About

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Manama is pleased to announce its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.

Priority Areas

• Priority programming areas include:

  • Promoting scientific and technological cooperation, particularly in emerging technologies;

  • Building supply chain resilience and trusted telecommunications networks;

  • Building digital literacy and combating disinformation;

  • Enhancing economic opportunities, entrepreneurship, and skills for youth;

  • Fostering regional security, economic integration, and mutual cooperation;

  • Cultural heritage conservation and preservation projects;

  • Professional and academic exchanges and projects;

  • Space cooperation, research, and education.

Funding Information

• Awards may range from a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of $25,000, subject to availability of funding.

• Length of performance period:  1 to 12 months.

Ineligible Activities

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;

• Charitable or development activities;

• Construction programs;

• Programs that support specific religious activities;

• Fundraising campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

• Scientific research;

• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or

• Programs that duplicate existing programs.

Eligibility Criteria

• PAS encourages applications from the following entities in the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain:

  • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience;

  • Individuals;

  • Non-profit or governmental educational institutions; and governmental institutions.

  • Registered for-profit or commercial entities that can prove that they are working as a non-profit.

Eligibility

Evaluation Criteria

• Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants:  The organization has expertise in its stated field and PAS is confident in their ability to undertake the program.  This includes a financial management system and a bank account.

• Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea:  The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out.  The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline and reaches target audiences.

• Goals and Objectives: Goals and objectives are clearly stated, and the program is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.

• Embassy Priorities: Applicant has clearly described how stated goals are related to and support U.S. Embassy Manama’s priority areas or target audiences.

• Budget:  The budget justification is detailed.  Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.

• Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: The applicant must demonstrate it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal.  The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when these will be measured.

• Sustainability: Program activities will continue to have a positive impact after the end of the program.

Application Requirements

• One-page CV or resume of key personnel involved in the program;

• Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner;

• Official permission letters, if required for program activities;

• Documentation of non-profit or non-commercial status; and

• Proof of registration on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).