# Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.–AU Trade and Investment

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/ofop0002726-strategic-commercial-engagement-for-u-s-au-trade/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362295

> U.S. Mission to Ethiopia offered grants of up to $25,000 (at least $5,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 3 awards worth $40,000 in total. Applications closed on June 8, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | OFOP0002726 |
| Agency | U.S. Mission to Ethiopia |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | June 8, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $25,000 |
| Award floor | $5,000 |
| Expected awards | 3 |
| Total funding | $40,000 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 19.040 |

## Who can apply

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

See NOFO for additional details

## What the grant funds

The African Union is a market of nearly 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of over $3 trillion across its member states. Despite the enormous U.S.-Africa trade potential, barriers like limited awareness of American business practices, insufficient business networks connecting U.S. and African firms, and market access obstacles that directly limit trade and investment flows has kept trade levels low. Our previous commercial diplomacy initiatives show that direct engagement between U.S. and African companies, supported by U.S. commercial expertise, can drive measurable increases in business partnerships and investment capacity. The U.S. Mission to the African Union (USAU) public diplomacy section invites proposals that advance U.S. commercial diplomacy by strengthening U.S.-Africa trade and investment ties and expanding opportunities for U.S. companies in African markets. Programs must clearly support U.S. economic interest, expand opportunities for U.S. businesses, and promote U.S. best practices while delivering mutual economic benefit. The target audience include business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions and other stakeholders that can facilitate and expand U.S. business engagement. Project goal: the goal of this program is to deepen U.S.-Africa economic ties by expanding trade and investment connections. The program objectives include:• Expanding U.S.–Africa trade and investment connections.• Promoting innovation and technology transfer using U.S. solutions.• Increasing economic opportunities in ways that support U.S. commercial engagementPossible activities may include business matchmaking, U.S. experts led commercial focusses workshops, sector-specific engagements designed to include U.S. market presence, and activities that address market access constraints affecting U.S. businesses. Projects must show measurable outcomes such as new business linkages, MOUs, commercial networks and investment flows. Succes

## Questions people ask

### Is OFOP0002726 still open?

No. It closed on June 8, 2026. A newer notice is open: OFOP0002825, closes January 1, 2099 (26353 days left).

### Who can apply for Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.–AU Trade and Investment?

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

### What is the deadline for Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.–AU Trade and Investment?

Closed June 8, 2026. 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 $25,000 each. About $40,000 in total across about 3 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.