Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS MRT FY20 01
The U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott, through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), is seeking short Statements of Interest (SOIs) from organizations that want to develop programs strengthening cultural ties between the United States and Mauritania. The core aim is to support cultural and exchange activities that emphasize shared values and encourage practical bilateral cooperation. This opportunity is structured as a two-step process: organizations first submit a concise concept note, and only those whose ideas are selected will be invited to submit a full proposal later. The SOI itself is intended to be brief and focused, generally a 3 to 5 page document that clearly lays out the program idea, what it hopes to achieve, and why it fits PAS priorities.
A central requirement is that every proposed program includes a clear American cultural component or a concrete connection to the United States. That could mean participation by American experts, partnerships with U.S. organizations or institutions, or U.S.-linked content in a specific field. The intent is not just cultural exchange in the abstract, but activities that also promote greater understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives through credible people, institutions, or programming that directly links back to the United States. PAS indicates it has funded a wide range of similar efforts in the past, including academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation initiatives; and professional, academic, or American Spaces programming conducted outside of Nouakchott.
Program concepts are expected to align with at least one of the Embassy's priority areas. The first is strengthened security for Americans and Mauritanians, with example themes such as crime and safety awareness and countering violent extremism. The second is increased opportunity and reduced poverty, with example themes including entrepreneurship, STEM-related learning and skills building, and environmental protection. The third is promoting an inclusive society, with example themes such as advancing social inclusion, reducing discrimination in all forms, advocacy for an inclusive national identity, cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, human rights, and appreciation of cultural and ethnic diversity. While applicants can be creative in approach, proposals should make a clear connection between activities and outcomes that support one or more of these priorities.
PAS also identifies who the programming should reach. Target participants and audiences should primarily include youth, women, and culturally or ethnically diverse communities. In practice, that means applicants should be thinking about how recruitment, locations, languages, accessibility, and partnerships will ensure these groups are genuinely served rather than included only on paper. Programming outside the capital is explicitly mentioned as an example of the type of activity PAS has supported, which signals interest in reaching communities beyond Nouakchott when feasible.
In terms of funding and administrative details, this is a discretionary Department of State opportunity administered by the U.S. Mission to Mauritania under CFDA 19.040 (cultural affairs/humanities). Funding instruments may include grants or cooperative agreements, and the opportunity anticipated up to four awards with an award ceiling of $70,000 per award. The announcement was created on December 26, 2019, with an original closing date of June 19, 2020. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations, including both U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as described in the eligibility list). Final requirements, application instructions, and compliance expectations are referenced under the Embassy's "Public Affairs Grants" guidance, which applicants are expected to review closely before submitting an SOI.Apply for PAS MRT FY20 01
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Mauritania in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, PAS Request for Statements of Interest: 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 Dec 26, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 19, 2020. (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 $70,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity about?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott (Public Affairs Section, or PAS) to support programs that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Mauritania. Program concepts should emphasize shared values and encourage practical bilateral cooperation through cultural and exchange activities.
What is PAS requesting right now: a full proposal or something shorter?
PAS is currently requesting a short Statement of Interest (SOI), sometimes described as a concise concept note. This is the first step in a two-step process. Only selected SOIs will be invited to submit a full proposal later.
How long should the Statement of Interest (SOI) be?
The SOI is intended to be brief and focused, generally a 3 to 5 page document. It should clearly explain the program idea, what it aims to achieve, and why it aligns with PAS priorities.
What should the SOI include at a high level?
Based on the description, the SOI should present a clear program concept, intended outcomes, and a direct explanation of how the idea supports PAS priorities. It should also show how the program strengthens U.S.-Mauritania cultural ties and includes a strong U.S. connection or American cultural component.
Is a U.S. connection required?
Yes. Every proposed program must include a clear American cultural component or a concrete connection to the United States. PAS is looking for programming that links back to the United States through credible people, institutions, partnerships, or U.S.-linked content.
What counts as an acceptable American cultural component or U.S. connection?
Examples mentioned include participation by American experts, partnerships with U.S. organizations or institutions, or U.S.-linked content in a specific field. The key expectation is a concrete and credible link to the United States, not a general cultural exchange without a clear U.S. anchor.
Does PAS want programs that explain U.S. policy and perspectives?
Yes. The opportunity notes that the intent is to promote greater understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives through credible people, institutions, or programming that directly links back to the United States.
What kinds of programs has PAS funded in the past?
PAS indicates it has funded a range of efforts, including academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation initiatives; and professional, academic, or American Spaces programming conducted outside of Nouakchott.
Do proposed programs need to align with specific priority areas?
Yes. Program concepts are expected to align with at least one of the Embassy's priority areas. Applicants should clearly connect proposed activities to outcomes supporting one or more priorities.
What are the Embassy priority areas for this opportunity?
The priority areas listed are: (1) strengthened security for Americans and Mauritanians; (2) increased opportunity and reduced poverty; and (3) promoting an inclusive society.
What topics fit under the "strengthened security" priority?
Example themes include crime and safety awareness and countering violent extremism.
What topics fit under the "increased opportunity and reduced poverty" priority?
Example themes include entrepreneurship, STEM-related learning and skills building, and environmental protection.
What topics fit under the "promoting an inclusive society" priority?
Example themes include advancing social inclusion, reducing discrimination in all forms, advocacy for an inclusive national identity, cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, human rights, and appreciation of cultural and ethnic diversity.
Who should the program primarily serve?
Target participants and audiences should primarily include youth, women, and culturally or ethnically diverse communities.
How should applicants demonstrate they will actually reach priority audiences?
The opportunity emphasizes that applicants should think through recruitment, locations, languages, accessibility, and partnerships so these groups are genuinely served rather than included only on paper.
Is programming outside Nouakchott encouraged?
Programming outside the capital is explicitly mentioned as an example of the type of activity PAS has supported. This signals interest in reaching communities beyond Nouakchott when feasible.
What agency is providing the funding?
This is a discretionary Department of State opportunity administered by the U.S. Mission to Mauritania through the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott (PAS).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040 (cultural affairs/humanities).
What type of awards might be used?
Funding instruments may include grants or cooperative agreements.
How many awards are anticipated?
The announcement anticipates up to four awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $70,000 per award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. This includes U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status as described in the eligibility list referenced by the announcement.
Where can applicants find detailed requirements and instructions?
Final requirements, application instructions, and compliance expectations are referenced under the Embassy's "Public Affairs Grants" guidance. Applicants are expected to review that guidance closely before submitting an SOI.
When was the announcement created and what was the original deadline?
The announcement was created on December 26, 2019, and the original closing date listed was June 19, 2020.
What is the overall goal PAS is trying to achieve through these awards?
The core aim is to support cultural and exchange activities that emphasize shared values, strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Mauritania, and encourage practical bilateral cooperation, while ensuring a clear and credible connection to the United States.
How should applicants connect activities to outcomes in the SOI?
Applicants should make a clear connection between what they plan to do (activities) and what they expect to change or improve (outcomes), specifically tying those outcomes to one or more Embassy priority areas and to strengthened U.S.-Mauritania cultural ties.
If an SOI is selected, what happens next?
This opportunity is structured as a two-step process. If an SOI is selected, the organization will be invited to submit a full proposal in the second step.
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