U.S. Embassy La Paz PD Annual Program Statement

Overview

The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy La Paz, Public Diplomacy Section, invites proposals for programs that strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Bolivia through cultural, educational, professional and scientific exchanges that highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation.  All programs must include a U.S. cultural element, or connection with U.S. expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. 

PD Small Grants Program projects may include, but are not limited to: 

• Lectures, seminars, and speaker programs;
• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions;
• Cultural heritage conservation and preservation projects;  • Professional, cultural or academic exchanges and projects (including virtual exchanges with U.S. experts or communities);
• Professional development workshops and training.

Goals and Objectives

Celebrate American Excellence Showcase American innovation, technological leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit, celebrating American dynamism or telling America’s story of excellence.

• Highlight U.S. achievements in science, technology, sports, industry, and culture.
• Demonstrate the excellence and reliability of American products, services, and standards.
• Promote American values of free enterprise, individual liberty, and merit-based achievement. 

Make America Safer 

• Combat Illegal Immigration: Support programs that address root causes of migration by promoting economic opportunity and security in Bolivia, reducing pressure on U.S. borders.
• Counter Transnational Crime: Build Bolivian capacity to combat narcotics trafficking, particularly synthetic drugs and fentanyl precursors, and dismantle criminal networks that threaten U.S. communities.
• Enhance Border Security Cooperation: Strengthen information-sharing and law enforcement collaboration between U.S. and Bolivian authorities.
• Counter Foreign Anti-American Propaganda and Influence Operations: Expose and counter efforts by adversarial nations to establish strategic footholds that could threaten U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere. 

Make America Stronger 

• Promote Transparency and Anti-Corruption: Support investigative journalism, government accountability mechanisms, and civil society oversight that expose corruption and strengthen democratic institutions aligned with U.S. interests.
• Strengthen Rule of Law: Build capacity in judicial and law enforcement institutions to combat crime and uphold property rights, creating conditions favorable to U.S. investment.
• Protect Digital Freedom and Counter False Foreign Anti-American Propaganda: Combat false narratives about the United States with the truth and expose anti-American propaganda from adversarial nations, modeling respect for freedom of speech and opposition to censorship. 

Make America More Prosperous 

• Expand Commercial Ties: Create opportunities for U.S. businesses and facilitate market access for American goods and services in Bolivia.
• Promote U.S. Investment Climate: Highlight benefits of U.S. investment and business partnerships over alternatives from non-democratic countries.
• Build People-to-People Ties: Foster educational and cultural exchanges that create lasting connections between Americans and Bolivians, cultivating future leaders who understand and appreciate the United States.
• Promote English Language Learning: Expand English proficiency and English teaching capabilities to facilitate trade, educational exchange, and cultural understanding.

The Public Diplomacy Grants program seeks to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and Bolivia by awarding grants to non-profit organizations and individuals for projects that address the following priority areas: 

Priority Program Areas: 

1. Support Bolivia's Economic Opening and U.S. Commercial Partnerships
2. Build Civil Society’s Capacity to Manage Bolivia’s Natural Resources
3. Support Freedom of Speech and the Press
4. Strengthen U.S-Bolivian Partnerships Through Public Diplomacy Programs

For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, nonprofit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award.

Award Amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $40,000.  Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Funding Instrument Type: Grant, fixed amount award (FAA), or cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements and some FAAs are different from grants in that bureau/embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation (“Substantial Involvement”). 
Program Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 24 months or less.  
Cost Sharing or Matching Cost: Sharing or matching is encouraged but not required for this funding opportunity.