Deadline: 18-Aug-2025
The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation is now accepting applications for the project titled Impeding Chinese Communist Party Domination in Africa’s Critical Minerals. The initiative addresses the growing concern over China’s extensive investments in African mining and infrastructure, which are often linked to corruption, secrecy, and illicit practices that undermine U.S. interests in the region.
The project seeks to map China’s mining operations and supply chains across Africa, aiming to expose their dual-use capabilities and the potential proliferation risks involved. By examining these opaque networks, the goal is to reveal the extent of Chinese influence and provide data that supports efforts to counter it effectively.
A total of $1,479,750 in funding is available, subject to fund availability. Deliverables under the project include detailed data on mining networks, abuses, and illicit activities by Chinese-backed actors. Reports should provide country- and region-specific findings, focusing on dual-use and proliferation risks.
Applicants are expected to map Chinese-affiliated companies, transit routes, and logistics operations in eight targeted countries. This includes using tools such as satellite imagery and corporate records to document and analyze activities. The project must result in concrete, actionable recommendations to curb China’s influence, encourage host country interventions, bolster U.S. competition, and improve U.S. government access to critical mineral supply chains.
Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society and non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and certain for-profit entities. For-profit applicants must comply with strict U.S. government regulations, including cost principles and restrictions on profit-making. Public international organizations and government institutions are also eligible to apply.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
