U.S. Embassy in Cameroon announces Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program

The U.S. Embassy Yaoundé Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) has announced the availability of funding through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.

Purpose of Small Grants

• The PDS grants program supports projects proposed by U.S. and Cameroonian academic, cultural, educational, and other non-profit organizations and/or individuals that promote U.S. values, increase understanding between U.S. and Cameroonian people and institutions, and/or support U.S. Embassy goals of promoting government transparency and accountability, economic prosperity, peace and security, environmental sustainability, and climate adaptation.  All programs must include an element of American culture or society, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Priority Program Areas

• Governance: Projects promoting democratic principles, improved and inclusive governance, transparency, human rights, religious freedom, empowerment of marginalized groups, citizen engagement, including in elections, civic education, and civil society.

• Prosperity: Projects promoting economic prosperity, entrepreneurship, bilateral trade and investment, countering corruption.

• Security: Projects promoting peace and security, rule of law, alternatives to violence in resolving conflict, tolerance, preventing radicalization to violence, improving mutual understanding between groups, community policing.

• Sustainability and Climate Change:  Projects promoting environmental sustainability and addressing climate change.

• Journalism: Projects promoting a professional and independent media, role of informed citizens in a democracy, media literacy, ethical and investigative journalism.

Examples of PDS Small Grants Programs include, but are not limited to:

• U.S. experts conducting lectures, seminars, or speaking tours with Cameroonian audiences

• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions

• Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs

• Professional and academic exchanges and programs

• Libraries, community centers, or other institutions that are interested in becoming an American Space

• Programs developed by an alumnus/a of a U.S. sponsored or supported educational or professional exchange program

• Projects to promote English language teaching skills or widen access to books and other sources of information about the United States

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $100,000

• Award amounts:  Awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000

• Number of awards anticipated:  10 awards (dependent on amounts)

• Length of performance period:  1 to 24 months

Participants and Audiences

• All projects should focus on engaging Cameroonians in Cameroon.  Priority audience and program participants are:

  • Youth, especially emerging leaders

  • Civil society

  • Women

  • Opinion leaders, including cultural, academic, and media figures

  • Residents of Cameroon outside Yaounde

Ineligible

• The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

  • Scholarships for study in the United States or to fund conference attendance or study tours to the United States

  • Projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship

  • Charitable or development activities without a U.S. connection as described in the Purpose section

  • Construction programs

  • Programs that support specific religious activities

  • Fund-raising campaigns

  • Exclusively scientific research projects

  • Exchange programs with countries other than the United States and Cameroon

  • Academic research programs