U.S. Mission to Brazil Small Grants Program

Overview

Purpose of PAS Public Diplomacy Grants:  The Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the United States and Brazil through cultural, arts, educational, media, information, and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation.  The bilateral nature of proposals is especially important during calendar year 2024, the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States.  All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institutions in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policies, values, and perspectives as well as incorporate a cross-cutting approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).

Examples of PAS public diplomacy grants include, but are not limited to:
- Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs that include U.S. speakers
- Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions
- Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs
- Programs that strengthen U.S. college and university relationships with local higher education institutions, businesses, and/or regional organizations
- Media trainings

PAS encourages applications from eligible civil society organizations, community representatives, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, government institutions, and international organizations.  Please keep in mind that while an applicant may submit multiple proposals, each proposal must address only one of the initiative areas listed in the NOFO.

Program Initiatives
The following are the primary programming objectives for public affairs:

1. Initiative: Promote public awareness of the deep and broad cultural connections between Brazil and the United States during the celebration of the bicentennial of diplomatic relations in 2024.
Covered Areas: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, and Federal District
The goal of this initiative is to provide opportunities for free events to increase the Brazilian public’s engagement with American culture. Projects could focus on music, cinema, art, literature, or sports but must involve American culture and must be free to attendees.
Projects that reach audiences with limited access to American cultural events will be given priority.

2. Initiative: Expand Brazilians’ Access to Fact-Based Reporting to Counter Misinformation 
Covered Areas: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, and Federal District.
The goal of this initiative is for the U.S. Embassy in Brazil to collaborate with local organizations to provide training opportunities or capacity building programs for local Brazilian media and journalists, with particular emphasis on news desert – a community, either rural or urban, with limited access to the sort of credible and comprehensive news and information that feeds democracy at the grassroots level.

Project ideas under this initiative include, but are not limited to:
- Projects that strengthen institutional capacity of traditional and emerging media outlets to counter dis and misinformation.
- Projects that increase fact checking skills among journalists, influencers, and other key stakeholders.
- Projects that promote innovative solutions to combat dis and misinformation.

3. Initiative: Support technical and vocational networks with innovation and STEM education involving best practices from the United States
Covered Areas: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, and Federal District.
The goal of this initiative is for the U.S. Embassy in Brazil to collaborate with local organizations to support innovative educational practices and techniques to strengthen Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) education for Brazilians.

Project ideas under this initiative include, but are not limited to:
- STEM education programs for youth, involving a U.S. component such as an education methodology, a U.S. expert, or a U.S. curriculum.
- Projects that support increased linkages between technical and vocational networks in Brazil and the United States, such as sharing of best practices.

4. Initiative: Environmental Education 
Covered Areas:  Minas Gerais
Projects that promote U.S.-Brazil educational partnerships related to the climate crisis, sustainable economic development, and/or support the role of indigenous and marginalized populations in preserving biodiversity.

5. Initiative: Gender Equality in Politics
Covered Areas:  Minas Gerais
Nonpartisan projects that address the underrepresentation of women in political activity and/or specific challenges to women’s political participation, in partnership with a U.S. institution and/or using a U.S. concept or material.

6. Initiative:  Sports Diplomacy and Youth Engagement
Covered Areas: Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina
The objective of this initiative is to connect American experts and young Brazilians from underrepresented communities to enhance mutual understanding and develop leadership skills through sports activities. Projects under this initiative could include joint sports activities where Americans have a robust presence.

7. Initiative:  Combating the Climate Crisis   
Covered Areas: Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina
The goal of this initiative is to build capacity for Brazilian civil society groups protecting the environment.  Projects under this initiative could include promoting awareness among young Brazilians about the climate crisis and effective strategies to adopt to mitigate climate change.

Projects must include an element that links with similar initiatives or experts from the United States to demonstrate the shared concerns about climate that connect Brazilians and Americans.

8. Initiative: Promoting Technology, Innovation, and Equity in STEM Education for Brazilian Youth.
Covered Areas: Alagoas, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, and Sergipe.
The goal of this initiative is to develop and strengthen ties between U.S. and Brazilian organizations regarding the promotion of technology, space diplomacy, and STEM education for Brazilians.

Proposals should demonstrate clear links to United States educational institutions (universities, etc.), American scientists, researchers, American Spaces in Brazil, Education USA centers, or United States governmental organizations (NASA, etc.) to be given priority consideration.

Programs that highlight international space exploration, the Artemis Accords, the Department of State’s Strategic Framework for Space Diplomacy, the Consulate’s Space for Diplomacy Initiative in Northeast Brazil, or Space Week Nordeste will be most competitive. Innovative programs in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing will also be considered.

9. Initiative: Celebrate and highlight 200 years of bilateral relations between the United States and Brazil.  The objective of this initiative is to provide funding for the administration of well-conceived projects that celebrate 200 years of bilateral relations between the United States and Brazil and support Mission Brazil‘s strategic priorities.
Covered Areas: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and Bahia

Project ideas under this initiative include, but are not limited to:
- Reducing inequality/advancing social development in Brazil, featuring best practices between Brazil and the United States or U.S. subject-matter experts and/or content.
- Environmental sustainability/climate action in Brazil, promoting partnerships or shared best practices between Brazil and the United States;
- Strong civil society via respect for human rights, equity in Brazil, featuring participation by U.S. stakeholders and/or subject-matter experts.
- Competitive proposals will have a strong exchange component with the United States and overarching connection to the bicentennial celebrations between the United States and Brazil.

10. Initiative: Strengthening Democracy, Human Rights, and Empowered Citizenship
Covered Areas: São Paulo, Paraná, and Mato Grosso do Sul
The objective of this initiative is to collaborate with local partners to celebrate U.S.-Brazil democratic values and strengthen democratic institutions that deliver for all citizens.

Project ideas under this initiative include, but are not limited to:
- Projects that promote the exchange of best practices and/or partnerships between Brazilian and American organizations to advance democratic values and human rights, and empower citizens;
- Projects that encourage and/or facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships and/or networks to advance democracy and human rights, featuring participation by U.S. stakeholders and/or subject-matter experts;
- Projects that promote citizen empowerment and engage local audiences in the democratic process, highlighting relevant U.S. perspectives, practitioners and/or programs;
- Projects that strengthen institutional capacity of civil society organizations working to advance democratic values, human rights, and empowered citizenship, and establish or expand cooperation with U.S. counterpart organizations.

Applicants are only permitted to submit one proposal per initiative. Re-submissions of proposals submitted in the previous 12 months to another notice of funding opportunity will not be considered.
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Please keep in mind that while an applicant may submit multiple proposals, each proposal must address only one of the initiative areas listed in the NOFO.

NOTE: Deadlines vary for the Initiatives as follows:
Deadline of April 30, 2024 for Initiatives: 4, 5, & 8
Deadline of June 30, 2024 for Initiatives: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, & 10