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Annual Program Statement (APS)

U.S. - Nigeria Creative, Digital, and

Innovation Economy Initiative

U.S. Consulate General Lagos, Department of State

Opportunity number: PDS-APS-FY26-01

Application deadline: August 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM WAT

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Table of Contents

A. BASIC INFORMATION ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

B. ELIGIBILITY ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT ............ Error! Bookmark not defined.

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ... Error! Bookmark not defined.

G. AWARD NOTICES ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION ........... Error!

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I. OTHER INFORMATION ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

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U.S Department of State

U.S. Consulate General Lagos, Public Diplomacy Section

Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Overview

Funding Opportunity Title U.S-Nigeria Creative, Digital, & Innovation Economy Initiative

Funding Opportunity

Number

PDS-APS-FY26-01

Deadline for Applications August 20, 2026, 11:59 PM WAT. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Assistance Listing Number 19.040 - Public Diplomacy Programs

Length of performance period Up to 24 months

Number of awards anticipated

Multiple awards anticipated (4-10 awards dependent on quality of applications and availability of funds)

Award amounts Awards range from a minimum of $20,000 to a maximum of $60,000

Total available funding $250,000–$500,000 pending availability of funds

Type of Funding FY26 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

Anticipated project start date September 2026

The U.S. Consulate General Lagos of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This is an Annual Program

Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant and Cooperative Agreement

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 24 months or less.

The U.S. Consulate General Lagos will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

This notice is subject to availability of funding. The Public Diplomacy Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the

4 | P a g e best interest of the U.S. government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated grants officer.

2. Executive Summary

The U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Consulate General Lagos announces an open competition to implement a program to increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and

Nigeria by building commercial relationships, professional knowledge, legal infrastructure, and institutional connections that enable U.S. companies and Nigerian creative/digital professionals to partner and grow together.

This Annual Program Statement (APS) is issued under the Consulate's commercial diplomacy mandate to generate measurable economic benefit for U.S. companies, support U.S. jobs, and expand market opportunities for Nigerian creative and innovation economy professionals across seven priority themes:

(1) Intellectual Property Infrastructure;

(2) Exchange Alumni Network Activation;

(3) Streaming, Digital Rights, and Platform Monetization;

(4) Co-Production and Market Access — Film, Music, Fashion;

(5) U.S. Education Access and Tech Credentialing;

(6) Gaming, Sports Business, and Emerging Tech; and

(7) Content Creation for U.S. Social Media Platforms and AI Tools.

Target audiences include Nigerian creative and tech professionals; entrepreneurs; exchange program alumni; university faculty; and U.S. companies in streaming, entertainment law, fashion, venture capital, and AI seeking Nigerian partnerships and talent.

This program strengthens U.S.-Nigeria commercial ties, positions U.S. companies to benefit from Nigeria's dynamic creative economy, and leverages public diplomacy assets in southern

Nigeria, including 8,000 exchange alumni and 15 American Spaces as instruments of economic engagement generating opportunity on both sides of the Atlantic. Please follow all instructions below.

B. ELIGIBILITY

1. Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• U.S. or Nigerian non-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations

• U.S. or Nigerian public and private educational institutions (universities and colleges)

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• Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions

For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this APS. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, nonprofit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. For more information on the difference between sub-contract and sub-recipient, please refer to 2 CFR

200.331.

Applicants must have:

• A demonstrated organizational track record relevant to at least one program priority theme

• The capacity to manage a U.S. government grant, including financial management, reporting, and audit requirements

Note: Organizations may submit more than one proposal addressing different priority themes, but each proposal will be evaluated independently.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity but will be viewed favorably, particularly cost-sharing from U.S. company co-sponsors with direct commercial interest in the program.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section E.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

4. This opportunity will not support:

• Projects relating to partisan political activity;

• Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support

• Construction projects;

• Projects that support specific religious activities;

• Fund-raising campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs

• Scientific research or surveys;

• Commercial projects;

• Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;

• Projects that duplicate existing projects; or

• Illegal activities

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Additionally, this APS will not fund:

• Cultural events, performances, or festivals without a demonstrable commercial diplomacy purpose and measurable U.S. commercial benefit

• Academic research or policy studies without direct program delivery components

• Programming that duplicates existing U.S. government-funded activities in Nigeria without adding new value or reach

• Programs designed primarily to benefit Nigerian audiences without a credible pathway to

U.S. commercial outcomes

• Programs encouraging Nigerian students to apply for U.S. student visas or promoting study-abroad pathways that require U.S. visa access

• One-off events without a sustained programming component or relationship-building intent

• General capacity building programs without sector-specific commercial focus

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

The Public Diplomacy Section invites proposals for programs that support one of the following

U.S. Consulate General priority program areas listed below.

