Public Diplomacy Grants in Kuwait | KUWAIT PAS 2022 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for KUWAIT PAS 2022 01

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Kuwait (U.S. Embassy Kuwait, Public Affairs Section), offered a public diplomacy grant opportunity titled "Supporting Civic Engagement, Marginalized Communities, and Education Through Exchanges and Training" (Funding Opportunity Number KUWAIT-PAS-2022-01; CFDA 19.040). The embassy set aside a total of $95,000 and expected to make around 10 awards, depending on the final award sizes. Individual awards could range from $1,000 up to a ceiling of $25,000, and projects were expected to run for 1 to 12 months, with activities completed within 12 months or less. The anticipated program window was October 2022 through September 2023, using FY22 Fulbright-Hays/Smith-Mundt public diplomacy funds. Funding was to be issued as a Fixed Amount Award, and the entire opportunity was contingent on the availability of funds.

The program focus was practical, community-facing projects that advance U.S.-Kuwait people-to-people ties while building local skills and resilience. Applicants were asked to propose programs that achieve one or more of six specific objectives: (1) preparing and encouraging students in Kuwait to attend U.S. universities through tools like English language support, college readiness training, or advising; (2) increasing local capacity to counter discrimination, harassment, and abuse against women; (3) strengthening awareness and prevention efforts related to trafficking in persons; (4) improving the ability of Kuwaiti institutions to prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents; (5) promoting educational, cultural, or civic engagement activities that connect Americans and Kuwaitis, especially youth and young professionals; and (6) strengthening the ability of marginalized communities, youth, and women to participate fully in political life and the economy. The target audiences were clearly defined and included youth and young professionals, educators, women, stateless residents, and other underserved populations in Kuwait. A key restriction was that grant-funded activities must benefit target audiences within Kuwait.

The application process was structured as a two-step competition that began with a brief Statement of Interest (SOI), rather than a full proposal. The SOI was limited to 1 to 2 pages and was meant to communicate the core program idea and what it would accomplish, without the detail required in a full application. Applicants had to email a short program summary and an estimated budget (in U.S. dollars) to PASKuwaitM@state.gov by May 6, 2022. SOIs had to be written in English and needed to include a project description covering goals, objectives, expected outcomes, performance indicators, intended beneficiaries, and a proposed timeline, along with a clear explanation of the applicant's capacity to implement the project and responsibly manage U.S. government funds. SOIs that did not follow the stated format and requirements could be deemed ineligible, and reviewers would only read up to the page limit, meaning clarity and completeness within the first page or two mattered.

Eligibility was limited to Kuwait-based applicants. Eligible applicants included not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs, civil society groups, and think tanks), not-for-profit educational institutions, individuals, and foreign public entities such as public international organizations or government institutions. Cost sharing was encouraged but not required, which left room for both fully funded concepts and proposals that leverage partner support or in-kind contributions. For administrative eligibility, organizations ultimately needed a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI; formerly DUNS) and an active SAM.gov registration, but the embassy did not require these registrations at the SOI stage. If an applicant was invited to submit a full proposal, the organization would need to have completed UEI and SAM.gov registration before submitting that full application, and applicants were warned that SAM registration can take weeks (with no fee to register). Individuals did not need UEI or SAM.gov registration.

SOIs were evaluated by a Grants Review Committee using a points-based rubric emphasizing the strength and feasibility of the concept. The largest share of points (50) went to the quality of the program idea, including alignment with the program framework, clarity, feasibility, and a realistic timeline, with a clear preference for creative approaches that still fit the objectives. Organizational capacity and past performance accounted for 35 points, focusing on demonstrated expertise and experience managing similar programs or funds; if local partners were involved, their role and relevant experience needed to be briefly described. Program planning and the ability to achieve objectives accounted for the remaining 15 points, rewarding SOIs that clearly connect proposed activities to measurable results. Selected SOI applicants would then be invited to submit a full proposal package, including the appropriate federal forms (SF-424 or SF-424-I, plus SF-424A and SF-424B as applicable), and the full proposals would go through a second merit review before final funding decisions were made. Applicants were also expected to comply with applicable federal award rules and Department of State standard terms and conditions (including 2 CFR 200 and related requirements) if awarded. For questions, the embassy directed applicants to contact PASKuwaitM@state.gov.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kuwait in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), business and commerce, community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment, labor and training, environment, health, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), law, justice and legal services, regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Diplomacy Grants in Kuwait" 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 23, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 06, 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 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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, Individuals, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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