Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program in Colombia

Deadline: 31-Dec-22

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy Bogota is pleased to announce funding availability through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.

This grants program supports projects proposed by Colombian and/or United States non-governmental organizations (NGOs), individuals, and cultural and educational institutions that aim to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Colombia.

Purpose of Small Grants

PAS Bogota invites proposals for programs that strengthen societal and cultural ties, shared values, and bilateral cooperation between the United States and Colombia in support of U.S. Embassy Strategic Goals. All programs must include a U.S. cultural or educational element or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives, and build partnerships between thier citizens.

Examples of PAS Small Grants Program include, but are not limited to:

• Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs;
• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions;
• Awareness-raising programs on the challenges persons with disabilities face accessing the democratic process, including the lack of reasonable accommodations and information to exercise their political rights;
• Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs;
• Policy advocacy programs that promote and advance the human rights of historically underserved and marginalized groups such as Afro-Colombians, Indigenous, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+), persons with disabilities, and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent inequality;
• Workshops to strengthen networks of U.S. government (USG) programs alumni, CSO/NGO networks, entrepreneurial networks, and/or educational groups.

Priority Program Areas

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
  • Disability Rights
  • LGBTQI+
• Climate and Environment
  • In addition to the outlined priority program areas, the Public Affairs Section may give consideration to project proposals focusing on the following topics:
    • Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM);
    • Economic empowerment of women, girls, Afro-Colombians, Indigenous communities, the Venezuelan diaspora, LGBTQI+ persons, and other underserved populations;
    • Any other initiatives supporting Colombia’s transition to a sustainable and inclusive peace.

Award Information

• Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $15,000;
• Total available funding: $90,000;
• Length of performance period: Up to 12 months;
• Number of awards anticipated: PAS Bogota anticipates issuing several awards under this NOFO, pending availability of funds.

Participants and Audiences

Embassy Bogota encourages projects focusing on a wide range of audiences, with a particular emphasis on groups from socially and/or economically disadvantaged communities.

Programs that are not eligible for funding

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;
• Charitable or development activities;
• Construction programs;
• Programs that support specific religious activities;
• Fundraising campaigns;
• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
• Scientific research;
• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or
• Programs that duplicate existing programs.

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations and entities in Colombia and/or in the United States are eligible to apply. Organizations must be legally registered:

• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental;
• organizations (NGOs) with programming experience;
• Non-profit educational and cultural institutions;
• Governmental institutions;
• Individual citizens from the United States and Colombia;
• For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Colombia.