U.S. Mission to Jerusalem: Opportunity Grants Program
Deadline: 19-May-22
The U.S. Department Of State Palestinian Affairs is seeking applications is designed to partner with Palestinian non-profit organizations and individuals to implement activities which advance the organization’s or individual’s goals and the PAU-PD mission.
Program Objectives
Working primarily at the local level and using an evidence-based approach, all proposed projects must aim to advance the PAU-PD mission goals, contain a substantive American element, and achieve at least one of the following specific objectives:
Foster entrepreneurship, critical thinking, or problem-solving skills among Palestinian youth, young professionals, and educators, particularly with disadvantaged populations.
Promote disability issues and rights, particularly in rural areas.
Improve mutual understanding between Palestinians and Americans through the arts, culture, or sports, particularly in terms of promoting resiliency and mental health, diversity and inclusion, environmental protection, and a strong civil society. Activities may include joint performances, exhibits, workshops, tournaments, trainings, and projects/works.
Support civil society organizations working on youth initiatives and civic participation, including to promote effective, nonviolent activism.
Provide students with skills and experiences needed to be more competitive for higher education and employment opportunities. May include soft skills, English skills, technology skills and other skills that will prepare them for success.
Support trade and economic growth through encouraging Palestinian businesses to adopt an outward orientation and integration into world supply chains.
Foster awareness and understanding of common/shared economic interests of Americans and Palestinians, encourage economic partnerships between Americans and Palestinians, and/or support the implementation of U.S. businesses practices within the Palestinian private sector, particularly inclusivity practices that encourage the participation of marginalized communities, youth, and women.
Address the gap between the skills of Palestinian university graduates and those necessary for graduates to compete in both the Palestinian and regional private sector, especially in high-tech markets, including by providing students and/or the workforce with education and vocational programs that will make them more competitive for employment opportunities.
Support gender advocacy, inclusivity, and empowerment, through training or awareness campaigns aimed at advancing gender parity and/or equity throughout society.
Promote exchange of expertise in health, social, and environmental sciences, particularly in support of marginalized communities, to equip local leaders and organizations with skills, networks, and knowledge to serve individuals and communities most at risk of not receiving support or social services.
Promote greater understanding of U.S. policy, culture, society, institutions, and best practices in industry and civil society.
Funding Information
Length of performance period: up to 18 months
Number of awards anticipated: To be determined based on the number and amount of awards
funded under this NOFO. No more than two proposals per organization will be considered.
Total available funding for organizations: no more than $25,000.00 per award.
Total available funding for individuals: no more than $5,000.00 per award.
Type of Funding: FY22 Smith-Mundt Act Public Diplomacy Funds
Anticipated program start date: Due to selection committee processes and timelines, projects
funded under this program may not begin before March 16, 2022
Program Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 18 months or less, noting that at least the last 1 month of the period of performance — after the end of the substantive project activity — should be dedicated to short and medium term measurement and evaluation of project success to measure indicators and determine if leading goals and objectives have been met.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible primary applicants for grant funding must be not-for-profit Palestinian organizations or individuals based in Jerusalem, the West Bank or Gaza.
Proposals must be submitted in English; proposals submitted in Arabic or other languages will not be considered.
Applicants wishing to submit proposals to the Palestinian Affairs Unit Public Diplomacy Section should send a proposal detailing:
What they intend to do to achieve the goals and objectives outlined in this call for proposals.
A budget narrative providing specific details on how the budget line-items will be used and what they will cover [applicants may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC*) which may be used indefinitely].
A clear monitoring, measurement, and evaluation plan, stating specific and measurable indicators of success and the intended method for measuring achievement of those indicators; and
A substantive American component which facilitates the exchange of information, ideas and/or experience between Americans and Palestinians.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337420