APS FY2026 - Ghana RSE Reviewed AR.docx

Annual Program Statement (APS)

U.S. - Ghana Relations U.S. Embassy Accra, Department of State Opportunity number: SGHANA-PDS-FY26-001 Application deadline: August 14, 2026, 11:59 PM EST

Table of Contents

U.S Department of State U.S. Embassy Accra, Public Diplomacy Section Annual Program Statement for Public Diplomacy

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Overview

The Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy Accra 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.

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 10 months or less.

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 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 Embassy Accra, Ghana announces an open competition to implement programs that advance U.S.-Ghana bilateral relations and U.S. foreign policy priorities in Ghana and West Africa. This funding opportunity supports projects that align U.S.-Ghana economic and commercial engagement with core U.S. interests, secure U.S. borders through law enforcement collaboration and informed travel, counter malign actors who threaten U.S. interests in the region while promoting Ghana's transition to self-sustainability. Target audiences include emerging voices (youth, students, young professionals), established opinion leaders (business executives, academics, policymakers, military leadership), press and media professionals, and partner organizations (NGOs, think tanks, business associations, universities, law enforcement). Programs should demonstrate clear contributions to U.S. foreign policy priorities and positively impact America's reputation among Ghanaian government partners and publics.

B. ELIGIBILITY

1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply:

· Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations

· Public and private educational institutions

· Individuals

· 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 NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, 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.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required for this funding opportunity.

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.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding under this funding opportunity.

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

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. Embassy priority program areas listed below.

2026 and 2027 marks two significant milestones in U.S.-Ghana relations: the United States' 250th anniversary of independence (Freedom 250) and the 70th anniversary of Ghana’s independence and established diplomatic relations with the United States. These historic occasions provide unique opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties, celebrate shared values of democracy and freedom, and deepen partnerships that advance mutual prosperity and security.

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;

· Professional and academic exchanges and programs;

· Media training and engagement activities;

· Youth entrepreneurship and business forums;

· STEM education and innovation programs;

· Interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance initiatives;

· Alumni engagement and network-building activities

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.

Goal 1: STRENGTHEN U.S.-GHANA PARTNERSHIP AND SHARED VALUES Deepen bilateral ties, celebrate shared democratic values, and promote mutual understanding between the United States and Ghana

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence (Freedom 250) in 2026 and the United States and Ghana commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, this funding priority aims to strengthen people-to-people ties, celebrate shared commitments to democracy and freedom, and build lasting partnerships across diverse sectors of Ghanaian society. Programs should highlight the enduring U.S.-Ghana partnership, promote American values and culture, and engage key audiences—including youth, opinion leaders, media, and U.S. government exchange program alumni—in meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

Project Audience(s): Primary beneficiaries include:

· Youth and young adults ages 14-35, including university and secondary school students, young professionals across various sectors, emerging community leaders in urban and rural areas, and content creators focused on travel, immigration, and social issues

· Mid-career and senior professionals aged 35-60, including journalists and editors at traditional and digital media outlets, military and police leadership, Ghanaian government officials and policymakers, academic administrators and researchers, religious leaders from diverse faith communities, and civil society organization directors

· Alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs (Fulbright, International Visitor Leadership Program, Mandela Washington Fellowship, TechWomen, TechGirls, and other programs) across all age groups and professional sectors

· Organizations and institutions including universities, media houses, faith-based organizations, civil society groups, think tanks, law enforcement agencies (police academies, immigration agencies, NACOSA, Ghana Army), and cultural institutions located throughout Ghana with emphasis on the two major population centers (Accra and Kumasi) and regional centers

Priority Outcomes: Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas.

· Commemorate Freedom 250 and 70 Years of U.S.-Ghana Relations: Design programs that celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence and 70 years of U.S.-Ghana diplomatic relations, highlighting shared values of democracy, freedom, and self-determination. Programs may include cultural performances, exhibitions, speaker series, documentary screenings, or community events that bring these milestones to life for Ghanaian audiences.

· Promote Religious Tolerance and Interfaith Dialogue: Support programs that bring together diverse religious communities to promote mutual understanding, prevent violent extremism, and celebrate religious freedom as a shared American and Ghanaian value. Engage religious leaders, faith-based organizations, and youth in interfaith dialogue and community-building activities.

· Engage and Leverage U.S. Government Exchange Program Alumni: Activate alumni networks from Fulbright, IVLP, Mandela Washington Fellowship, the Peace Corps, and other USG exchange programs to serve as advocates for U.S.-Ghana partnership, mentors for emerging leaders, and amplifiers of accurate information about the United States. Support alumni-led initiatives that advance U.S. foreign policy priorities and strengthen bilateral ties.

· Celebrate American Arts, Culture, and Innovation: Showcase American creativity, innovation, artistic excellence, and cultural diversity through performances, exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, and artist exchanges. Highlight how American arts and culture reflect democratic values, freedom of expression, and varying perspectives.

· Support Freedom of Speech and Professional Development: Support the freedom of speech and press of journalists and media organizations through training programs, professional exchanges, and partnerships that enhance reporting skills, investigative journalism techniques, and ethical journalism practices. Support programs that promote accurate reporting on U.S. policies, bilateral relations, and international affairs.