Examples of Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:

• Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs;

• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; and

• Professional and academic exchanges and programs.

Priority Program Areas/Goals: Applicants may submit a proposal to address one of the program goals below. Proposals should focus on one or more of the priority outcomes, but applicants may also recommend their own objective.

Within each priority theme, applicants are free to propose their own program design. The

Consulate General is not prescribing specific activities—it is defining the commercial outcomes it wants to see and inviting organizations to propose the most effective means of achieving them.

Background and Strategic Context

Nigeria is one of the largest economies in Africa and home to more than 220 million people, the majority of whom are under the age of 30. Its creative and innovation economy is among the most dynamic on the continent and represents a significant and growing commercial opportunity for U.S. companies across multiple creative and technology sectors.

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The Commercial Gap

The commercial relationships between U.S. companies and Nigeria's creative, tech, and innovation economy are real and growing—but they are growing more slowly than the underlying opportunity demands. The gaps are not primarily about U.S. company interest; they are about the readiness of Nigerian counterparts to transact on U.S. terms.

Nigerian creative and tech professionals often lack knowledge of U.S. intellectual property structures, licensing frameworks, co-production deal terms, publishing contracts, platform monetization pathways, investment structures, and legal requirements. This knowledge gap—not lack of talent or ambition—is the primary bottleneck to U.S. commercial engagement at scale.

Public diplomacy is uniquely positioned to close this gap. The U.S. Consulate General's assets—

American Spaces, Department of State Arts Envoys and Speaker Program—are already embedded in the Nigerian professional community. When deployed with explicit commercial intent, they function as market development infrastructure that benefits both U.S. companies and

Nigerian professionals simultaneously.

Overarching Goal

To increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Nigeria by building the commercial relationships, professional knowledge, legal infrastructure, and institutional connections that enable U.S. companies and Nigerian creative, digital, and innovation economy professionals to transact, partner, and grow together—generating measurable economic benefit and supporting jobs in the United States and Nigeria.

Specific Goal

By September 2028, the U.S. Consulate General Lagos will award up to 10 grants totaling

$250,000–$500,000 in FY26 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds to eligible U.S. and Nigerian non-profit organizations implementing programs across seven priority themes — resulting in at least 500 Nigerian creative, digital, and innovation economy professionals gaining verifiable

U.S.-relevant knowledge, credentials, or platform access; at least 75 documented commercial transactions, partnerships, licensing agreements, or platform monetization enrollments initiated between Nigerian professionals and U.S. companies; and at least 10 self-sustaining program structures — including alumni councils, IP clinics, credentialing pipelines, or institutional partnerships — operational beyond the grant period, collectively generating measurable economic benefit for U.S. companies across the entertainment, technology, education, and financial services sectors and supporting U.S. jobs, as documented in grantee final reports submitted within 60 days of program close.

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Available Public Diplomacy Assets

All funded programs are expected to actively integrate one or more of the following PD assets.

Proposals that treat these as peripheral rather than central to program delivery will be rated lower.

• Network of 15 American Spaces across southern Nigeria: Physical venues providing convening infrastructure, U.S. government credibility, and ongoing community access.

The Consulate General seeks to position American Spaces as active U.S. business and education hubs—not passive cultural centers.

• Arts Envoys: Senior U.S. creative professionals available for sustained in-country residencies. Envoys should be selected and programmed with explicit commercial purposes—developing partnerships, conducting IP workshops, mentoring cohorts—not only for public appearances.

• U.S. Speaker Program: U.S. industry professionals available for targeted speaking engagements, workshops, and industry meetings. Priority sectors include entertainment law, streaming economics, music rights, venture capital, startup legal structures, fashion retail, gaming, AI tools, social media platforms, and sports business.

