Grants / Department of State / Africa Regional Services

DOS-AF-PDPA-FY22-NOFO-2A: Supporting Civic Engagement in the Electoral Processes in Africa

Closed Closed May 27, 2022 Opportunity DOS-AF-PDPA-FY22-NOFO-2A ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Austrian-American Partnership Fund (AAPF) (OFOP0002825). Status: Closes January 1, 2099 (26353 days left). It is in our archive of Africa Regional Services notices from 2022.

• Award ceiling$500,000
• Award floor$500,000
• Total funding$500,000
• Expected awards1
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits and colleges and universities.

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education

U.S. and African public and private non-profit organizations including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations, International Public Institutions, and accredited post-secondary U.S. education institutions meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3).

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Public Diplomacy Programs awards averaged $26,570; this notice allows up to $500,000 per award.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The Bureau of African Affairs' Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (AF/PDPA) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to organize a democracy practitioners’ conference and provide ongoing support to nongovernmental efforts to promote accountability and greater civic engagement in priority African countries scheduled to hold elections in 2022 and 2023. The program consists of two key components. The first is a two-day conference for 50-65 participants including mid-level journalists, civil society activists, and democracy practitioners from Sub-Saharan African countries with elections scheduled for 2022 or 2023. The conference, (ideally 5 from each participating country plus host count country participants) should be in person, if possible, in a country which has sufficient political space for robust participation of host country activists especially in discussing sensitive political challenges. If an in-person conference is not feasible, the grantee should consult closely with AF/PDPA about the possibility of organizing a virtual conference or series. The conference itself should feature a combination of U.S. and African experts who can exchange perspectives on best practices in meeting the challenges of democratization and developing strategies to promote accountability of political and governmental actors and deeper civic engagement by citizens throughout the electoral cycle including the post-electoral process. Specifically, the conference should offer a platform for American and African practitioners to provide training on best practices and strategic approaches, especially in working in difficult and highly charged political environments. American participants will share perspectives on American best practices on civic engagement and electoral best practice and will compliment African perspectives on the same subjects. Training can include a wide list of relevant issues facing countries moving toward democratic consolidation and facing democratic stagnation or backsliding. The training should focus on electoral issues and trends, including voter apathy, civic education and advocacy, election observation and monitoring, media reporting, identifying and combatting dis/misinformation, and best practices in messaging and monitoring social media. Participants will be required to create an action plan for their country.

Category: Other.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, OFOP0002825, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.