U.S. Embassy announces Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program

Deadline: 31 July 2020

The U.S. Embassy Jakarta Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State has announced that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.

PAS Jakarta invites proposals for projects that strengthen public diplomacy activities and people-to-people ties between the U.S. and Indonesia through educational, cultural, media, and informational programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation.

Priority Program Areas

U.S.- Indonesia Bilateral Relationship
- Projects that seek to explain U.S. policies, culture, and values to Indonesian audiences, resulting in a positive impact on the bilateral relationship, and build people-to-people ties.
Regional Security
- Projects that address issues of Regional Security, non-proliferation, and countering violent extremism, as well as exchanges that promote multilateral cooperation and enhance stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Human Capital Development & Economic Growth
- Projects related to developing human capital, bilateral trade, investment, economic integration, entrepreneurship, innovation, intellectual property rights, Women’s empowerment, or environmental issues and sustainability/sustainable development
Democracy and Good Governance
- Projects that promote good governance in public services, public policy, and legal/regulatory frameworks; (e.g. Smart Cities, cybersecurity, etc.), seek to promote civic engagement, including by women and minority or underserved groups, or to further understanding of topics related to democracy and democratic values, including pluralism and tolerance.
Education
- Projects that increase access to education and economic opportunity, promote and enhance English language learning, digital literacy, or critical thinking; provide professional development opportunities for teachers; promote study in the United States; or increase or expand partnerships between American and Indonesian institutions of higher learning.
Research Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (Stream)
- Projects related to institutions’ increasing their capacity and interest in partnering with U.S. institutions to provide support and/or collaboration in STEAM fields.
Journalism
- Projects that support capacity-building for Indonesian journalists as well as programs that provide direct access to authoritative American information sources to promote depth, accuracy, and balance of foreign reporting from the U.S. to deepen understanding of U.S. policy and American values.

Funding Information

Awards may range from a minimum of $1,000.00 to a maximum of $100,000.00;
Total available funding: $600,000.00;
Length of performance period: Up to 12 months.

The following types of projects are not eligible for funding:

Projects relating to partisan political activity;
Charitable or development activities;
Construction projects;
Projects that support specific religious activities;
Fund-raising campaigns;
Lobbying for specific legislation or projects
Scientific research;
Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
Projects to create or develop web-based applications or any type of publication; or
Projects seeking funds for personal use.

Participants and Audiences

PAS is only able to consider grants that will take place in Indonesia for primarily Indonesian audiences.

Eligibility Criteria

Embassy Jakarta welcomes applications from:

U.S.-based and Indonesian-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO);
Governmental Institutions / Public Entity / Public International Organizations;
Non-profit U.S.-based and Indonesian-based private or public institutions of higher education; and
Individuals or Groups of Individuals
For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

Evaluation Criteria

Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below. The criteria listed are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.

Organizational capacity and record on previous grants: The organization has expertise in its stated field and PAS is confident of its ability to undertake the program. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.
Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
Goals and objectives: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
Embassy priorities: Applicant has clearly described how stated goals are related to and support U.S. Embassy Jakarta’s priority areas or target audiences.
Budget: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.
Monitoring and evaluation plan: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured.
Sustainability: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.