DOS - PDS - U.S. Mission to Canada, Embassy Ottawa, Annual Program Statement

Overview

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada invite proposals for projects that strengthen ties between Canada and the United States through programming that promotes bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding. All programs must include an American element or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policies and perspectives to a Canadian audience. 

Examples of programs include, but are not limited to: 

• Programs that support U.S.-Canada cooperation, increase understanding of U.S. foreign policy in Canada, encourage interest in U.S.-Canada shared history and culture, and promote our shared democratic values.
• U.S. experts conducting speaking tours/public talks, participating in roundtable discussions, and delivering workshops in Canada. 
• Academic and professional lectures and seminars.
• Professional and academic exchanges and programs.
• Artistic and cultural programs, workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions.
• Development of initiatives aimed at maintaining contacts with alumni of U.S. Department of State exchange programs.
• Initiatives that develop stronger ties between the United States and Canada.
• Public messaging campaigns using social media, video, and new media.

All programs must be targeted at engaging Canadian audiences. All programs must include a U.S. element or connection with U.S. expert/s that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Any speaker paid with grant funding must hold U.S. citizenship.

Priority Program Areas: 
Climate: Activities that promote and expand awareness around the benefits of environmental collaboration between the United States and Canada to accelerate climate ambitions laid out in the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership, to include promoting the economic and environmental benefits of the energy evolution.

Prosperity, Trade, and Investment: Activities that foster connections among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) owned by women, people of color, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQI+, youth-led, and other underrepresented groups, as well as organizations who support economic development. Activities should strategically build domestic and cross-border business networks to empower SMEs to grow their business, foster economic growth and promote inclusivity.

Democracy, Human Rights, and Social Justice: Activities that promote democracy, advance human rights, with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), and foster social justice including through combatting hate. 

Promoting Security Cooperation: Activities that advance U.S.-Canada security cooperation including on, but not limited to, misinformation and disinformation and cybersecurity through engagement with Canadians including academia, civil society, think tanks, government officials, and youth. 

Strengthen Arctic Partnerships: Activities that 1) advance the agenda of the U.S. National Strategy for the Arctic region, 2) advance areas of mutual interest, such as scientific research, environmental protection and conservation, and resource management, , and/or 3) support collectively addressing challenges in the Arctic in order to contribute to the region's security and sustainable and inclusive development.

PD Canada encourages applications from the United States and Canada. U.S. organizations must partner with a Canadian organization. For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. Cost sharing is not required.

Diversity and Inclusion Guidelines: Programs, speakers, and participants should be balanced and representative of the diversity of political, social, and cultural life in the United States and abroad. Diversity should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass differences including race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Proposals should demonstrate how diversity will enhance the program’s goals and objectives.

Length of performance period: Up to twenty-four months. The Grants Committee recommends applicants submit proposals with start dates three to six months after the submission deadline.