U.S. Embassy Djibouti PDS Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, through its Public Diplomacy Section, has announced the availability of funding for its Annual Program Statement under opportunity number PDS-25-01. This funding opportunity is part of the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program and is designed to strengthen ties between the United States and Djibouti through cultural and educational programming that supports U.S. foreign policy goals. The overarching aim is to promote American leadership in English language instruction and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education to enhance employment and educational opportunities for young adults across Djibouti. All projects must feature an American cultural element or involve U.S. experts or institutions. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, governmental and educational institutions, and individuals from both Djibouti and the United States. Commercial or for-profit entities are not eligible. While cost-sharing is not required, it is encouraged. All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered on SAM.gov. Individuals are exempt from this requirement. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization. Proposed projects must be completed within a 6 to 12-month period. Award amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000, with a total of up to $50,000 available. Programs should target young adults, including secondary and university students, out-of-school youth, vocational trainees, job seekers, and English language educators. Proposals must incorporate activities that align with the following goals: improving English instruction quality, developing learning materials, enhancing educational institutions' capacities, integrating STEAM into English learning, and fostering employment readiness and entrepreneurship. Applicants must submit a complete proposal, including the SF-424 series of forms, a proposal narrative (limited to three pages), a budget justification, and supporting documentation such as CVs and letters of support. All documents must be submitted in English and formatted correctly. The deadline for submission is June 5, 2025, at 1500 EAT, and applications must be emailed to [email protected]. Applications will be evaluated based on several criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (30 points), organizational capacity and grant history (20 points), clarity and impact of objectives (15 points), budget realism (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). Selected recipients will be notified via email, and payment will be managed through the SF-270 form. This funding opportunity is governed by applicable U.S. federal regulations and requires compliance with anti-discrimination laws and financial reporting standards. Organizations may request exemptions from UEI or SAM.gov registration requirements on a case-by-case basis if justified and approved in advance by the Grants Officer.