Deadline: 6-Sep-20
The U.S. Embassy Seoul, Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Department of State has announced an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program on American Corner Project Coordinator.
Funding Information
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $48,720
- Length of performance period: 12 months
Program Objectives
- American Corners are partnership projects with host libraries that give the Embassy the flexibility to provide effective programs keyed to Mission goals and objectives, and to local audiences’ needs and preferences. The grantee will work closely with host libraries to identify local target audiences in each region and analyze their needs, as well as to plan and conduct PD outreach programs in close coordination with American Spaces Team.
- American Spaces in Korea serve as programming platforms to engage audiences in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives as well as supporting the five pillars of American Spaces worldwide: providing accurate information about the United States; offering English language learning opportunities; engaging alumni of U.S. exchange programs; cultural & skills development programs; and U.S. education promotion. In addition to the recent establishment of American Corner in Pyeongtaek, PD Seoul plans to expand American Spaces to increase presence in Jeju (Jeju City) and Gangwon (Gangneung) Provinces in Fiscal Year 2021.
- The main role of the American Corner Project Coordinator is to create, organize, and conduct PD programs to engage key audiences in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives as well as supporting the five pillars of American Spaces worldwide. If a grantee can perform the role of speaker for programs – PD Seoul prefers a grantee fluent in both Korean and English so that they will be able to conduct programs in either language – that will be an additional asset to this grant. PD Seoul will determine program format (i.e. either virtually or in-person) following the ROKG, Embassy, and local partner policy/guidance on public gatherings in the COVID-19 era, adopting the most stringent/protective approach if there are differences in guidance. Even with this approach in place, the grantee should expect to travel to different regions throughout the country to conduct programs at American Corners.
Participants and Audiences
- PD Seoul organizes American Spaces programs on a wide range of topics aimed at established opinion leaders — government officials, NGO leadership, professors, and entrepreneurs — as well as emerging voices, including the North Korean defector community, young professionals, leading college students, and start-up hopefuls. As the American Corners are based in regions throughout Korea, this target audience will vary depending on each region’s particular context.
- The COVID-19 outbreak has normalized conducting virtual programs, so the American Spaces team plans to organize nation-wide virtual programs on priority topics which also allow key Korean audiences to network amongst themselves through PD programs, including State Department exchange program alumni. This grant will support American Corner program development and engaging target audiences in this effort.
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Individuals
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=328795