Consulate of the United States in Chennai, India PDS - Annual Program Statement 2023

Overview

The U.S. Consulate General Chennai’s Public Diplomacy section (PD Chennai) is pleased to announce a funding opportunity through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. This notice is subject to availability of funding. 

Examples of PD Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:

• Academic and professional lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, and performances. 
• U.S. experts participating in speaking tours, roundtables, and panel discussions.
• Projects showcasing U.S. models or curricula.
• Initiatives aimed at engaging with alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.
• Creative projects, including artistic and cultural workshops, performances, and exhibitions that advance one or more of the priority areas of PD Chennai listed below.

Program Priority Areas: Applications should focus primarily on any one or more of the themes: 

Theme One: Global Threats

• Trafficking in Persons (TIP): Programs which raise awareness among vulnerable populations as well as key stakeholders on TIP and share best practices to combat human trafficking.
• Climate Change: Foster dialogue among key stakeholders, including civil society, about preparedness for climate change-related challenges.

Theme Two: Economic Prosperity 
Entrepreneurship: 

• Promote and support start-up hubs, incubators, business associations and other initiatives which lead to innovation, business, science, and technology cooperation to increase economic opportunities especially for emerging business leaders.
• Promote projects that enhance women’s participation, promotion, and longevity in the labor force and ability to assume leadership positions.

Education: 

• Projects that increase access to education and economic opportunity to underserved communities.
• Projects that promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) education, including institutional partnerships with a particular focus on women and girls and underserved communities. 

Theme Three: Regional Security

•  Programs to promote the U.S.-India partnership and shared goals for the development of the Indo-Pacific region. 
• Programs that address issues of regional security, including cybersecurity, critical and engineering technologies, and countering violent extremism, as well as exchanges that promote multilateral cooperation and enhance stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Programs to develop social and intellectual connections, creating bridges of understanding and connection among Indo-Pacific countries by providing opportunities for participants to identify and appreciate common values.

Theme Four: Shared Democratic Values 

• Programs which increase the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and coalitions working to advance and/or advocate for respect and promotion of human rights. 
• Programs which promote sensitization on Gender Based Violence (GBV) issues.
• Programs which strengthen and build capacity of local organizations who work on social and economic inclusion of marginalized communities (including the LGBTQ+), to build long-term, self-sustaining relationships within communities and organizations.  
• Programs related to freedom of the press that improve quality of investigative journalism, transparency, and reinforce journalistic standards to counter disinformation. 
• Programs that promote pluralism, religious freedom, and social inclusion. 

Project Audience(s): Targeted audiences will vary based on the nature and design of the project proposed.  Potential audience segments include:
●    Youth and university students;
●    Civil society/human rights/gender rights leaders, journalists, artists, politicians, judicial, government officials, policy makers, climate change and environmental activists, etc.;
●    National and regional media outlets, digital and social media influencers;
●    Business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors;
●    Academic institutions, cultural organizations, think tanks, and non-profits. 
 

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

(Proposals will be downloaded for review on a quarterly basis i.e. April, July, November and March 2024)

Length of Project Period: Not to exceed 12 months