Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0001920
PDS-DKR-RSOI-FY25-01 (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0001920) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Embassy Dakar Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) under the U.S. Department of State (Assistance Listing/CFDA 19.441). The program is designed to support projects that deepen cultural ties and people-to-people connections between the United States and Senegal, or between the United States and Guinea-Bissau. In practical terms, the Embassy is looking for programming that uses culture, education, capacity building, and exchange activities to spotlight shared values and strengthen bilateral cooperation. The overall emphasis is public diplomacy: activities that broaden mutual understanding, build relationships, and create visible, positive engagement between U.S. and local communities.
This opportunity is structured as a two-step application process, and the first step is a required Statement of Interest (SOI). Applicants start by submitting a short, focused concept document of about 1 to 3 pages that clearly explains the project idea and what it aims to achieve. The SOI is not a full proposal and does not lead directly to an award; it functions as an initial screening and feedback point so applicants do not have to invest the time and effort of writing a full application unless their concept is competitive. After a merit review of eligible SOIs, the Embassy will invite selected applicants to develop and submit a complete proposal. Those full proposals then go through a second merit review before the Embassy makes final funding decisions.
Funding is provided through a grant instrument, with an award ceiling of $50,000 per award. The Embassy expects to make approximately three awards under this announcement. The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Mission to Senegal and was created on April 29, 2025, with an original closing date of June 9, 2025, for the SOI stage. Applicants should plan around those dates and treat the SOI as a concise but persuasive pitch that communicates the need, the proposed activities, the intended audience, and the anticipated outcomes in a way that is easy for reviewers to assess quickly.
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," and the announcement specifically signals interest in project concepts coming from or involving groups such as alumni associations, American Corners and their partner institutions, AI-focused organizations operating in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, sports organizations, youth and school-based organizations, and regional cultural, youth, and sports centers. That set of examples hints at the kinds of community-facing institutions PDS wants to work with and the types of engagement channels they consider high-impact: education and exchanges, youth development, sports diplomacy, cultural programming, and emerging technology or AI-related capacity building that can connect local innovators with U.S. expertise and values.
At its core, this grant call is seeking practical, well-defined initiatives that build durable connections and offer clear public diplomacy value. Strong SOIs will typically describe who the program serves, how the activities will be delivered (for example, workshops, training series, cultural showcases, speaker programs, exchange-style collaborations, competitions, or joint projects), why the approach fits the local context in Senegal or Guinea-Bissau, and what measurable results the project expects to produce. The Embassy is signaling that it wants projects that do more than host one-off events; it is looking for efforts that strengthen networks, develop skills, and create ongoing collaboration that reinforces shared values and mutual understanding between the United States and partner communities.Apply for OFOP0001920
- The U.S. Mission to Senegal in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PDS-DKR-RSOI-FY25-01" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.441.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-04-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-09. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the grant opportunity PDS-DKR-RSOI-FY25-01 (OFOP0001920)?
PDS-DKR-RSOI-FY25-01 (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0001920) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Embassy Dakar Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) under the U.S. Department of State. It is listed under Assistance Listing/CFDA 19.441.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program is designed to support projects that deepen cultural ties and people-to-people connections between the United States and Senegal, or between the United States and Guinea-Bissau. The emphasis is public diplomacy: activities that broaden mutual understanding, build relationships, and create visible, positive engagement between U.S. and local communities.
Which countries or geographic focus areas does the program support?
The opportunity supports projects that connect the United States with Senegal, or the United States with Guinea-Bissau.
What kinds of activities is the Embassy looking to fund?
The Embassy is looking for programming that uses culture, education, capacity building, and exchange activities to spotlight shared values and strengthen bilateral cooperation. Examples of activity formats mentioned or implied include workshops, training series, cultural showcases, speaker programs, exchange-style collaborations, competitions, or joint projects.
What does “public diplomacy” mean in the context of this grant?
In this call, public diplomacy refers to activities that broaden mutual understanding, build relationships, and create visible, positive engagement between U.S. and local communities, with an emphasis on shared values and durable connections.
Is this a one-step or two-step application process?
This opportunity uses a two-step application process. The first step is a required Statement of Interest (SOI). After review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants are invited to submit a complete proposal in the second step.
Is submitting a Statement of Interest (SOI) required?
Yes. The first step is a required SOI.
What is a Statement of Interest (SOI) for this opportunity?
The SOI is a short, focused concept document intended to clearly explain the project idea and what it aims to achieve. It functions as an initial screening and feedback point so applicants can avoid investing time in a full proposal unless their concept is competitive.
How long should the SOI be?
The SOI should be about 1 to 3 pages.
Does submitting an SOI result in funding automatically?
No. The SOI is not a full proposal and does not lead directly to an award. It is used for initial screening and feedback before the Embassy invites selected applicants to submit full proposals.
What happens after the SOI stage?
After a merit review of eligible SOIs, the Embassy will invite selected applicants to develop and submit a complete proposal. Those full proposals then go through a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.
How are applications reviewed?
The process includes (1) a merit review of eligible SOIs to determine which applicants will be invited to submit full proposals, and (2) a second merit review of full proposals before final award decisions.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
Funding is provided through a grant instrument.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $50,000 per award.
How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy expects to make approximately three awards under this announcement.
Who is administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Mission to Senegal through the U.S. Embassy Dakar Public Diplomacy Section (PDS).
What is the Assistance Listing/CFDA number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA is 19.441.
When was this opportunity created?
The announcement was created on April 29, 2025.
What is the SOI submission deadline?
The original closing date for the SOI stage is June 9, 2025.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The announcement specifically signals interest in project concepts coming from or involving organizations such as alumni associations, American Corners and their partner institutions, AI-focused organizations operating in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, sports organizations, youth and school-based organizations, and regional cultural, youth, and sports centers.
Does the announcement indicate preferred applicant types or partners?
Yes. It highlights interest in concepts coming from or involving alumni associations, American Corners and partner institutions, AI-focused organizations in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, sports organizations, youth and school-based organizations, and regional cultural/youth/sports centers. These examples suggest the Embassy values community-facing institutions and high-visibility engagement channels.
What kinds of project themes appear to be a good fit?
Project themes that align include cultural programming, education and exchanges, youth development, sports diplomacy, capacity building, and emerging technology or AI-related capacity building that connects local innovators with U.S. expertise and values.
What makes an SOI strong or competitive for this call?
Based on the announcement, a strong SOI is concise but persuasive and clearly communicates the need, the proposed activities, the intended audience, and anticipated outcomes. Strong concepts typically explain who the program serves, how activities will be delivered, why the approach fits the local context in Senegal or Guinea-Bissau, and what measurable results are expected.
Is the Embassy looking for one-time events or longer-lasting efforts?
The Embassy signals interest in projects that do more than host one-off events. It is looking for efforts that strengthen networks, develop skills, and create ongoing collaboration that reinforces shared values and mutual understanding.
What kind of outcomes does the Embassy want to see?
The call emphasizes outcomes such as durable connections, strengthened networks, skill development, ongoing collaboration, and visible, positive engagement that reinforces shared values and mutual understanding between the United States and partner communities.
What should applicants keep in mind when planning their submission?
Applicants should plan around the key dates provided (creation date April 29, 2025, and original SOI closing date June 9, 2025) and treat the SOI as a focused pitch that reviewers can assess quickly, clearly presenting the project idea, audience, activities, and anticipated results.
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