Public Diplomacy Grants in Kuwait | KUWAIT PAS 2021 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for KUWAIT PAS 2021 01

The U.S. Mission to Kuwait (U.S. Embassy Kuwait, Public Affairs Section) announced a public diplomacy grant opportunity under Funding Opportunity Number KUWAIT-PAS-2021-01, using FY21 public diplomacy funds (Fulbright Hays/Smith-Mundt). The program is built around supporting civic engagement, strengthening opportunities for marginalized communities, and expanding education-focused exchanges and training in Kuwait. It is structured as a two-step competition, starting with a short Statement of Interest (SOI) rather than a full proposal, so applicants can float strong program ideas for initial feedback and merit review before investing the time to build a complete application package.

Funding totals up to $75,000 across an anticipated roughly 10 awards, depending on final award sizes. Individual awards can be as small as $1,000 and as large as $25,000, and proposed projects must stay under the $25,000 ceiling. Grants are issued as Fixed Amount Awards, and projects are expected to run for a period of 1 to 12 months, with programs to be completed within 12 months or less. The anticipated program window was October 2021 through September 2022, and awards were noted as subject to availability of funds.

The Embassy is looking for projects that directly advance one or more of six specific objectives. These include: preparing and encouraging students in Kuwait to attend U.S. universities (such as through English language training, college readiness support, and advising); building local capacity to counter discrimination, harassment, and abuse against women; raising awareness of and combating trafficking in persons; improving institutional capacity in Kuwait to prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents; promoting people-to-people ties between the United States and Kuwait through educational, cultural, or civic activities that engage youth and young professionals; and strengthening the ability of marginalized communities, youth, and women to participate fully in the political process and the economy. A core limitation is that funded activities must benefit target audiences within Kuwait.

The primary audiences the Embassy wants to reach include youth and young professionals, educators, women, stateless residents, and other underserved groups in Kuwait. In practice, this signals a preference for practical, skills-based programs, exchanges, trainings, workshops, and community-facing initiatives that produce clear public benefit and measurable outcomes for these groups, rather than research-only or narrowly internal institutional projects.

Eligibility is limited to Kuwait-based applicants. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs, think tanks, and civil society groups), not-for-profit educational institutions, individuals, and certain foreign public entities such as public international organizations and governmental institutions. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required, meaning applicants can strengthen competitiveness by contributing cash or in-kind support, but they are not disqualified if they cannot.

The application process begins with a concise SOI (1 to 2 pages) submitted in English by email to PASKuwaitM@state.gov by June 1, 2021. The SOI must include a brief project description that lays out the goals, objectives, expected outcomes, performance indicators, intended beneficiaries, and a proposed timeline, along with a clear statement of the applicant’s capacity to carry out the work and manage U.S. government funds. Applicants must also include an estimated total budget amount in U.S. dollars. Only applicants whose SOIs are selected after the first merit review are invited to submit a full proposal, which then undergoes a second review before final award decisions.

SOIs are scored using three weighted criteria: quality of the program idea (50 points), organizational capacity and past record administering grants (35 points), and program planning/ability to achieve objectives (15 points). Creative approaches that still clearly fit the Embassy’s objectives are explicitly encouraged. Review is conducted by a Grants Review Committee, and reviewers are instructed to read only up to the page limit, which effectively rewards applicants who communicate their idea clearly and quickly, with strong structure and concrete outcomes. The panel may also attach conditions or recommendations that applicants must or should address in the full proposal stage.

If invited to the second stage, a full application package requires standard federal assistance forms, including SF-424 (or SF-424-I for individuals), SF-424A (budget), and SF-424B (assurances), with some details depending on whether the applicant is exempt from SAM registration. While organizations do not need an active registration at the SOI stage, selected organizations must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI, formerly DUNS) and maintain an active SAM.gov registration before submitting the full proposal. The notice emphasizes starting SAM registration early because it can take weeks, and notes there is no cost to obtain a UEI or register in SAM. Applicants also cannot be listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) within SAM, and entities on that list cannot participate in award-funded activities.

Finally, award administration is governed by standard U.S. Department of State and federal assistance rules, including requirements referenced under 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions. Questions about the SOI process are directed to the Public Affairs grants email address: 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 Apr 15, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2021. (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).

Apply for KUWAIT PAS 2021 01

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: