U.S. Embassy Kabul PAS Small Grant Annual Program Statement

Purpose of Grant: Local grants are intended for local representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and universities. They support projects to: 1. Strengthen civil society and secure the fullest participation of women in all aspects of Afghan society. 2. Strengthen people-to-people ties to deepen the partnership between communities within Afghanistan, in the region, and between Afghanistan and the United States. 3. Counter extremist voices that recruit, mislead, and exploit. 4. Expand media engagement and public political discourse. 5. Build communication capacity of the Afghan people and government. Funding is available for projects that increase the scope, capacity, and participation of non-governmental organizations and other citizen’s groups to support and develop Afghan voices and new leaders capable of countering extremism, and that support civil society and boost institutional capacity. Local grants proposals should aim to create, extend, or network the community of reform-minded individuals and groups and should meet one or more of the following U.S. embassy public affairs priorities that help Afghanistan realize its goals for progress with peace: 1) Civil Society and Women 2) Strengthening People-to-People Ties 3) Countering Extremist Voices 4) Expanding Media Outreach 5) Building Communication Capacity