• 8,000 Exchange Alumni: These are Nigerian professionals, bilingual in U.S. and

Nigerian professional cultures, and networked into both ecosystems. Funded programs should formalize alumni roles as mentors, cohort coordinators, IP facilitators, and industry connectors—not simply invite them as event attendees.

What Funded Programs Should Achieve

Funded programs are expected to produce change across three levels. Applicants should clearly describe expected results at each level in their proposals. These outcomes align with the 2026

Public Diplomacy Strategic Plan's emphasis on measurable foreign audience effects.

Knowledge, Skills, and Capacity

• Nigerian creative and tech professionals demonstrate increased knowledge of U.S. IP, licensing, publishing, streaming, investment, or platform frameworks relevant to their sector

• Nigerian professionals hold new U.S.-recognized credentials, certifications, or completed

U.S. educational programs

• Nigerian startups, creative businesses, and entrepreneurs demonstrate increased readiness to engage with U.S. investment, distribution, or platform partners

Relationships and Networks

• New sustained professional relationships established between Nigerian professionals and

U.S. companies, investors, publishers, distributors, platforms, or legal professionals

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• Exchange alumni activated as ongoing professional bridges between U.S. and Nigerian industry communities

• U.S. companies report increased confidence in the Nigerian market and increased intention to deepen Nigeria engagement as a result of program activities

Goal 1. Intellectual Property Infrastructure

Nigerian creative and tech professionals often lack knowledge of U.S. intellectual property structures, licensing frameworks, and rights management systems. This knowledge gap prevents

Nigerian professionals from protecting their work in U.S. markets and from negotiating effectively with U.S. partners. Programs under this theme should build IP literacy and infrastructure that enables Nigerian professionals to transact with U.S. companies on equal footing, benefiting U.S. entertainment lawyers, licensing firms, rights management companies, publishing houses, and streaming platforms—all sectors benefit from strengthened Nigerian IP capacity.

Project Audience(s):

• Nigerian filmmakers, musicians, writers, fashion designers, and content creators seeking to protect and monetize their work in U.S. markets

• Nigerian lawyers and business advisors who need U.S. IP law fluency to serve creative industry clients

• Nigerian exchange alumni with legal or business backgrounds who can serve as IP facilitators

Priority Outcome(s):

By the end of the 24-month grant period, at least 150 Nigerian creative professionals — including filmmakers, musicians, writers, and fashion designers — will complete a structured

U.S. IP literacy curriculum covering copyright, trademark, licensing, and rights management frameworks delivered through American Spaces and alumni-led IP clinics, with at least 40% of participants either successfully registering IP protections in a U.S. jurisdiction (USPTO or U.S.

Copyright Office) or executing a documented licensing agreement with a U.S. partner, generating verifiable commercial activity for U.S. rights management companies, publishing houses, or streaming platforms.

Rationale: Nigerian creative professionals' lack of U.S. IP fluency is the primary bottleneck preventing U.S. entertainment lawyers, licensing firms, and streaming platforms from scaling commercial engagement in Nigeria. Closing this knowledge gap directly benefits U.S. companies by expanding their addressable market and generating new licensing revenue.

Possible Program Approaches: IP clinics and workshops; IP train-the-trainer programs; online

IP resource development; festival IP clinic presence; U.S. attorney speaker deployments

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Goal 2. Exchange Alumni Network Activation

The approximately 8,000 Nigerian alumni of U.S. government exchange programs resident in southern Nigeria represent the most underutilized public diplomacy resource for commercial engagement. These are Nigerian professionals, bilingual in U.S. and Nigerian professional cultures, and networked into both ecosystems. Programs under this theme should formalize alumni roles as active commercial bridges—mentors, IP facilitators, cohort coordinators, market intelligence producers—creating a permanent, self-reinforcing infrastructure for U.S.-Nigeria commercial relationships that benefits all sectors.

