Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS SGP FY16 002 001

  • The Department of State in the agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, employment, labor and training, energy, environment, law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Affairs Section Small Grants Program 2016" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jul 28, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 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 $10,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for PAS SGP FY16 002 001

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Opportunity Summary:

The Public Affairs Section Small Grants Program 2016 is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, Benin. It is set up as an open competition where eligible organizations and individuals can submit project proposals for consideration. The overall purpose is to support activities that help promote and share U.S. values and culture with audiences in Benin, with a clear emphasis on reaching youth, women, and people living in rural areas. In practical terms, the program is meant to fund small, focused projects that can make a visible contribution to public engagement and community impact within a one-year timeframe.

The embassy is looking for proposals across a wide set of public affairs and development-related themes. The notice highlights priority domains that include English language programming, press freedom, entrepreneurship and leadership development, womens empowerment, good governance, civil society strengthening, environmental protection and biodiversity, food security, human rights, arts and culture initiatives, and efforts aimed at the prevention of violent extremism. While the list is broad, the common thread is that funded projects should advance public diplomacy objectives and support constructive civic, educational, and community outcomes connected to these themes.

Awards are intended to run for up to twelve (12) months. The funding ceiling is listed as $10,000 per award, and the embassy anticipated making around 10 awards under this notice, suggesting a small-grants model designed to support multiple different initiatives rather than one large project. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity areas cover several categories such as agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, employment and workforce training, energy, environment, and law/justice-related programming, reflecting the range of eligible project concepts the embassy is willing to consider.

The opportunity was published on July 28, 2016, with an original application deadline of August 31, 2016. The listing references CFDA number 19.040 and identifies eligibility generally as "Others," indicating that applicants needed to consult the detailed eligibility language in the full notice for specific clarifications. A key restriction in this NOFO is that it is not meant to renew or supplement existing projects; applications that simply extend ongoing work, or request add-on funds for current programs, would not be considered. Instead, proposals needed to be framed as distinct, stand-alone efforts that directly support the objectives described in the announcement.

Public Affairs Section Small Grants Program 2016 (U.S. Embassy Cotonou, Benin) - FAQs

What is the Public Affairs Section Small Grants Program 2016?

It is a discretionary small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, Benin. It operates as an open competition where eligible organizations and individuals may submit project proposals for consideration.

What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The overall purpose is to support activities that promote and share U.S. values and culture with audiences in Benin. Funded projects are expected to contribute to public engagement and visible community impact within a one-year timeframe.

Who is the target audience for supported activities?

The program places a clear emphasis on reaching youth, women, and people living in rural areas in Benin.

Is this a competitive funding opportunity?

Yes. The program is described as an open competition in which proposals are submitted and reviewed for possible funding.

Which government entity administers the program?

The grant is run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, Benin (Public Affairs Section).

What kinds of projects is the embassy looking to fund?

The embassy is seeking small, focused projects aligned with public diplomacy objectives and constructive civic, educational, and community outcomes. The notice highlights a range of public affairs and development-related themes and encourages projects that can show visible impact within the project period.

What priority themes or domains are mentioned in the notice?

The notice highlights proposals in areas such as English language programming, press freedom, entrepreneurship and leadership development, womens empowerment, good governance, civil society strengthening, environmental protection and biodiversity, food security, human rights, arts and culture initiatives, and prevention of violent extremism.

Are projects limited to only the priority themes listed?

The notice presents a broad list of priority domains, with a common focus on advancing public diplomacy objectives and supporting constructive community outcomes connected to those themes. The list is wide, suggesting the embassy is open to varied concepts as long as they fit the stated purpose and emphasis.

What is the maximum award amount?

The funding ceiling is $10,000 per award.

How many awards does the embassy expect to make?

The embassy anticipated making around 10 awards under this notice, reflecting a small-grants model intended to support multiple initiatives.

How long can a project last under this grant?

Awards are intended to run for up to twelve (12) months.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

What activity areas does the opportunity cover?

The activity areas listed include agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, employment and workforce training, energy, environment, and law/justice-related programming. These categories reflect the range of eligible project concepts the embassy is willing to consider.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The listing references CFDA number 19.040.

When was this opportunity published?

The opportunity was published on July 28, 2016.

What was the application deadline?

The original application deadline was August 31, 2016.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is identified generally as "Others" in the listing, and applicants were expected to consult the full notice for specific eligibility language and clarifications.

Can individuals apply, or is it only for organizations?

The opportunity states that eligible organizations and individuals can submit project proposals, subject to the detailed eligibility requirements in the full notice.

Are renewal projects or extensions of existing work allowed?

No. A key restriction is that the program is not meant to renew or supplement existing projects. Proposals that simply extend ongoing work or request add-on funds for current programs would not be considered.

What does it mean that the project must be "stand-alone"?

Based on the restriction described, proposals needed to be framed as distinct, separate efforts rather than continuations or supplemental funding for an existing initiative. The project should directly support the objectives described in the announcement within the grant period.

What geographic focus is implied by this grant?

The program is intended to reach audiences in Benin, with the administering office being the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, Benin.

What kind of outcomes is the embassy expecting from funded projects?

The description emphasizes projects that advance public diplomacy objectives and produce constructive civic, educational, and community outcomes, with a visible contribution to public engagement and community impact within one year.

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