Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS BJL FY19
The U.S. Embassy in Banjul, through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), offered funding under its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program as an Annual Program Statement (APS) for FY2019. The overall aim of the opportunity is to support projects in The Gambia that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and The Gambia through cultural and exchange-style programming. Projects are expected to highlight shared values, encourage mutual understanding, and promote bilateral cooperation. A central requirement is that every proposed program includes a clear American component, such as an American cultural element or a direct connection to U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions, in a way that helps participants better understand U.S. policies and perspectives.
The embassy signaled interest in a wide range of public diplomacy activities, including academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker events; arts and culture workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage preservation and conservation; professional and academic exchanges; extracurricular academic clubs that support student achievement; professional training for journalists; and programs that build civic engagement and promote political transparency. While the format can vary, the common thread is people-to-people engagement and programming that creates meaningful interaction, learning, and relationship-building tied to U.S.-Gambia connections.
Priority areas for funding focus on governance and human development, specifically strengthening democratic institutions, empowering civil society, bolstering education, and improving the capacity of Gambians to lead the country’s development. Proposals are expected to primarily engage Gambians living in The Gambia, and the embassy explicitly encourages projects that reach youth and marginalized communities, reflecting a preference for broad, inclusive public impact rather than niche or elite-only participation.
The announcement also lays out clear boundaries on what will not be funded. Ineligible activities include partisan political programming, charitable or development aid activities, construction, projects that mainly purchase supplies without a substantive program component, activities that support specific religious practices, fundraising campaigns, lobbying for specific legislation or government programs, scientific research, and proposals aimed primarily at growing or supporting the applicant organization itself rather than delivering a public-facing program. Programs that duplicate existing efforts are also excluded, emphasizing that the embassy wants distinctive, value-added programming rather than repeat versions of what is already being done.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was issued by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to The Gambia, under the authorities of the Smith-Mundt Act and the Fulbright-Hays Act, using FY2019 public diplomacy funds. The funding instrument types listed are grants and cooperative agreements. The award ceiling was $25,000, with an expected number of about 10 awards. Eligible applicants included a broad mix of entities and individuals: public and private institutions of higher education, public/independent school districts, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions), and individuals.
Key posting details included a funding opportunity number of PAS BJL FY19, a creation date of March 18, 2019, and an original closing date of June 15, 2019. The embassy directed applicants to consult the full program statement for complete requirements, including application instructions, review criteria, and award administration terms, available via the U.S. Embassy Banjul website link provided in the notice.Apply for PAS BJL FY19
- The Department of State, U. S. Mission to Gambia in the community development, education, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Banjul PAS Annual Program Statement" 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 Mar 18, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2019. (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: Independent school districts, 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.
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Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program (U.S. Embassy Banjul) - FAQs
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the U.S. Embassy in Banjul's Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program offered as an Annual Program Statement (APS) for FY2019. It provides funding for projects in The Gambia that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and The Gambia through cultural and exchange-style programming.
2) What is the overall goal of the program?
The goal is to support public diplomacy projects that highlight shared values, encourage mutual understanding, and promote bilateral cooperation between the United States and The Gambia through people-to-people engagement.
3) Where must funded projects take place?
Projects are expected to be implemented in The Gambia and to primarily engage Gambians living in The Gambia.
4) What kinds of projects does the Embassy want to support?
The Embassy expressed interest in a broad range of public diplomacy activities, including:
- Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker events
- Arts and culture workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions
- Cultural heritage preservation and conservation activities
- Professional and academic exchanges
- Extracurricular academic clubs that support student achievement
- Professional training for journalists
- Programs that build civic engagement and promote political transparency
Across formats, the shared emphasis is meaningful interaction, learning, and relationship-building tied to U.S.-Gambia connections.
5) What does "public diplomacy" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the announcement, public diplomacy programming here centers on people-to-people engagement that creates interaction, learning, and mutual understanding, while strengthening cultural ties and supporting bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and The Gambia.