Project Audience(s):

• Nigerian exchange alumni with professional engagement in creative, digital, and innovation economy sectors

• Nigerian creative and tech professionals who can benefit from alumni mentorship and

U.S. market knowledge

• U.S. companies seeking trusted Nigerian partners and market intelligence

Priority Outcome(s):

Within 18 months of program launch, a formally structured alumni council of at least 50 U.S.

government exchange program alumni operating in southern Nigeria's creative, digital, and innovation economy sectors will be established, with alumni serving in defined roles as mentors, IP facilitators, and cohort coordinators — producing at least two Nigeria Creative and Innovation

Economy Market Intelligence Reports for U.S. companies and documenting a minimum of 25 alumni-facilitated commercial introductions, partnerships, or deals between Nigerian professionals and U.S. firms.

Rationale: Nigeria's 8,000 U.S. exchange alumni represent the most underutilized public diplomacy asset for America First commercial diplomacy — they are bilingual in U.S. and

Nigerian professional cultures and already networked into both ecosystems. Formalizing their roles as commercial bridges generates durable, low-cost market access infrastructure for U.S.

companies seeking trusted Nigerian partners.

Possible Program Approaches: Alumni council establishment and coordination; alumni as mentors, IP facilitators, cohort coordinators, and market intelligence producers; annual Nigeria

Creative and Innovation Economy Market Intelligence Report

Goal 3. Streaming, Digital Rights, and Platform Monetization

U.S. streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+), music platforms (Apple Music and

YouTube Music), and rights management organizations represent significant commercial opportunities for Nigerian content creators—but Nigerian professionals often lack knowledge of platform deal structures, rights licensing, publishing frameworks, and monetization pathways.

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Programs under this theme should build streaming and platform readiness, enabling Nigerian professionals to negotiate effectively with U.S. platforms and maximize revenue from U.S.

distribution, benefiting U.S. platforms, U.S. music publishing and rights organizations, entertainment lawyers, and others in the creative ecosystem.

Project Audience(s):

• Nigerian filmmakers, producers, musicians, and music business professionals seeking

U.S. streaming and platform deals

• Nigerian content creators seeking to monetize through U.S. platforms (YouTube, Spotify, streaming services)

• Nigerian lawyers and business advisors who negotiate platform deals on behalf of clients

Priority Outcome(s):

Within 24 months of program launch, at least 200 Nigerian filmmakers, musicians, producers, and content creators will complete a U.S. streaming and platform readiness curriculum covering deal structures, music rights frameworks, and platform monetization pathways — with at least 75 participants enrolled in U.S. platform monetization programs (YouTube Partner Program, Meta

Creator Marketplace, or equivalent) and at least 15 documented streaming deals, licensing agreements, or platform partnerships initiated or completed with U.S. platforms as a direct result of program activities.

Rationale: U.S. streaming platforms — including Netflix, Amazon, Apple Music, Instagram, and YouTube— represent significant and growing commercial opportunities in Nigeria, but knowledge gaps around deal structures and rights frameworks limit Nigerian professionals' ability to transact on U.S. terms. Building streaming and platform readiness directly expands revenue and content inventory for U.S. platforms while generating income for Nigerian creators, creating a genuine win-win aligned with America First commercial diplomacy.

Possible Program Approaches: Streaming readiness curricula; music rights and publishing literacy; U.S. platform deal structure workshops; U.S. Speaker Program deployments from streaming and music rights sectors

Goal 4. Co-Production and Market Access — Film, Music, and Fashion

Nigerian creative professionals across film, music, and fashion sectors seek access to U.S.

markets, but often lack the relationships, knowledge of U.S. industry structures, and deal-making experience to succeed. Programs under this theme should create structured pathways for

Nigerian professionals to connect with U.S. partners—producers, distributors, and retailers—and build the skills needed to negotiate co-production agreements, distribution deals, and retail relationships, benefiting U.S. independent film producers, post-production companies, distributors, and fashion retailers and buyers.

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Project Audience(s):

• Nigerian filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers seeking U.S. co-production partners or distribution deals

• Nigerian musicians and music business professionals seeking U.S. publishing, licensing, or touring partnerships

• Nigerian fashion designers seeking U.S. retail buyers, e-commerce platforms, or fashion-tech partnerships

Priority Outcome(s):

Within 24 months of program launch, at least 100 Nigerian creative professionals across film, music, and fashion sectors will participate in structured U.S.-Nigeria co-production labs, market access workshops, or pitch intensives — with at least 20 documented co-production agreements, distribution deals, retail partnerships initiated or completed with U.S. partners, and at least 80% of participants demonstrating measurable improvement in pitch skills, deal literacy, and contract negotiation capacity on pre/post assessments.

