Deadline: 1 June 2020
The U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City Public Affairs Section (PAS) has announced funding is available through the Public Diplomacy Federal Assistance Awards.
Public Diplomacy Goals
Successful proposals must include an element of public outreach to meet the criteria for use of Public Diplomacy funds. Public diplomacy funds may only be given to non-profit entities or individuals. Public diplomacy programming includes communication with international audiences, cultural programming, educational exchanges, trade promotion, regional security, English language programming, innovation in and improvement of education systems, promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and promoting journalistic professionalism. Proposals funded under this Annual Program Statement will further one or more of the U.S. Mission to Vietnam’s overarching public diplomacy goals: improving Vietnam’s global integration, market orientation, commitment to good governance, improved education systems and environmental sustainability; partnering with Vietnam on regional security cooperation.
Priorities
- Economic Prosperity: improved opportunities for U.S. businesses, labor standards, developing soft skills to work with U.S. businesses, reducing the bilateral trade deficit, intellectual property rights, promotion of U.S. products, or U.S. business values.
- Security: rule of law, combating transnational crime, combating trafficking in persons, improving relations with the Vietnamese diaspora community.
- Education: English teaching, improving teaching methods, curriculum development, modernizing education systems, STEM.
- Inclusiveness: women’s rights and empowerment, access and legal reform for disabled persons, LGBT rights, ethnic/religious minorities’ rights, civil society development.
- Fundamental Freedoms: freedom of expression, press, association, religion.
- Sustainable development: Lower Mekong Initiative, environmental standards, climate mitigation and adaptation.
Funding Information
Award Amount will be below $25,000.
Activities
Activities and expenses that are generally not funded include, but are not limited to:
- the purchase or long term lease of space or buildings in support of program activities;
- support personal business;
- construction projects;
- individual travel to conferences;
- scholarships to support educational opportunities or study for individuals;
- funding ongoing projects, which would otherwise be funded through other means;
- financial support for fundraising or fund development projects;
- projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to an individual or single party in electoral campaigns;
- political party and lobbying activities;
- projects that support specific religious activities;
- cash prizes for competitions;
- networking events;
- business-class travel;
- development projects without a clear public diplomacy component
- translations;
- alcoholic beverages.
Target Audience
The target audience for successful projects is 15-35 years old. Priority given to projects in Ho Chi Minh City, Central Coastal Vietnam, and the Mekong Delta, especially in Da Nang and Can Tho.
Eligibility Criteria
- Submissions are encouraged from U.S. and Vietnam entities with relevant programming experience. This experience should be documented in the proposal. Eligible entities include:
- not-for-profit, civil society/non-governmental organizations
- public educational institutions
- individuals
- For-profit entities are not allowed to apply. Previous federal award recipients who are not/were not in compliance with the terms of their financial and program reporting requirements are ineligible to apply. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they are in compliance with all applicable terms, conditions, and Office of Management and Budget guidance and requirements. Those organizations found to be in non-compliance may be found ineligible for funding or designated high risk if selected for funding.
For more information, visit https://vn.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/SVM700-20-PAS-001-Annual-Prog-Statement.pdf