US Embassy Timor Leste FY25 Program Statement

The U.S. Embassy in Timor-Leste, through its Public Diplomacy Section in Dili, has released the Fiscal Year 2025 Program Statement to fund cooperative agreements that aim to strengthen ties between the United States and Timor-Leste. This funding opportunity is issued by the Department of State and is classified as discretionary. It reflects the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to public diplomacy by promoting mutual understanding, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing between American and Timorese individuals and institutions. This funding opportunity seeks innovative and impactful proposals that include a substantive American element, which may involve collaboration with U.S.-based experts, educational institutions, cultural groups, or other American organizations. The primary goal of each proposed project must be to deepen public understanding of U.S. perspectives, values, and policies, while promoting bilateral cooperation. Programs should resonate with local audiences in Timor-Leste, forging meaningful people-to-people connections and helping to build trust, mutual respect, and long-term relationships between the two nations. Proposals should focus on addressing key themes relevant to both U.S. interests and the development priorities of Timor-Leste. These may include educational outreach, economic and technological collaboration, youth empowerment, civil society engagement, and media literacy. The embassy particularly welcomes programs that support democratic values, strengthen local institutions, encourage entrepreneurial initiatives, or mitigate the country’s exposure to external economic or ideological pressures. A central feature of successful proposals will be their ability to inform, connect, and inspire target audiences to engage constructively on issues of shared interest. Funding will be provided in the form of cooperative agreements under the assistance listing 19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs. Individual award amounts will range from a minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $25,000. While the total amount of funding available for this opportunity has not been specified, applicants must demonstrate the capacity to implement their programs efficiently and effectively within the awarded budget. Importantly, all applicants must provide cost-sharing or matching contributions, which may include cash or in-kind support from other sources. This matching requirement underscores the importance of shared responsibility and investment in the success of funded initiatives. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to individuals. Applicants must be capable of managing the proposed programs and fulfilling all reporting and compliance obligations associated with U.S. government funding. Although organizations are not directly eligible to apply, individuals affiliated with institutions or community organizations may propose collaborative projects as long as the primary applicant is an individual. Applications must be submitted by the final closing date of August 31, 2025. There are no preliminary deadlines such as Letters of Intent or Requests for Information, and the opportunity does not accept applications on a rolling basis. While the opportunity is recurring annually, applicants should check the U.S. Embassy in Timor-Leste’s website or Grants.gov for updates on future cycles. Interested applicants are encouraged to begin the application process early to ensure compliance with all requirements and to allow time for refining project proposals. For further information, applicants experiencing difficulty accessing the full announcement or the electronic application package may contact the grant administrator via email at padili@state.gov. This opportunity is published on Grants.gov under the funding opportunity number OFOP0001900. Full application instructions, evaluation criteria, and program guidance are available in the detailed announcement through the MyGrants portal. Applicants should closely align their proposals with the objectives and priorities outlined by the U.S. Mission in Timor-Leste to increase their chances of selection.