Rationale: Nigerian creative talent is globally recognized, but the absence of deal-making experience and knowledge of U.S. industry structures prevents Nigerian professionals from accessing U.S. markets at scale — limiting commercial opportunity for U.S. independent film producers, and fashion retailers. Structured co-production pathways generate direct, verifiable commercial activity for U.S. industries while strengthening the association between the United

States and creativity, opportunity, and innovation.

Possible Program Approaches: U.S.-Nigeria co-production labs; fashion business accelerators;

festival sidebar market access programming

Goal 5. U.S. Education Access and Tech Credentialing

U.S. universities and ed-tech platforms seek to expand online enrollment and institutional partnerships in Nigeria, while U.S. technology companies (Google, AWS, Microsoft, Salesforce) seek to grow their Nigerian talent pipeline and customer base through professional credentialing programs. Nigerian creative and tech professionals need access to U.S. credentials that increase their employability and enable them to work with Nigeria-based U.S. companies. Programs under this theme should facilitate Nigerian enrollment in U.S. online degree programs, U.S. tech company credential programs, and joint U.S.-Nigeria certificate programs, benefiting U.S.

universities (tuition revenue), U.S. tech companies (talent pipeline and customer base), U.S. law firms and financial services, and U.S. startup accelerators and venture capital firms.

Project Audience(s):

• Nigerian creative and tech professionals seeking U.S. credentials, degrees, or professional certifications

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• Nigerian entrepreneurs and startup founders seeking knowledge of U.S. legal structures, investment frameworks, and financial management

• Nigerian university faculty seeking U.S. institutional partnerships or joint program development

• U.S. universities seeking Nigerian online enrollment and institutional partnerships

Priority Outcome(s):

Within 24 months of program launch, at least 300 Nigerian creative and tech professionals will enroll in U.S. online degree programs, U.S. university certificate programs, or U.S. technology company credential programs (Google Career Certificates, AWS Certifications, Microsoft Learn, or Salesforce Trailhead) as a direct program outcome — with at least 2 formal joint U.S.-Nigeria certificate programs or institutional partnerships established between U.S. universities and

Nigerian institutions, generating documented tuition revenue and expanded talent pipeline access for U.S. academic and technology sector partners.

Rationale: U.S. universities and technology companies — including Google, AWS, Microsoft, and Salesforce — seek to expand enrollment, talent pipelines, and customer bases in Nigeria's large and young professional population. Facilitating Nigerian enrollment in U.S. credential programs generates direct tuition and subscription revenue for U.S. institutions while building a

Nigeria-based workforce aligned with U.S. technology standards and platforms.

Possible Program Approaches: U.S. online degree and certificate cohort facilitation; U.S. tech company credential programs (Google, AWS, Microsoft, Salesforce); U.S.-Nigeria joint certificate program development; startup legal and financial literacy; U.S. faculty residency facilitation

Goal 6. Gaming, Sports Business, and Emerging Tech

Nigeria has emerged as a prominent gaming market and sports talent hub, while Nigerian professionals increasingly seek to work with U.S. AI and emerging technology platforms. U.S.

gaming platforms (Unity, Unreal), U.S. sports agencies and brands, and U.S. AI companies

(OpenAI, Google, Grok/xAI) represent significant commercial opportunities for Nigerian professionals—but knowledge gaps around platform development, athlete contract structures, brand deals, and AI tool adoption limit engagement. Programs under this theme should build gaming development capacity, sports business literacy, and AI/emerging tech skills, benefiting

U.S. gaming platforms, U.S. sports agencies and brands, and U.S. AI and cloud infrastructure companies.

Project Audience(s):

• Nigerian game developers and esports professionals seeking to develop on U.S. platforms or compete in U.S. markets

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• Nigerian athletes, coaches, and sports business professionals seeking knowledge of U.S.

athlete contracts, brand deals, and agency relationships

• Nigerian tech professionals seeking to adopt and deploy U.S. AI tools and emerging technologies

Priority Outcome(s):

Within 24 months of program launch, at least 120 Nigerian game developers, esports professionals, athletes, sports business professionals, and tech entrepreneurs will complete structured training on U.S. gaming platforms (Unity, Unreal), U.S. athlete contract and brand deal frameworks, and U.S. AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI) — with at least 20 Nigerian game developers publishing games on U.S. platforms or participating in U.S. esports competitions, and at least 60% of tech participants demonstrating increased AI literacy and active adoption of U.S. AI tools for professional use, as measured by post-program assessments and platform enrollment verification.

