The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funds are available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.

PDS Burkina Faso is seeking proposals for programmes that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Burkina Faso through cultural and exchange programmes that highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation. All programmes must include an element of cultural or a link with American experts, organisations or institutions in a specific field that will promote a better understanding of American policy and perspectives.

Priority programme areas

• Programmes aimed at strengthening the understanding and practice of democracy, human rights and good governance. This may include projects that encourage participation in civil society, particularly for women, religious minorities and young people.
• Programmes that aim to promote a greater understanding of diversity, inclusion, religious freedom, the rights of women, disabled people, under-represented or otherwise disadvantaged communities, and/or other aspects of human rights.
• Creative programmes that advance one or more of the priority areas listed above, including but not limited to economic empowerment, youth development, peace and security.
• Programmes to promote fluency in English through projects that encourage the use and learning of the English language as a tool for civic and economic development.
• Programmes that increase transparency, media professionalism, access to diverse new sources, media education, etc. Projects can develop the capacity of Burkina Faso's media, a tradition of fact-checking and research for journalists and/or media consumers, take advantage of the use of social media for greater transparency, and/or extend these programmes beyond the capital and secondary towns.

Information on funding

• Total funding available: 300,000 $ (subject to availability of funds)
• Grant amounts: grants may vary from a minimum of 1,000 $ to a maximum of 25,000 $ (exceptional proposals of more than 25,000 $ may be considered subject to funding availability).
• Period of performance: up to 12 months
• Number of scholarships planned: 10 scholarships (depending on amounts)

Ineligible programmes

• The following types of programmes are not eligible for funding:
  • broadcasts linked to partisan political activity ;
  • Charitable or development activities ;
  • Building programmes ;
  • programmes that support specific religious activities;
  • Fundraising campaigns ;
  • Lobbying for specific laws or programmes
  • Scientific research;
  • Programmes aimed primarily at the growth or institutional development of the organisation; or
  • programmes that duplicate existing programmes;
  • Profit-generating projects ;

Participants and audiences

• The audiences PDS Burkina Faso targets include the national and regional media; NGOs and think tanks; underserved communities; universities; government officials (state, district and municipal officials, decision-makers, civil servants); cultural and educational leaders; leaders of the next generation; and other stakeholders. generation (e.g., the innovators, the influencers campus leaders). All proposals must focus on the engagement of Burkinabè in Burkina Faso. Proposals will be assessed on the basis of a reasoned strategy for the target audience, as well as appropriate inclusivity, whether based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability.

Eligibility criteria

• The following entities are eligible:
  • Registered not-for-profit organisations, including think tanks and civil society and non-governmental organisations with programming experience;
  • Individuals;
  • not-for-profit or government educational establishments;
  • Government institutions.
  • Profit-making or commercial entities are not eligible.
• Other eligibility criteria
  • The candidates may submit only one proposal per organisation. If more than one proposal is submitted by an organisation, all proposals from that organisation will not be eligible for funding.
• Cost sharing or quid pro quo
  • Cost-sharing is encouraged but not compulsory.

For more information, please visit Grants.gov.