U.S. Mission to the Czech Republic U.S. Embassy Prague PAS Annual Program Statement

Overview

The U.S. Embassy Prague Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce available funding for projects advancing key strategic goals through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.

Purpose of Small Grants: The U.S. Embassy Prague Public Diplomacy Section is interested in funding projects that strengthen social, political and cultural ties between the United States and Czech Republic and support our Priority Program Areas. Projects should specifically target Czech audiences living within the Czech Republic. All programs must:

• include an American cultural or policy element, OR
• involve a connection with American expert/s, performers, organization/s, or institution/s relevant to the grant project, OR
• promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Examples of successful PAS Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:

• Academic or professional lectures, seminars, workshops, discussions and speaker programs by U.S. experts and/or about the United States.
• Community or civic engagement projects promoting shared U.S.-Czech values.
• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, masterclasses by U.S. artists and exhibitions of U.S. works.
• Professional and academic exchanges and programs to the United States.

Project proposals must also support at least one Priority Program Area.

Priority Program Areas:

I. U.S.-CZECH BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
Programs that seek to explain U.S. policies, culture, and values to Czech audiences, resulting in a positive impact on the bilateral relationship.

II. ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, TRADE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Programs that promote and support entrepreneurship, innovation, and/or bilateral trade between the U.S and the Czech Republic.

III. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND STEM EDUCATION
Programs related to climate change, environmental protection, scientific cooperation and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, including programs that promote critical thinking skills.

IV. HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Programs that promote human rights, support marginalized groups, encourage gender equality and empowerment of women, and that foster a culture of integration and diversity. Programs that strengthen democratic values of transparency, government accountability, anti-corruption and the rule of law. Programs that encourage strong civic engagement and democratic participation by all sectors of society and that support the development of a thriving civil-society and non-governmental sector.

V. INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND COMBATTING DISINFORMATION
Programs that strengthen an independent media, investigative journalism or media literacy among the public, such as programs that counter disinformation or train audiences to recognize disinformation or misinformation online and in news.

VI. REGIONAL SECURITY, CYBER SECURITY AND/OR ENERGY SECURITY
Programs that promote energy security, cyber security, and/or our NATO security alliance.

Organizations must have a connection to the Czech Republic.

To apply for funding, submit a grant application for evaluation by the Embassy grants review committee prior to one of these three deadlines:

• January 15, 2024
• March 19, 2024
• May 14, 2024

Grant applications will be evaluated within two weeks after these deadlines, and if yours is selected for funding, you will be asked to submit further paperwork.

Please note that we can only fund future programs. Please apply as early as possible and at least three months prior to the start of the project.