Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAISB 16 AW 006 03102016
Apply for SCAISB 16 AW 006 03102016
- The DOS-PAK in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Annual Program Statement for Cultural Affairs, U.S. Embassy Islamabad" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2016 and posted on Mar 10, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Annual Program Statement for Cultural Affairs, issued by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), is a discretionary funding opportunity designed to support projects that advance cultural ties and public diplomacy objectives between the United States and Pakistan. The Embassy is inviting eligible organizations to compete for assistance awards in the form of grants or cooperative agreements. In practical terms, this means applicants can propose cultural, educational, exchange, or communications-focused activities that align closely with the Embassy's stated priorities, and the Embassy may remain more actively involved in shaping or coordinating projects under a cooperative agreement structure.
The central purpose of the opportunity is to fund programs that contribute to U.S. public diplomacy goals in Pakistan. These goals emphasize engagement with international audiences through cultural programming, educational exchanges, and broader outreach efforts, including the promotion of education in areas such as science, technology, and math. Applicants are expected to build proposals around one or more of the Embassy's priority outcomes, and to be thoughtful about how their design fits the Embassy's program approach, intended participants, and where activities will take place. The NOFO highlights that proposals should be developed with careful attention to PAS goals, priority program areas, target audiences, and geographic focus, indicating that alignment and contextual relevance will matter in proposal review.
The Embassy identifies four main public diplomacy goals that funded projects should advance. First, programs should strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Pakistan by creating shared experiences, information exchange, or opportunities for direct collaboration and learning. This could include initiatives that connect communities, professionals, students, artists, educators, or other groups in ways that build mutual understanding and sustained relationships. Second, the opportunity prioritizes strengthening local institutions to support long-term, self-sustaining partnerships and institutional linkages between U.S. and Pakistani organizations. This includes an explicit interest in capacity-building support for Pakistani organizations when needed, suggesting that proposals that develop organizational skills, networks, and durable collaborations may be especially relevant.
A third priority is countering violent extremism (CVE) by promoting positive messages and tolerant perspectives, and by supporting community-based approaches across a wide range of areas. This goal signals an interest in programming that strengthens social cohesion, empowers constructive voices, and supports local efforts that reduce the appeal of extremist narratives without framing communities solely through a security lens. The fourth goal focuses on expanding media outreach by amplifying U.S. diplomacy activities and programs on both social media and traditional media platforms, meaning proposals that include strong communications strategies, storytelling, public engagement, or media partnerships may be well positioned if they credibly expand reach and visibility.
Administratively, the funding opportunity is listed under Opportunity Number SCAISB 16 AW 006 03102016, with the agency identified as DOS-PAK and the CFDA number 19.501. The original and current closing date is May 23, 2016, and the announcement was created and posted on March 10, 2016. The award ceiling is $500,000, and the Embassy anticipated making up to six awards, which suggests a competitive environment where proposals must clearly define outcomes, audiences, and implementation plans. Eligible applicants are described broadly as "others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the NOFO's Section C, meaning applicants would need to consult that section for precise requirements, such as organizational type, registration status, or any restrictions tied to location or capacity.
Overall, this Annual Program Statement is best understood as a cultural affairs and public diplomacy funding mechanism aimed at generating measurable, relationship-building engagement between Pakistan and the United States. Strong applications would likely demonstrate clear alignment with one or more of the four goals, present a realistic plan for implementation, and show how activities will create lasting connections, strengthen institutions, promote tolerance and resilience, and communicate effectively to broader audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Annual Program Statement (APS) for Cultural Affairs issued by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad through its Public Affairs Section (PAS). It is a discretionary funding opportunity to support projects that advance cultural ties and U.S. public diplomacy objectives between the United States and Pakistan.
2) Who is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad (Public Affairs Section). The agency is identified as DOS-PAK.
3) What types of awards are available?
The Embassy may make awards in the form of grants or cooperative agreements.
4) What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement under this opportunity?
Both mechanisms can fund similar kinds of activities, but a cooperative agreement implies the Embassy may be more actively involved in shaping, coordinating, or supporting implementation of the project compared to a standard grant.
5) What is the main purpose of the APS?
