# U.S. Embassy Cotonou PDS Request for Statements of Interest: Annual Program Statement

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/afben-21-01-u-s-embassy-cotonou-pds-request-for-statements/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/331324

> U.S. Mission to Benin offered grants of up to $20,000 (at least $5,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 7 awards worth $128,000 in total. Applications closed on June 25, 2021.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | AFBEN-21-01 |
| Agency | U.S. Mission to Benin |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | June 25, 2021 |
| Award ceiling | $20,000 |
| Award floor | $5,000 |
| Expected awards | 7 |
| Total funding | $128,000 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 19.040 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from U.S. and Beninese: • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience; • Individuals; • Non-profit or governmental educational institutions; • Governmental institutions.

## What the grant funds

The U.S. Embassy Cotonou Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Benin through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. PDS invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal. The submission of a SOI is the first step in a two-part process. Applicants must first submit a SOI, which is a concise, one to two page concept note designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants the opportunity to submit program ideas for PDS to evaluate prior to requiring the development of full proposal applications. Upon review of eligible SOIs, PDS will invite selected applicants to expand their ideas into full proposal applications. Purpose: PDS Cotonou invites SOIs for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Benin through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Priority Program Objectives and Audiences : Project proposals submitted through this APS should address one of the following Priority Program Objectives: Shared Democratic Values: Activities that promote better understanding of the value and function of democratic tools to improve people’s lives, drawing on examples from Benin and the United States, in order to build support for and encourage greater participation in democratic governance. Target audiences include: motivated community leaders who lack formal civics education due to linguistic, literacy, or schooling barriers; primary and secondary school students; religious and community leaders in small towns and rural areas; and/or youth and young adults in northeastern Benin. (Up to three awards anticipated, maximum $20,000 each).

## Questions people ask

### Is AFBEN-21-01 still open?

No. It closed on June 25, 2021. A newer notice is open: OFOP0002825, closes January 1, 2099 (26353 days left).

### Who can apply for U.S. Embassy Cotonou PDS Request for Statements of Interest: Annual Program Statement?

U.S. Mission to Benin accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for U.S. Embassy Cotonou PDS Request for Statements of Interest: Annual Program Statement?

Closed June 25, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $20,000 each. About $128,000 in total across about 7 awards.

### Who has won Public Diplomacy Programs grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees, Meridian International Center, American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc. The program made 13,489 awards worth $358 million in that time.