of this project. The U.S. Embassy also encourages projects that use highly skilled volunteers as an element of cost-sharing. Applications should explain clearly other likely sources of funding and how the volunteers will be used. 4. Application Submission and Deadline Grant funds can be requested by Individuals or Organizations. Please note the forms required to be considered for funding. Individuals: Applicants must submit signed SF-424 and SF-424A along with the proposal and budget description to be considered. · Federal Assistance Application Standard Form 424 Individual · SF-424A · Instructions · Proposal and project description · Detailed Budget plus budget narrative (in U.S. dollars) Organizations: All Organizations applying for grants must obtain these registrations which are free of charge to be considered: · Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number): http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform · NCAGE/CAGE code: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx · SAM.gov registration Organizations must also submit these forms to be considered: · Federal Assistance Application Standard Form 424 · Instructions · SF-424A · Proposal and project description · Detailed Budget and budget narrative (in U.S. dollars) We will not consider proposals which do not include all the above components. Budget: Applicants must complete and submit a detailed budget, with a detailed explanation for each budget line item. Budget numbers must be provided in U.S. dollars. Completeness of Proposal: Grant proposals should include all of the above components. Proposals should be submitted via email to the U.S. Embassy at the following email address: Paramaribo-grants@state.gov Applications are accepted in English only, and final grant agreements will be concluded in English. 5. Review and Selection Process U. S. Embassy Paramaribo will accept proposals on a rolling basis throughout the year. We will review proposals subject to the availability of funds, on/around: May 1, 2023 The Embassy reserves the right to reexamine qualified applicants for funding throughout the fiscal year which ends September 31, 2022. If not selected when initially applied, and if your proposal has merit, we will review it throughout the rest of the fiscal year for possible later funding. Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the following evaluation criteria. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success. The criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. Applications will be reviewed on the basis of their fullness, coherence, clarity, and attention to detail: · Organizational Capacity: The organization has expertise in its stated field, and the Embassy is confident of its technical capacity to undertake the project. · Goals and Objectives: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and project approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. · Embassy Priority: Applicant has clearly described how stated goals are related to and support U.S. Embassy Paramaribo’s priority areas above. · Sustainability: Project activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the project. · Budget: The budget justification is both reasonable and realistic in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. Grants will be awarded to programs with the highest impact per dollar spent. · Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: Applicant demonstrates ability to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The project includes a systematic recording and periodic analysis of selected information on the project activities. Applicants must submit a full project description in accordance with the following instructions and the specified evaluation criteria. The instructions give a broad overview of what the project description should include, while the evaluation criteria provide details of more program-specific information that is needed. 6. Award Administration Award Notices: The grant award or cooperative agreement shall be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The Grants Officer is the U.S. government official delegated the authority by the U.S. Department of State Procurement Executive to write, award, and administer grants and cooperative agreements. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient. Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified in writing at the end of the fiscal year (or earlier if deemed not to have merit by the review panel). If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Department of State. Reporting Requirements: All awards issued under this announcement will require both program and financial reports on a frequency specified in the award agreement. The disbursement of funds may be tied to submission of these reports in a timely manner. All other details related to award administration will be specified in award agreement as well. Final programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Progress reports at a minimum should be submitted via electronic mail to an address to be provided in the award. Terms and Conditions: All recipients must be aware of the Standard Terms and Conditions that apply to overseas grantees and comply with all applicable terms and conditions during the project period. These include: 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions which are available at: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/.
Categories: Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification).