Deadline: 31-Jan-23
The Public Diplomacy (PD) section of the U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe under the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for programs for creative entrepreneurs to realize their full economic potential and build connections with their U.S. counterparts.
The PD section invites proposals from non-profit organizations, civil society organizations, and U.S. government alumni to design and implement a creative entrepreneurship program that increases the use of digital technology, improves business acumen, and celebrates cultural heritage, identity and diversity. The program should expand opportunities to develop institutional capacity, promote financial sustainability of creative and cultural organizations; and build networks of independent creative and cultural organizations to make the sector more profitable for its diverse members.
Theory of Change: If the Zimbabwean creative community increases use of digital technologies and e-commerce, builds networks with U.S. creative enterprises, and equips practitioners with skills and knowledge, they would be better positioned to build a professional and financially sustainable creative industry. This program supports the U.S. Department of State’s Public Diplomacy efforts to build a more stable, inclusive economy for the Zimbabwe creative industry.
Objectives
- All proposals must meet the following objectives:
- facilitate the development of Zimbabwe’s creative economy in terms of sustainability, inclusion, and professionalism.
- Strengthen collaboration and build networks between Zimbabwe and U.S. creative enterprises with an emphasis on long-term relationships and sustainability. Partnerships should facilitate creation of content that attracts and retains significant and diverse audiences in an equitable manner between Zimbabwe and the United States.
- Proposals can also include the following deliverables:
- Increased use of digital technologies and e-commerce platforms in the creative and cultural industries. The PD section encourages initiatives that harness a range of digital technologies in creation, production and distribution of the arts.
- Safeguard and celebrate cultural heritage, identity and diversity including addressing intellectual property rights. The PD Section encourages projects that profile and promote defined elements of Zimbabwean and American communities’ cultural heritage.
- Equip participants with skills and knowledge to build sustainable creative businesses including business planning, scaling up, exploring U.S. business models, and networking. Projects should contribute to increasing the sustainability of local level creative economies.
- Share information about how to organize and manage international artistic tours, including requirements for U.S. tours, with monetary, logistical, and partnership elements covered.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: 12-18 months from date of award.
- Number of awards anticipated: 2 awards
- Award amounts: US$25,000
- Total available funding: $50,000
- Type of Funding: 2023 Public Diplomacy Funds – Smith-Mundt
- Anticipated program start date: July 2023
Participants and Audiences: Proposals must engage with Zimbabwean creative and cultural organizations as well as audiences. Programs can promote inclusivity by targeting women, youth, people living with disabilities, and rural communities. Successful projects will facilitate U.S. and Zimbabwean citizen participation in the cultural life of their community.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants: The following organizations are eligible to apply: Zimbabwean or U.S. media organizations, civil society, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
- For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=344321