U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Bahrain Annual Program Statement

Overview

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Manama is pleased to announce its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.  This is an annual program statement, outlining our funding priorities, our strategic themes of focus, and the procedure for submitting requests for funding for fiscal year 2025 (October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025).  

Purpose of Small Grants:
PAS invites proposals from individuals, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, government institutions, and academic institutions for projects that strengthen bilateral ties between the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain.  All programs must include a connection with U.S. culture, experts, organizations, or institutions.  Grants should address and advance the mutual strategic priorities of the United States and Bahrain

Goals and Objectives:
PDS invites proposals for programs that support OSA goals in Sudan. Successful proposals must include a reference to American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of the United States and/or U.S. policy or perspectives. Successful proposals will clearly describe the U.S. component of the program, the program’s anticipated results, when results will be expected, and how the OSA can measure them. Successful grantees will proactively show progress towards results through regular reporting to the OSA. U.S. government officials will visit the program, if possible, to monitor progress.

Examples of Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program activities 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; and 
•    Conferences, workshops, or training opportunities. 

Priority Program Areas
In Fiscal Year 2025, priority programming areas include:
•    Promoting scientific and technological cooperation, particularly in emerging technologies;
•    Building supply chain resilience and trusted telecommunications networks;
•    Building digital literacy and combating disinformation;
•    Enhancing economic opportunities, entrepreneurship, and skills for youth;
•    Fostering regional security, economic integration, and mutual cooperation;
•    Cultural heritage conservation and preservation projects;
•    Professional and academic exchanges and projects;
•    Space cooperation, research, and education.

Applications outside of these priority areas are welcome, but may not be ranked as highly when making funding decisions. The proposal must address one of the following priority program areas: 
•    Promoting women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and STEM;
•    Promoting societal inclusion; 
•    Promoting peace through the arts; or 
•    Promoting any of the themes above through the arts. 
•    Promoting humanitarian assistance and civilian protection; 
•    Promoting civic education and engagement; 
•    Promoting media capacity building; 
•    Promoting human rights awareness and advocacy;

Participants and Audiences
•    Youth aged 18-35 years; 
•    Young professionals; and 
•    Above priority audiences with a focus on women, underprivileged or culturally/ethnically diverse communities, or those from marginalized groups. 

Cost Sharing or Matching:
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of funds stipulated in their proposal.  PAS strongly encourages, but does not mandate, that applicants include cost-sharing elements from additional sources in their proposals.
 

Length of performance period:  1 to 12 months.

Number of awards anticipated: 3 to 30 awards.

Award amounts:  Awards may range from a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of $25,000, subject to availability of funding.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. 

Deadlines: Grants applications will be accepted three times annually.  Grants must be submitted before the program start date.  Applicants are recommended to submit grant applications at least three months before the program start date.

December 15, 2025, 16:00 – First application submission deadline.

 April 15, 2025, 16:00 – Second application submission deadline.

July 15, 2025, 16:00 – Third application submission deadline.