A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Public Diplomacy (PD) section of the U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe under the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for programs for creative entrepreneurs to realize their full economic potential and build connections with their U.S. counterparts. The PD section invites proposals from non-profit organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and U.S. government alumni to design and implement a creative entrepreneurship program that increases the use of online platforms and technology, improves business acumen, and celebrates cultural heritage, identity, and diversity. The program should expand opportunities to develop institutional capacity, promote financial sustainability of creative and cultural organizations; and build networks of independent creative and cultural organizations to make the sector more profitable for its diverse members. A compulsory component of all program proposals is to build ties and relationships between the United States and Zimbabwe. Proposals and must have a strong, central, American element, or connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) (separate from involvement with the U.S. Mission or its American Corners). The partnerships should be mutually beneficial and reinforcing. Opportunities for engagement and partnerships can be virtual or physical. The PD section will support new or existing initiatives. Confirmed partners are not compulsory at the application stage; however, applicants must describe how the U.S. component will enhance the program. Indications of targeted artists and partners are sufficient for shortlisting. Theory of Change: If the Zimbabwean creative community increases use of digital technologies, online platforms, and e-commerce, builds networks with U.S. creative enterprises, and equips practitioners with skills and knowledge, they would be better positioned to build a professional and financially sustainable creative industry in Zimbabwe that benefits the global creative economy, including the United States. This program supports the U.S. Department of State’s Public Diplomacy efforts to build a more stable, inclusive economy for the Zimbabwe creative industry. Program Objectives: All proposals must meet the following objectives: · Facilitate the development of Zimbabwe’s creative economy for institutional and/or creative industry sustainability, inclusion, and professionalism. · Strengthen collaboration and build networks between Zimbabwe and U.S. creative enterprises with an emphasis on long-term relationships and sustainability. Partnerships should facilitate creation of content that attracts and retains significant and diverse audiences in an equitable manner between Zimbabwe and the United States. Proposals can also include the following deliverables: · Increased use of digital technologies and e-commerce platforms in the creative and cultural industries. The PD section encourages initiatives that harness a range of digital technologies in creation, production, and distribution of the arts. · Safeguard and celebrate cultural heritage, identity and diversity including addressing intellectual property rights. The PD Section encourages projects that profile and promote defined elements of Zimbabwean and American communities’ cultural heritage. · Equip participants with skills and knowledge to build sustainable creative businesses including business planning, scaling up, exploring U.S. business models, and networking. Projects should contribute to increasing the sustainability of local level creative economies. · Share information about how to organize and manage international artistic tours, including requirements for U.S. tours, with monetary, logistical, and partnership elements covered. Participants and Audiences: Proposals must engage with Zimbabwean creative and cultural organizations as well as audiences. Programs can promote inclusivity by targeting women, youth, people living with disabilities, and rural communities. Successful projects will facilitate U.S. and Zimbabwean citizen participation in the cultural life of their community. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 12-18 months from date of award. Number of awards anticipated: 2-3 Awards Award amounts: US$24,000 Total available funding: US$50,000 Type of Funding: 2024 Public Diplomacy Funds – Smith-Mundt Anticipated program start date: September 2024 Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Award Amount or Cooperative Agreement THIS NOTICE IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. To Request Application Package: Email
[email protected]; an automatic reply with the application forms will be sent. Forms are also available at www.grants.gov 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Content of Application – the proposal should: · Clearly serve the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity; · Be specific and concise in describing the who, what, why, when, where, how and cost aspects of the project; · Provide all documents in English; and · Include a budget narrative and a budget table in U.S. dollars breaking down costs per unit rates, quantities as well as totals. Application Forms required: (in the Application Package) · Completed application (form attached) · Detailed projected budget (form attached) · SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – Organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance – Individuals) · SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) · SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) Attachments · Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner · If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file. If you do not have a NICRA, indirect and overhead costs can’t be over 10% of the budget. · Official permission letters, if required for program activities. 3. Required Registrations: All organizations (not individuals) whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. Steps to acquire UEI and registration: · https://login.gov create an account. To access SAM.gov an organization is required to have a Login.gov account. · https://www.SAM.gov registration which will generate a unique entity identifier (UEI) The UEI are assigned when an organization registers or renews its registration in SAM.gov Organizations should renew their registration once a year to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active SAM registration. Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible. · Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. · Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. If an organization plans to issue a sub-contract or sub-award, those sub-awardees must also have a unique entity identifier (UEI number). Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed. If an organization does not have an active registration in SAM.gov prior to submitting an application, the application will be deemed ineligible. Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required. 4. Submission Dates and Times PD Harare will accept proposals starting December 1, 2023. All applicants should submit their proposals prior to February 16, 2024 for consideration. 5. Other Submission Requirements All application materials may be emailed to
[email protected] (with “EAC GRANT PROPOSAL” in the subject line).