The central purpose is to fund programs that contribute to U.S. public diplomacy goals in Pakistan through cultural programming, educational exchanges, and broader outreach efforts.
6) What kinds of projects are a fit for this APS?
Projects can include cultural, educational, exchange, or communications-focused activities, as long as they align closely with the Embassy's stated priorities and public diplomacy goals.
7) What are the Embassy's four main public diplomacy goals for funded projects?
Funded projects are expected to advance one or more of the following goals:
- Strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Pakistan.
- Strengthen local institutions to support long-term, self-sustaining partnerships and institutional linkages between U.S. and Pakistani organizations (including capacity-building support for Pakistani organizations when needed).
- Counter violent extremism (CVE) by promoting positive messages and tolerant perspectives and supporting community-based approaches across a wide range of areas.
- Expand media outreach by amplifying U.S. diplomacy activities and programs on social media and traditional media platforms.
8) Do proposals need to align with specific priorities?
Yes. Proposals are expected to be built around one or more Embassy priority outcomes and developed with careful attention to PAS goals, priority program areas, target audiences, and geographic focus.
9) What does "people-to-people ties" mean in the context of this APS?
It refers to programming that creates shared experiences, information exchange, or opportunities for direct collaboration and learning between U.S. and Pakistani participants, with the intention of building mutual understanding and sustained relationships.
10) What does "strengthening local institutions" mean under this APS?
It refers to building durable institutional linkages and partnerships between U.S. and Pakistani organizations and, where appropriate, providing capacity-building support to Pakistani organizations to help partnerships become self-sustaining over the long term.
11) How does the APS describe its CVE-related priority?
The APS emphasizes countering violent extremism by promoting positive messages and tolerant perspectives and supporting community-based approaches across a wide range of areas. It signals interest in programming that strengthens social cohesion, empowers constructive voices, and supports local efforts that reduce the appeal of extremist narratives.
12) What does the APS mean by "expanding media outreach"?
This goal focuses on amplifying U.S. diplomacy activities and programs on both social media and traditional media platforms. Proposals that include credible communications strategies, storytelling, public engagement, and/or media partnerships may align with this goal.
13) Are education topics specifically encouraged?
Yes. The public diplomacy goals include educational exchanges and broader outreach efforts, including promotion of education in areas such as science, technology, and math.
14) How important is geographic focus and target audience selection?
The APS indicates these factors matter. Applicants are expected to be thoughtful about intended participants, where activities will take place, and how the design fits PAS goals, priority program areas, target audiences, and geographic focus.
15) What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $500,000.
16) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipated making up to six awards.
17) When was the opportunity posted?
The announcement was created and posted on March 10, 2016.
18) What is the application deadline?
The original and current closing date is May 23, 2016.
19) What is the opportunity number?
The Opportunity Number is SCAISB 16 AW 006 03102016.
20) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.501.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are described broadly as "others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Section C. Applicants would need to consult Section C for the precise eligibility requirements.
22) What is the NOFO and why does Section C matter?
The NOFO is the Notice of Funding Opportunity that contains the detailed rules and requirements for the program. The APS notes that eligibility details are in Section C, so that section is where an applicant would confirm specific requirements (such as organizational type, registration status, or any restrictions).
23) How competitive is this opportunity likely to be?
It appears competitive because the award ceiling is substantial ($500,000) and the Embassy anticipated making up to six awards. The APS also stresses alignment with goals, clarity of outcomes, audiences, and implementation plans, suggesting proposals will be reviewed closely for fit and quality.
24) What should a strong application emphasize based on the APS description?
Based on the information provided, strong applications would likely:
- Clearly align with one or more of the four public diplomacy goals.
- Define intended outcomes, target audiences, and activity locations.
- Present a realistic plan for implementation.
- Show how the project will create lasting connections and durable partnerships.
- Include a credible communications and outreach approach when relevant.
25) What is the overall focus of the APS in plain terms?
It is a cultural affairs and public diplomacy funding mechanism aimed at producing measurable, relationship-building engagement between Pakistan and the United States through culture, education, exchanges, capacity building, tolerance/resilience programming, and media outreach.
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