U.S. Embassy Guatemala - PAS Annual Program Statement

Projects that may be eligible to receive funding through the PAS Small Grants Program include, but are not limited to: · Academic and professional lectures, seminars, workshops, and speaker programs · Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions · Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs · Professional or academic exchanges and programs All proposed activities must take place in Guatemala. Virtual and/or hybrid programs that focus on Guatemalan audiences may also be considered. Proposed activities must support one or more of the following Embassy goals: · Reduce irregular migration to the United States · Expand good governance · Improve citizen prosperity · Increase citizen security · Improve export and investment opportunities for U.S. firms Priority consideration will be given to those which specifically address one or more of the following themes: · Climate change and environmental sustainability. The U.S. Government is committed to climate change mitigation and education. We welcome proposals that seek to educate and increase awareness of the problems and challenges around the issues of climate change and environmental sustainability and that promote solutions or alternatives. · Empowerment of Guatemalan women and/or girls. The U.S. Government is committed to diversity and social inclusion and to promoting gender equity. We welcome proposals that seek to educate and/or increase civic engagement and participation by Guatemalan women or girls, especially from indigenous communities and/or rural/non-urban areas of the country and/or areas marked by high rates of irregular migration. · Media freedom. The U.S. Government is committed to media freedom at home and around the world; a free and independent press holds leaders accountable, protects the rights of citizens, and ensures our communities are well informed. We welcome proposals that seek to explore issues around media freedom and its importance to a functional democracy, as well as those that promote community-based reporting or expanded press opportunities for junior journalists. We also welcome proposals that seek to create synergies or exchanges between U.S. and Guatemalan news agencies to improve elections reporting and the exposure of disinformation. The following types of programs are not eligible for funding: · Activities that do not contain a distinctly U.S. policy connection · Programs that relate to partisan political activity · Charitable or development activities · Construction programs · Programs that support specific religious activities · Fundraising campaigns · Lobbying for specific legislation or programs · Scientific research · Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization · Individual scholarships · Personal development · Social travel and/or visits · Gifts or prizes · Venture capital or for-profit endeavors · Programs that duplicate existing programs