CFAs: Storytelling to Safeguard Cultural Identity and Sovereignty (Uzbekistan)

Deadline: 30-Jun-2026

The U.S. Department of State’s Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent has announced a funding opportunity to improve cultural heritage storytelling and tourism experiences in Uzbekistan. The project is designed to build content creation capacity, increase awareness of cultural property protection, and strengthen tourism narratives linked to heritage sites.

The initiative focuses on maximizing the impact of U.S.-supported cultural preservation investments, especially those supported through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. It also aims to deepen U.S.-Uzbekistan cultural cooperation through practical training and public-facing storytelling.

Key facts

Funder: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Tashkent.
Programme title: Storytelling to Safeguard Cultural Identity and Sovereignty: Bolstering the Tourism Industry.
Country: Uzbekistan.
Total available funding: $50,000.
Expected award size: About $30,000 to $50,000.
Number of awards: One to two cooperative agreements.
Prime recipient: Must be a U.S.-based organization.

What the programme supports

The programme is designed to strengthen:

Tourism storytelling at AFCP-supported heritage sites.
Professional content creation for cultural heritage promotion.
Implementation of the U.S.-Uzbekistan Cultural Property Agreement.
Awareness of cultural property protection risks.
Public appreciation of U.S. support for heritage preservation.
Collaboration between tourism professionals and content creators.
Multi-platform heritage content for domestic and international audiences.

Main goal

The central goal is to improve how Uzbekistan tells the story of its cultural heritage. The project should help tourism professionals and content creators produce better, audience-focused narratives that connect heritage preservation with tourism growth.

It also seeks to highlight the role of cultural preservation in protecting identity, sovereignty, and shared civilizational values.

Target groups

The initiative supports two main groups:

Tourism professionals

This group includes:

Tour guides.
Tourism operators.
Hospitality professionals.
Cultural tourism specialists.

These participants should work in regions with AFCP-supported sites.

Content creators

This group includes:

Bloggers.
Journalists.
Filmmakers.
Photographers.
Digital content creators.
Social media influencers.

The project aims to strengthen their ability to tell compelling stories about heritage and culture.

Expected results

The project expects to achieve measurable outputs such as:

At least 20 tourism professionals trained.
At least 20 content creators trained.
New thematic tour concepts for different audiences.
High-quality heritage videos, articles, documentary shorts, and social media campaigns.
A combined outreach target of at least 300,000 people within 12 months.

These results show that the programme is focused on practical communication and public engagement, not just awareness raising.

Heritage Content Creation and Storytelling Lab

A key part of the project is the creation of a Heritage Content Creation and Storytelling Lab. This lab will be developed with partners such as:

Art and Culture Development Foundation.
Cultural Heritage Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
National Tourism Committee.
National Content Creation Center.
Local creative industry partners.

The lab is intended to build hands-on storytelling and digital content skills through collaboration between tourism and creative sectors.

What strong proposals should include

A competitive proposal should demonstrate:

Experience in cultural heritage preservation.
Experience in tourism development or storytelling.
Capacity to train both tourism professionals and content creators.
A clear strategy for producing multi-platform content.
Awareness of cultural property protection issues.
Strong partnership potential with Uzbek institutions.
Ability to reach large audiences and deliver measurable impact.

Who is eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

U.S.-based nonprofit organizations.
Think tanks.
Civil society organizations.
Educational institutions.

Only U.S.-based organizations may serve as the prime recipient of the award. Applicants should have relevant expertise in:

Cultural heritage preservation.
Tourism development.
Museum studies.
Content creation capacity building.

How it works

Build the partnership structure.
Work with the relevant Uzbek cultural and tourism institutions and local creative partners.
Design the training model.
Create a programme for tourism professionals and content creators.
Set up the Storytelling Lab.
Use the lab to develop practical skills and content production capacity.
Integrate cultural property protection.
Include heritage protection awareness in all modules and activities.
Produce public-facing content.
Generate videos, articles, photo stories, and social media campaigns.
Track audience reach and outcomes.
Measure impact against the 300,000-person outreach target and other delivery goals.

Why it matters

Heritage tourism depends not only on preservation, but also on how sites are interpreted and communicated to audiences. This programme matters because strong storytelling can increase tourism value while also encouraging respect for cultural property and local identity.

It also matters because it links U.S. support for cultural preservation with practical capacity building in Uzbekistan. That can help create stronger, more sustainable tourism experiences and more informed public engagement.

Common mistakes and tips

Mistake: Treating the project as a tourism promotion campaign only.
- Tip: Keep cultural heritage preservation and protection central.
Mistake: Ignoring content creation capacity.
- Tip: Include practical training for digital storytelling and media production.
Mistake: Weak linkage to AFCP-supported sites.
- Tip: Make sure the proposal clearly connects to heritage sites supported by U.S. investments.
Mistake: Missing the U.S.-based prime recipient requirement.
- Tip: Only a U.S.-based organization can lead the award.
Mistake: Failing to show measurable outreach.
- Tip: Include a clear plan to reach the 300,000-person target.

FAQ

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

To strengthen cultural heritage storytelling and tourism experiences in Uzbekistan.
It also aims to improve content creation capacity and public awareness of heritage preservation.

Who can apply?

U.S.-based nonprofit organizations.
Think tanks.
Civil society organizations.
Educational institutions.

How much funding is available?

The total available funding is $50,000.
Awards are expected to range from about $30,000 to $50,000.

How many awards will be made?

One to two cooperative agreements are expected.

What groups will be trained?

Tourism professionals.
Content creators such as bloggers, journalists, filmmakers, photographers, and influencers.

What is the outreach target?

The project should reach at least 300,000 people within 12 months.

What organisations will the partner work with in Uzbekistan?

The Art and Culture Development Foundation.
The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The National Tourism Committee.
The National Content Creation Center.
Local creative industry partners.

Conclusion

This U.S. Embassy Tashkent opportunity is a focused investment in heritage storytelling, tourism capacity, and cultural property protection in Uzbekistan. The strongest proposals will combine tourism expertise, content creation training, and meaningful partnerships that help heritage sites reach wider audiences while preserving cultural identity.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.