U.S. Embassy Oslo (PDS): SOI/Annual Program Statement

Overview

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo supports a variety of projects through its Small Grants Program, which is designed to support eligible organizations and individuals in the implementation of programs advancing U.S.-Norway relations. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our priority program areas and the procedures for submitting requests for funding.

Priority Program Areas:
All programs must include an American cultural element, or 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. The program should have a public outreach component.

We accept grant proposals on a rolling basis until the submission deadline, and are especially interested in projects and programs that:

•  Address global security challenges and increase understanding of the NATO alliance.
• Engage Norwegians on Arctic issues, with a priority on youth, entrepreneurship, and technology.
• Increase co-operation focused on the green transition and tackling climate change.
• Partner with Norwegian government, business, media, and civil society to counter growing malign influences in the media.
• Promote diversity and inclusion and showcase the diversity of the United States.
• Preserve and conserve cultural heritage, especially the heritage of indigenous cultures and/or historically disadvantaged minorities.
• Inform Norwegian youth about our shared values.
• Promote U.S. higher education.

In addition, we welcome grant proposals that include the following:
• Collaboration across borders (for example, speaker tours involving other Nordic countries)
• Cost sharing and partnerships with other organizations
• Projects outside of Oslo
• Projects from alumni of State Department exchange programs

Deadline for Submitting a Statement of Interest: June 30, 2024.

PDS Oslo invites Statements of Interest (SOI) for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Norway through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. This is a two-tier competitive process, where the submission of the SOI is the first step. An SOI is a concise proposal designed to communicate program ideas and objectives. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applications will be invited to submit a full grant application to be considered by the Grants Committee Review Panel.
---------------------
Length of performance period: Proposed projects should be completed in 12 months or less. In exceptional and justified cases, the Embassy will consider extending the project performance period.