Rationale: Nigeria has emerged as a prominent gaming market and sports talent hub, and U.S.

gaming platforms, sports agencies, and AI companies stand to benefit significantly from deeper

Nigerian market penetration — but knowledge gaps around platform development, contract structures, and AI tool adoption limit engagement. Building gaming, sports business, and AI literacy among Nigerian professionals directly expands the user base and revenue potential for

U.S. technology and entertainment companies.

Possible Program Approaches: Game development bootcamps on U.S. platforms; esports programming; athlete contract and brand deal literacy; U.S. sports agency relationships; AI and machine learning curriculum

Goal 7. Content Creation for U.S. Social Media Platforms and AI Tools

Nigerian content creators are among the most active African communities on U.S. social media platforms (Meta/Instagram, YouTube/Google, X, Snapchat), generating significant platform revenue and advertising inventory for U.S. companies. U.S. AI companies (OpenAI, Google, Grok/xAI) seek to grow Nigerian adoption of AI tools for content creation. Programs under this theme should optimize Nigerian creator success on U.S. platforms, increase platform monetization enrollment, and drive AI tool adoption, benefiting Meta/Instagram, YouTube/Google, X, Snapchat (platform revenue and advertising inventory); OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Grok/xAI (AI tool subscriptions and adoption); and the U.S. digital advertising ecosystem.

Project Audience(s):

• Nigerian content creators across video, photography, writing, and social media seeking to monetize through U.S. platforms

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• Nigerian creative professionals seeking to adopt U.S. AI tools to enhance content production

• Nigerian exchange alumni who are active content creators and can serve as peer mentors

Priority Outcome(s):

Within 18 months of program launch, at least 250 Nigerian content creators will complete

Creator Lab programming at American Spaces covering U.S. platform optimization

(Meta/Instagram, YouTube, X, Snapchat) and U.S. AI tools for content production (ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, Google AI) — with at least 100 participants enrolled in U.S. platform monetization programs (YouTube Partner Program, Meta Creator Marketplace, X Premium, or

Snapchat Spotlight) as a direct program outcome, and at least 70% of participants demonstrating measurable improvement in platform optimization skills and AI-enhanced content production on pre/post assessments.

Rationale: Nigerian content creators are among the most active African communities on U.S.

social media platforms, generating significant advertising inventory and platform revenue for

Meta, YouTube/Google, X, and Snapchat — and U.S. AI companies including OpenAI and

Anthropic seek to grow Nigerian adoption of AI tools for content creation. Optimizing Nigerian creator success on U.S. platforms and driving AI tool adoption directly increases revenue for

U.S. digital platform and AI companies, making this a high-return America First commercial diplomacy investment.

Possible Program Approaches: Creator Labs at American Spaces; U.S. platform optimization training (Meta/Instagram, YouTube/Google, X, Snapchat); U.S. AI tools curriculum (OpenAI, Google, Grok/xAI); platform partnership manager Speaker deployments; alumni creator mentor networks

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses one or more of the seven priority themes outlined in

Section C

• All documents are in English

• All budgets are in U.S. dollars

• All applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various required forms

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The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory Application Forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for

Federal Assistance – individuals) at grants.gov or U.S. Consulate General’s website.

• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov

• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov or U.S. Consulate

General’s website. (note: the SF-424B is only required for organizations exempt from registration, and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov)

2. Full Proposal Narrative (20 pages maximum)

Applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal. The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. The proposal must include all the items below:

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.

• Introduction to the Organization: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the State Department and/or U.S. government agencies as well as experience with and expertise in areas related to those described in the APS.

• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. The problem statement should explicitly address how the program will support one or more of the following objectives:

o Increase understanding of how U.S. economic strength, technological leadership, and energy capability support shared prosperity and security o Increase foreign public understanding of American innovation, education, culture, and creativity as sources of national strength and global influence o Strengthen understanding of U.S. partnership as a source of long-term economic value

• Program Methods, Design, Activities, and Deliverables: The "goals" describe what the program is intended to achieve. The "objectives" refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.

Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. Clearly articulate how program activities will produce the key outcomes, including:

o Greater association of the United States with innovation, reliability, and long-term economic value o Increased interest in U.S.-aligned standards, technologies, and supply-chain arrangements o Stronger association of U.S. engagement with reliability and long-term economic benefit https://ng.usembassy.gov/education/#grants https://ng.usembassy.gov/education/#grants

17 | P a g e o Increased public desire to receive and use American AI exports

• Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?

• Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees (if applicable).

• Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant's plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. The Consulate

General strongly prefers programs that build self-sustaining infrastructure beyond the grant period. Programs that create alumni councils, train Nigerian facilitators, establish ongoing U.S.-Nigerian institutional partnerships, or generate platform relationships that continue operating after grant funding ends will be viewed more favorably.

• Monitoring & Evaluation Plan: Proposals must include a Monitoring and Evaluation

(M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) that explains how the applicant plans to track project performance and measure progress toward the project’s goals and objectives. The PMP should include “If-Then” statements to illustrate how the project activities will lead to the intended results, along with a short datasheet outlining proposed project activities and the indicators that will be used to measure success.

o Special Note on Commercial Outcomes Documentation: The Consulate

General places particular emphasis on the documentation and reporting of commercial outcomes—deals initiated, partnerships formed, U.S. credentials earned, platform monetization enrollments, AI tool adoption rates, and U.S. jobs created or supported. Funded organizations should plan from the outset to collect and verify this data, not reconstruct it at reporting time.

3. Budget Justification Narrative

• Detailed Budget: Applicants must submit a detailed line-item budget. Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested (between $20,000 and $60,000), with a breakdown in the amounts to be spent in the following budget categories: personnel;

fringe benefits; travel; equipment; supplies; consultants/contracts; other direct costs;

and indirect costs. See Annex Section I for a description of the types of costs that should be included in each category. Personnel salaries should include the level of effort and the rate of pay, which should cover the percentage of time each staff member will dedicate to grant-based activities. If an organization is charging an indirect cost rate without a NICRA, it must apply it to the modified total budget costs

(MTDC), refer to 2CFR§ 200.1. Budgets shall be submitted in U.S. dollars and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars.

• Budget Justification Narrative: Applicants must submit a budget justification narrative to accompany the detailed line-item budget. The purpose of the budget justification narrative is to supplement the information provided in the detailed budget spreadsheet by justifying how the budget cost elements are necessary to

18 | P a g e implement project objectives and accomplish the project goals. The budget justification narrative is a tool to help Embassy staff fully understand the budgetary needs of the applicant and is an opportunity to provide descriptive information about the requested costs beyond the constraints of the budget template. Together, the detailed budget spreadsheet, the budget justification narrative, and the SF-424A should provide a complete financial and qualitative description that supports the proposed project plan and should be directly relatable to the specific project components described in the applicant's proposal.

Additional Budget Notes:

• Audit Requirements: Please note the audit requirements for Department of State awards in the Standard Terms and Conditions https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm and

2CFR200, Subpart F – Audit Requirements. The cost of the required audits may be charged either as an allowable direct cost to the award OR included in the organization's established indirect costs in the award's detailed budget.

• Visa Fees: Include all visa application and related fees in your budget as applicable.

Please note DS-2019s for post-funded programs must be submitted directly by the award recipient. If you anticipate your program will include the DS-2019 visa processing, your organization must be a registered Designated Sponsoring Organization. For more information go to: https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/.

4. Attachments

• Key Personnel Resumes: A résumé, not to exceed one page in length, must be included for the proposed key staff persons, such as the Project Director and Finance Officer, as well as any speakers or trainers (if applicable). If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé.

• Letters of Support from Program Partners: Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership. The individual letters cannot exceed 1 page in length.

• Indirect Costs: If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

(NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included in the application submission.

