U.S. Embassy Yerevan PDS: Small Grants Program in Armenia

Deadline: 1-Jul-23

The U.S. Embassy Yerevan Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations to submit project proposals in response to this Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Program Statement (APS).

The APS makes funding available for proposals that strengthen ties between the United States and Armenia, highlight shared values, and promote bilateral cooperation.

The APS is a best practice utilized by many U.S. embassies around the world to solicit proposals for funding via an open and transparent competition process. With few exceptions, awards are made based on open competition.  In the interest of fairness and transparency, PDS cannot accept unsolicited proposals.

Priority Program Areas

• Reinforce U.S.-Armenian Shared Values, by funding proposals which: promote U.S. culture, including music, dance, arts, film, sports, and education, and support human rights, social inclusion, youth outreach, and women’s empowerment.
• Advance Regional and Global Security, by funding proposals that support reconciliation, peace-building, and lasting partnerships between the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the people of Armenia and Turkey, including plans for continued cooperation after the project ends.
• Develop Media Capacity and Expand English Language Opportunities, by funding proposals that advance media literacy and train journalists and expand English language learning and training opportunities for journalists, students, and youth.
• Strengthen U.S.-Armenia Cultural and Educational Ties, by funding proposals that promote U.S. culture, including music, dance, arts, film, sports, and education, and bring together U.S. and Armenian artists, educators, and other experts together to collaborate and support artistic and cultural projects that advance human rights, social inclusion, youth outreach, and women’s empowerment.
• Advance Shared Prosperity, by funding proposals that foster economic empowerment, resilience, and shared prosperity through STEM education and entrepreneurship.
• Strengthen Democracy and Civil Society, by funding proposals that encourage transparency and accountability in governance, foster civic engagement and reforms, and promote democracy, trade and investment, rule of law, civic education, and entrepreneurship.  NOTE: Most projects of this nature are funded under the Democracy Commission and Alumni Outreach small grants.

Funding Information

• While the PDS will consider proposals up to $50,000, projects that are smaller in scope are more likely to be awarded. Most grants selected are between $5,000 and $25,000. In rare circumstances, applications above $50,000 will be evaluated.

Eligibility Activities

• Activities that are typically funded include, but are not limited to:
  • bringing an American expert speaker or performer to Armenia;
  • conferences on American themes or issues of mutual interest;
  • exhibitions of works by Americans or on American themes;
  • youth empowerment, leadership, and education programs;
  • arts and cultural programs, and particularly those that target underserved communities;
  • radio, television, and social media programming in support of the four objectives;
  • exchange programs that support reconciliation with neighboring countries.

Ineligibility Activities

• Activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to:
  • ongoing salary costs;
  • office equipment;
  • paying to complete activities begun with other funds;
  • projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single party electoral campaigns;
  • citizen exchange programs with foreign countries;
  • social welfare projects;
  • political party activities;
  • projects that support specific religious activities;
  • scientific research;
  • fundraising campaigns;
  • commercial projects;
  • trade activities; and
  • projects aimed primarily at the institutional development of the organization.

Eligibility Criteria

• The U.S. Embassy Yerevan PDS encourages applications from all sectors: committed and organized civil-society organizations, local representatives of civil society, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and individuals.
• For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

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

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