6) Is an "American component" required?
Yes. Every proposed program must include a clear American component. The notice describes this as an American cultural element or a direct connection to U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions, designed to help participants better understand U.S. policies and perspectives.
7) What are examples of acceptable American components?
The announcement gives examples such as incorporating an American cultural element, or building a direct connection to U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions. The key is that the U.S. connection should be clear and should support understanding of U.S. policies and perspectives.
8) What are the priority areas for funding?
Funding priorities focus on governance and human development, specifically:
- Strengthening democratic institutions
- Empowering civil society
- Bolstering education
- Improving the capacity of Gambians to lead the country's development
9) Who should the projects primarily serve?
Proposals are expected to primarily engage Gambians living in The Gambia.
10) Does the Embassy encourage work with any specific audiences?
Yes. The Embassy explicitly encourages projects that reach youth and marginalized communities, signaling a preference for broad and inclusive public impact rather than niche or elite-only participation.
11) What types of activities are not eligible for funding?
The announcement lists multiple ineligible activities, including:
- Partisan political programming
- Charitable or development aid activities
- Construction
- Projects that mainly purchase supplies without a substantive program component
- Activities that support specific religious practices
- Fundraising campaigns
- Lobbying for specific legislation or government programs
- Scientific research
- Proposals aimed primarily at growing or supporting the applicant organization itself rather than delivering a public-facing program
- Programs that duplicate existing efforts (the Embassy wants distinctive, value-added programming)
12) Are partisan political activities allowed?
No. Partisan political programming is explicitly listed as ineligible for funding under this opportunity.
13) Can this grant be used for charitable assistance or development aid?
No. Charitable or development aid activities are listed as ineligible.
14) Can grant funds be used for construction?
No. Construction is listed as ineligible.
15) Can an applicant propose purchasing equipment or supplies as the main use of funds?
No. Projects that mainly purchase supplies without a substantive program component are listed as ineligible. The emphasis is on programming and engagement rather than procurement.
16) Are religious programs eligible?
Activities that support specific religious practices are listed as ineligible under this opportunity.
17) Can the grant support fundraising campaigns?
No. Fundraising campaigns are listed as ineligible.
18) Can the grant support lobbying?
No. Lobbying for specific legislation or government programs is listed as ineligible.
19) Is scientific research eligible for funding?
No. Scientific research is listed as ineligible under the program.
20) Can an organization apply for funding mainly to expand its own operations?
No. Proposals aimed primarily at growing or supporting the applicant organization itself, rather than delivering a public-facing program, are listed as ineligible.
21) Does the Embassy fund programs that already exist?
Programs that duplicate existing efforts are excluded. The Embassy emphasized a preference for distinctive, value-added programming rather than repeat versions of what is already being done.
22) Who is the funding agency?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to The Gambia (U.S. Embassy Banjul), through its Public Affairs Section (PAS).
23) What legal authorities support this program?
The notice states the program is issued under the authorities of the Smith-Mundt Act and the Fulbright-Hays Act, using FY2019 public diplomacy funds.
24) What types of awards are available?
The funding instrument types listed are grants and cooperative agreements.
25) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $25,000.
26) How many awards were expected?
The announcement indicated an expected number of about 10 awards.
27) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant categories listed include:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Public and independent school districts
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions)
- Individuals
28) Do nonprofits need 501(c)(3) status to apply?
No. The announcement states nonprofits may apply with or without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not higher education institutions.
29) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number listed is PAS BJL FY19.
30) When was the opportunity posted?
The creation date listed in the posting details is March 18, 2019.
31) What was the application deadline?
The original closing date listed is June 15, 2019.
32) Where can applicants find the full requirements and application instructions?
The Embassy directed applicants to consult the full program statement for complete requirements, including application instructions, review criteria, and award administration terms, available via the U.S. Embassy Banjul website link provided in the notice.
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