• Proof of Non-profit Status: Documentation to demonstrate the applicant's non-profit status (e.g., U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their 501(c)(3) Internal

Revenue Service determination letter, and non-U.S. organizations should provide evidence of non-profit status issued by a government entity) https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/

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• Proof of Registration: A copy of the organization's registration should be provided with the proposal application. U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their IRS determination letter. Nigerian-based organizations should submit a copy of their certificate of registration from the appropriate government organization.

Other items NOT required/requested with the application submission, but which may be requested if your application is approved to move forward in the review process include:

a. Copies of an organization or program audit within the last two (2) years

b. Copies of relevant human resources, financial, or procurement policies

c. Copies of other relevant organizational policies or documentation that would help the

Department determine your organization’s capacity to manage a federal grant award overseas

d. Documentation that demonstrates the recipients’ plan and/or policy to safeguard PII of participants and beneficiaries. It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure protection of personally identifiable information (PII) and safeguard PII when collecting, maintaining, using and disseminating such information

e. Information to determine what financial controls and standard operating procedures an organization uses to procure goods and services, hire staff and track time and attendance, pay for grant-related travel, and identify other financial transactions that may be necessary to undertake the project activities

f. The Embassy reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal.

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

1. Address to Request Application Package

Application forms required above are available at the U.S. Consulate General’s website. and at grants.gov.

2. Department of State Contacts

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact:

LagosPASGrants@state.gov.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Required Registration: All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. A

UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding

Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

mailto:LagosPASGrants@state.gov

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An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the

Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from this APS.

The 2 CFR 200 also requires subrecipients to obtain a UEI. Please note the UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a subrecipient.

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 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 prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• 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 prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S.

Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO

Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove an NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket ("incident") with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: "I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of Defense. I do not wish to obtain an NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated."

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the

DoD should follow the below instructions:

• Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

Exemptions

An exemption from the UEI and SAM.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. See 2 CFR 25.110 for a full list of exemptions.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the APS at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the APS providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted

Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

Please note: Any applicant with an exclusion in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR http://www.fsd.gov/

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180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), "Debarment and Suspension."

4. Submission Dates and Times

Application Window: July 22, 2026 – August 20, 2026

All proposals must be received within this window to be considered.

Milestone Date

APS Published / Application Window Opens July 22, 2026

Proposal Submission Deadline August 20, 2026, 11:59 PM WAT

Notification of Award Decisions Within 30 days of August 20, 2026

Earliest Program Start Date September 2026

Proposals received after August 20, 2026, 11:59 PM WAT will not be accepted or reviewed under any circumstances. No extensions will be granted. Organizations that miss the deadline are encouraged to apply in the following year's funding cycle.

Submission Method: Submitting all application materials directly to the following email address: LagosPASGrants@state.gov. Applicants must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line of the email.

Subject line format: APS [TO BE ASSIGNED] — [Organization Name] — [Priority Theme(s)]

5. Funding Restrictions

i. Funding Restrictions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA): None of the funds awarded resulting from this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be made available for subawards, direct financial support, or otherwise used to provide any payment or transfer to

United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

ii. Certification Regarding Compliance with Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws: If the place of performance or delivery of any award made under this APS will be within the

United States, applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award:

a. Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government's payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title

31, United States Code and;

b. It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws. A program promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means a program whose purpose is to promote preferences based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origins, such as in training or hiring.

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iii. Certification Regarding Compliance with 20 U.S.C. 1011f and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements: Applicants are advised that IHEs must certify the following at the time of award, and that this certification requirement must be included in any subaward agreements to IHEs:

a. Its compliance in all respects with section 1011f of title 20, United States Code, and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements is material for purposes of section 3729 of title 31, United States Code, and for receipt of appropriate Federal grant funds.

b. Applicants seeking clarification on the reporting requirement are encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions resource developed by the U.S. Department of

Education.

iv. Certification of Trafficking in Persons Compliance and Compliance Plan: Applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award for awards where the estimated value of services to be performed outside the United States exceeds $500,000:

a. To the best of the Recipient's knowledge, neither the Recipient, nor any subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor of the Recipient or any agent of the recipient or of such a subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor, is engaged in any of the activities described in 2 CFR 175.105(a);

b. The recipient has implemented a Trafficking in Persons compliance plan to prevent activities described in 2 CFR…