Deadline: 17 May 2019

The Cultural Affairs Office (CAO) in the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Islamabad of the U.S. Department of State has announced a call for proposals under an open competition for assistance awards through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), contingent on funding availability, through the Public Diplomacy Grants Program.

CAO Islamabad’s purpose in funding projects under this opportunity is to enable civil society, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to implement projects to help underserved youth across Pakistan develop important leadership skills, prepare them for success in the work place, promote tolerance and respect for diversity, and positively contribute to their communities and the environment.

Project Areas

• English-Language Book Clubs across Borders – Pakistan-Afghanistan:
  • Goal: Expand opportunities for cross-border relationships through English-language book clubs.
  • Objective 1: Increase communication amoung Afghan and Pakistani youth with a focus on cultural and social issues.
  • Objective 2: Increase familiarity and intercultural competency between youth in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Nation-wide Youth Sport Camps:
  • Goal: Promote cooperation and collaboration among youth of diverse backgrounds and make youth more resilient against extremist ideologies through sports diplomacy.
  • Objective 1: Youth have opportunities to witness, learn, and practice leadership skills.
  • Objective 2: Youth from disparate communities have opportunities achieve common goals.
• Fostering Youth Civic Leadership:
  • Goal: Increase Pakistani youth’s ability to identify and to address local development issues, which includes environment, science, and technology, and health (ESTH) concerns facing their communities.
  • Objective 1: Youth learn and practice leadership skills.
  • Objective 2: Increased public awareness of community development issues.
• Promoting Digital Literacy and Citizenship:
  • Goal: Youth develop online communities that demonstrate and promote cross-cultural understanding and tolerance.
  • Objective 1: Youth gain knowledge of cross-cultural understanding and promoting positive narratives.
  • Objective 2: Youth gain knowledge about digital literacy and skills to develop online communities.

Funding Information

• Project 1: The award floor is $50,000; the award ceiling is $200,000
• Project 2: The award floor is $50,000; the award ceiling is $300,000
• Project 3: The award floor is $150,000; the award ceiling is $250,000
• Project 4: The award floor is $75,000; the award ceiling is $100,000

Duration of Award: For Projects 1 and 3 should be for a minimum of one (1) year, no more than three (3) years. For Project 2, the duration can be a minimum of one (1) year, no more than two (2) years. For Project 4, the duration should be completed in twelve (12) months. Projects expected to span only one (1) year cannot exceed $250,000.

Eligible Applicants

• All U.S. and Pakistani registered non-profit, non-governmental organizations, U.S. and Pakistani universities, and U.S. local and state governments with relevant programming experience, are eligible to apply.
• This experience should be documented in the organization’s proposal.
• Organizations must provide proof of registration and non-profit status with their proposal application.
• U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their IRS determination letter.
• Pakistan-based organizations should submit a copy of their certificate of registration from the appropriate government organization.
• Cost Sharing: Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.

How to Apply

All application materials must be submitted electronically via the given website.

For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=314021