U.S. Embassy, Conakry- PD Annual Program Statement | AF CON PAS 22 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for AF CON PAS 22 01

The U.S. Embassy in Conakry, through the Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs, announced an open, competitive Annual Program Statement for Public Diplomacy Grants designed to support projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Guinea. Applications could be submitted at any point before the closing date of April 30, 2022, and awards were planned on a rolling basis depending on available funds, which meant earlier submissions had a practical advantage. The funding source for this opportunity was FY2022 Public Diplomacy funding, issued as grants under the Embassy Public Affairs Section (PAS) in Conakry.

At its core, this grant program is meant to fund public diplomacy programming: activities that engage Guinean audiences in Guinea through cultural programming, educational and professional exchanges, communications and media initiatives, and programs that increase understanding of U.S. policy, perspectives, and shared values. A central requirement is that every proposed project include a clear American element. That American element can take several forms, such as collaboration with U.S. experts, U.S. organizations, U.S. institutions, or programming that highlights American culture or U.S.-Guinea cooperation in a specific field. PAS framed these as small grants that should build cultural and people-to-people linkages and produce benefits that last beyond the grant period.

The Embassy highlighted a wide range of eligible program formats, including lectures and speaker series, seminars, cultural heritage preservation, professional and academic exchanges, alumni-led programs connected to prior U.S.-supported exchanges, partnerships between U.S. and Guinean universities, collaborations involving American Chambers of Commerce and businesses, new media projects intended to reach broader audiences, English-language initiatives, capacity-building programs that improve coordination across government/public/private sectors, youth service projects promoting democratic values and volunteerism, civic education and human rights programming, activities that elevate tolerant voices among traditional and community leaders, and arts and culture programs that increase understanding of American culture or bilateral cooperation.

Proposals were expected to align with one or more of six priority areas that reflect PAS Conakry goals and target audiences. The first priority is strengthening civil society by promoting local cultural heritage, traditional and modern arts, and other creative expression, ideally linking Guinean organizations or emerging leaders with U.S. counterparts. The second focuses on economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, including efforts that promote workers rights, women empowerment, corporate social responsibility, access to finance, and support for entrepreneurs, with particular emphasis on strengthening chambers of commerce and key private-sector industries through U.S. linkages. The third priority area is fostering regional stability through academic, arts and culture, and civil society exchanges that strengthen ties among the United States, Guinea, and neighboring countries in ways that encourage peaceful relations. The fourth is boosting democracy, human rights, and good governance by encouraging participation in democratic processes and civil society building, especially among women, youth, and religious or ethnic minorities. The fifth promotes English language capacity as a tool for civic and economic development. The sixth prioritizes women empowerment by expanding womens roles and opportunities in civic, public, and business life.

Beyond choosing a priority area, applications had to meet several cross-cutting design requirements. Proposals needed to clearly identify the primary activity area under which they were being submitted, target key public diplomacy audiences (specifically called out were civil society organizations, entrepreneurs and innovators, journalists, women, and youth ages 14 to 30), and make an effort to reach underserved geographic regions in Guinea and non-elite schools when relevant. Applicants also had to show how the project would create a multiplier effect and remain sustainable after the grant ends, outline a traditional and/or social media plan to publicize activities and outcomes when applicable, name the cities or districts where activities would occur, define measurable outcomes to be achieved by the end of the grant period, and specify monitoring and evaluation tools such as surveys, interviews, or focus groups. PAS also emphasized that applicants must be able to manage project finances responsibly, including participant costs, and maintain transparent sub-grant arrangements if working with partner organizations.

The program explicitly encouraged projects that engage Guineans within Guinea, with special interest in initiatives reaching youth and marginalized communities. At the same time, the Embassy provided a clear list of activities that are ineligible or not typically funded. These exclusions included profit-generating projects; individual scholarships; paying to finish activities started with other funding; fundraising or fund development efforts; projects that are inherently political, partisan, or tied to electoral campaigns; political party and lobbying activities; proposals focused solely on purchasing supplies; construction; scientific research; programs supporting specific religious activities; microloans or microfinance and seed-money distribution for enterprises; legal or land-rights focused programs; purely charitable or general development activities; projects primarily aimed at building the applicant organizations internal capacity rather than delivering public programming; and proposals that duplicate existing programs.

In terms of basic opportunity details, the funding opportunity was titled "U.S. Embassy, Conakry- PD Annual Program Statement" with the opportunity number AF CON PAS 22 01. The instrument type was a grant, the opportunity category was discretionary, and the CFDA number listed was 19.040. The stated award ceiling was $25,000, with an expectation of around seven awards. The posting was created on March 9, 2022, and the original closing date was April 30, 2022. The opportunity was administered by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Guinea, through the Embassy Public Affairs Section in Conakry, and applicants were instructed to submit full applications without preliminary concept notes or meeting requests, since PAS did not accept letters of intent, concept papers, or pre-application meetings due to volume.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Guinea in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy, Conakry- PD Annual Program Statement" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 09, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 30, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: City or township governments.

Apply for AF CON PAS 22 01

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