Deadline: 15-Jul-23
The Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Mission to South Africa announces an open competition for organizations to apply to implement programming and outreach for its American Spaces Network.
This network connects South African audiences to American people, institutions, history, culture, and ideals at its eight American Spaces across South Africa. The U.S. Mission seeks proposals from organizations with capacity, experience, and knowledge to implement programs at these American Spaces as part of an inclusive, flexible, and responsive engagement strategy and administrative platform. Applicants should have the capacity to support both local and nationwide programs.
Through strategic outreach, innovative programming, and productive alliances, the U.S. Mission to South Africa’s American Spaces Network is designed to engage youth, organizations, and key influencers on thematic topics of relevance to the United States and South Africa, and that support audiences’ ability to think critically, promote U.S. and South African linkages, and take action to advance health, security, governance, and prosperity in South Africa. The selected partner organization must collaborate with stakeholders and coordinate ongoing activities (which will be discussed in detail with the selected applicant), as well as add value through the inclusion of additional concepts, audiences, and participants.
Program Goals and Objectives
- American Spaces programming builds understanding of United States–in part through exposure to U.S. models of entrepreneurship, civic participation, and good governance–to cultivate and expand relationships between the United States and its citizens with South Africa’s government, civil society, academia, and industry and to facilitate people-to-people dialogue in support of increased mutual understanding.
- Specific objectives of this program include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Enhanced American-South African partnerships with and among civil society organizations and other community leaders, activists, and partners.
- Increased understanding by South Africans of the U.S. system of democracy and unique government structure and economic systems, as well as of U.S. history and society.
- Increased and more diverse use of American Spaces by South Africans and a new, more vibrant, community around American Spaces.
- Broader audience understanding of U.S. models of entrepreneurship and innovation.
- New and deeper linkages between American and South African arts and cultural organizations and creative industries.
- Greater appreciation for and use of the arts for effective civic engagement.
- Improved media literacy and ability to identify misinformation.
- Increased professionalism among journalists and media practitioners – including community and student journalists and podcasters — and U.S.-South African linkages in this field.
- Increased U.S.-South African discussions and collaboration on cultural, educational, and social policy issues.
- Increased equitable economic development and opportunity through entrepreneurship education and activities and connections to U.S. peers and experts in this field.
- Increased South African academic and industry linkages with American Spaces and increased cross-sector contacts among South Africans and Americans.
- Increased STEM and STEAM education opportunities and cooperation between Americans and South Africans.
- Increased linkages and information sharing related to American and South African education policy and best practices.
- Improved and expanded opportunities for English language teaching and learning.
- Increased awareness of and cooperation on environmental issues, climate change, and a just energy transition in South Africa and the United States.
- Improved and enhanced empowerment, equity, and equality for women and other marginalized groups.
Pillars
Six Pillars of American Spaces:
- Information about the US
- Alumni Engagement (focused on alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs)
- Educational Advising, including through the EducationUSA program
- English Language Teaching and Learning
- Skills Building
- Strategic Cultural Programs
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: 1 September 2023 to September 30, 2024, 13 months
- Number of awards anticipated: One award
- Award amounts: Up to $125,000
- Total Funding Available: Up to $125,000
- Anticipated program start date: September 1, 2023
Participants and Audiences: Participants and audiences vary according to the specific objectives and themes of each program. Target audiences must be South African, and may include government, academia, civil society, youth, media, and the general public.
Priority Region: Project activities must take place in South Africa and be directed at South African audiences/participants. All program activities must be linked to American Spaces. The grantee will on occasion work with the U.S. Mission to South Africa to share programs with American Spaces in other southern African countries, should the opportunity arise.
Eligibility Criteria
The following United States and South African organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations;
- Public and private non-profit educational institutions.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.