U.S. Embassy Cotonou PDS Request for Statements of Interest: Notice of Funding Opportunity

Overview

The U.S. Embassy Cotonou Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that strengthen ties between the peoples of the United States and Benin through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation.  PDS invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal. Please carefully follow all instructions below. 
 

Purpose 
PDS Cotonou invites SOIs for programs that strengthen ties between the people of the United States and the people of Benin through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.  

Examples of PDS-funded programs include, but are not limited to: 

• Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; 

• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; 

• Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs; 

• Professional and academic exchanges and programs;  

• Experiential learning activities (e.g. Model UN, Model Government).  

 
The submission of an SOI is the first step in a two-part process. Applicants must first submit an SOI, which is a concise, one-to-two-page concept note (in English) designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants the opportunity to submit program ideas for PDS to evaluate prior to requiring the development of full proposal applications. Upon review of eligible SOIs, PDS will invite selected applicants to expand their ideas into full proposal applications. 

 
Priority Program Areas 
Project proposals submitted through this Annual Program Statement (APS) should address one of the following Priority Program Objectives:  

• Vulnerable Groups Empowerment: Activities that address poverty and vulnerability in the communities and contribute to build resilience and social cohesion or/and promote the rights of members of marginalized groups including women and girls, religious and ethnic minority groups and other community at risk (e.g. Capacity building on countering Violent Extremist Organizations VEOs’ disinformation and recruitment). Target audiences include: youth and young adults active in their communities, religious leaders, community members in the North. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $10,000 each).  

• Investigative Journalism: Activities that link Beninese journalists to American journalists or media institutions, and/or empower community radios with best practices to handle an adversarial debate, and/or develop tools and skills to combat myths and disinformation and to verify information before sharing with the public in order to strengthen free press and journalism as an institution in Benin. Target audience: community radios, mid-career journalists. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $15,000 each).  

• U.S.-Benin Partnership: Activities featuring popular American and/or Beninese artists, musicians, cultural figures, and other influencers in order to promote a deeper understanding of the United States’ long support for improving trade and prosperity in Benin, as well as habits that lead to healthier and more prosperous lives (e.g. promoting U.S.-Benin trade with linkage to AGOA). Target audiences include: women entrepreneurs who specialize in handicrafts, youth and young adults who use social media or listen to radio as their primary source of information; and/or educated urban adults unaware of U.S. initiatives to support Benin’s development. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $25,000 each).  

• Skills for Success: Activities to promote STEM, learning American English, especially through soft skills (such as resume writing, digital communications, basic financial literacy, public speaking, entrepreneurial skills) and digital literacy, drawing on American and Beninese examples, in order to encourage successful participation in the global economy. Applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with English Clubs, American Spaces, or U.S. exchange program alumni to conduct these activities. Target audiences include: underemployed and unemployed youth who will soon complete or have completed formal education; female microentrepreneurs; and/or graduate/undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math with a strong interest in improving their English or pursuing graduate study in the United States. (One to three awards anticipated, $15,000 each). 

Applicants are only allowed to submit one concept note per organization. If more than one concept note is submitted from an organization, none of the concept notes from that institution will be considered for funding. 

Awards may range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $50,000 pending funding availability. 

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION: 
Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months
Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000
Anticipated program start date: Varies
Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. 

SOI APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA:  

1. Quality of Program Idea: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. The SOI should explain why the proposed program is needed.  
 

2. Program Planning: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the objectives. A proposed timeline for the program activities should include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.  

 
3. Ability to Achieve Objectives/Institutional Capacity: A demonstration of the organization’s or individual’s expertise and previous experience in administering programs.  

 
4. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility: Clearly stated objectives for recruiting and fully including participants from historically underserved communities in program activities, and/or including perspectives from historically underserved communities in the United States.