Goal 2: ADVANCE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND INNOVATION THROUGH U.S.-GHANA COLLABORATION Position the United States as Ghana's preferred partner for economic opportunity, technological innovation, and sustainable development

This funding priority seeks to strengthen the U.S.-Ghana partnership by showcasing American leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), STEM education, critical minerals, clean energy, innovation, and commercial engagement. Programs should demonstrate the core strengths of U.S. partnership — reliability, transparency, quality, and follow-through — while connecting Ghanaian institutions, entrepreneurs, and communities to American expertise and opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to leverage Ghana's unique position as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, using it as a platform to amplify the reach and impact of U.S.-Ghana collaboration across the continent. Proposed programs should reflect a modern partnership model built on mutual benefit, local capacity building, and Ghana's long-term path to self-reliance and sustainable growth.

Project Audience(s): Primary beneficiaries include:

· Students and young professionals ages 18-35 studying or working in economics, business, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; young entrepreneurs and startup founders; early-career professionals in trade, commerce, and innovation sectors located in Accra, Kumasi, and emerging tech hubs

· Established professionals and leaders ages 35-60+ including senior business executives, trade association leaders (AMCHAM, business councils), academic researchers and university administrators, government officials in ministries of trade, energy, and technology, hospital administrators, think tank directors, and leaders in nuclear power, clean energy, AI, and agro-business, sectors

· Journalists and media professionals covering business, economics, technology, development, and investments at both traditional media outlets and digital platforms

· Organizations and institutions including business associations, chambers of commerce, think tanks focused on economic policy, universities and technical institutions, organizations working in energy and agro-business, the AfCFTA Secretariat, U.S. companies operating in Ghana, CDC and PEPFAR partner organizations, and STEM-focused NGOs throughout Ghana

· Alumni of U.S. government exchange programs with backgrounds in business, entrepreneurship, STEM fields, and economic development

Priority Outcomes: Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas.

· Promote U.S. Leadership in AI, STEM, and Innovation:

· Showcase U.S. innovation in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and emerging technologies through workshops, hackathons, and training sessions.

· Support programs that enhance STEM education at secondary and tertiary levels, promote STEM careers (particularly for women and girls), and build innovation capacity among Ghanaian youth.

· Highlight U.S. universities, research institutions, and companies as leaders in technology and STEM fields.

· Engage U.S. government exchange program alumni in STEM mentorship and capacity building.

· Advance U.S.-Ghana Economic Partnership and Trade:

· Showcase U.S. technological innovation, investment opportunities, and the strengths that define American partnership — reliability, transparency, quality, and follow-through.

· Connect entrepreneurs to U.S. business practices, networks, and entrepreneurial ecosystems through business forums, pitch competitions, mentorship programs, and skills training.

· Position the U.S.-Ghana relationship as a model for lasting partnerships through stronger institutional frameworks to improve supply chain efficiency and expanded bilateral trade.

· Strengthen media capacity of journalists and media organizations to accurately report on U.S. economic engagement, investment, and commercial activities in Ghana. Support investigative journalism that examines economic development issues and highlights the U.S. value proposition in trade and commerce.

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 the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

· 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.

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 Embassy website

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

· SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals, organizations exempt from registration, and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov) Proposal (5 pages maximum) Applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal in a format of their choice, or they may use the attached proposal template if they like Grant Proposal Template.docx. 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 or Individual applying: 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 NOFO. You may use the attached Applicant Organization Information Survey form to provide this information (Attachment link).

· Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed

· 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.

· 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.

· 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.

2. Budget Justification Narrative

· Detailed Budget - Applicants must submit a detailed line-item budget. Applicants are encouraged to utilize the template provided with the funding opportunity but are not required to do so (PDS Budget Narrative Sample Template.xlsx). Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested, with a breakdown of 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. PDS Budget Narrative Sample Template.xlsx

· 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 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:

· Awards to Individuals: Please note the following budget guidelines for the Individual Award:

· Salary/Honoraria: Only the award recipient may receive salary/honoraria from this funding mechanism. The Recipient must be the primary point of contact and manage all programmatic activities.

· Contractual Costs: Additional individuals working on the award are only permissible through contracted services, as long as the services are not related to the core programmatic activities. Expenses for services such as accounting, legal support, social media management, website designer, etc., are allowable.

· Other Direct Costs: Expenses related to securing venues, managing logistics, catering, etc. are allowable.

· 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/

3. 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).

· 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. Ghana-based organizations should submit a copy of their certificate of registration from the appropriate government organization.

· Security package: The safety and security of all participants and activities under this project are the sole responsibility of the award recipient. Due to the security climate in Ghana, we require all proposals to include a security package to accompany appropriate programmatic elements within their proposal. The security package must include but is not limited to: secure transportation; lodging, and emergency accountability and evacuation for any non-Ghana personnel living or working in Ghana, as well as a copy of your organization’s security operational procedures for high-risk environments.

Reasonable costs for necessary security are allowable expenses and should be included in the proposed budget. If a security company is engaged and funded under the award, it must be registered by the Government of Ghana to operate in Ghana. We require award recipients to notify the Public Diplomacy Section in advance when U.S. citizens are traveling to Ghana.

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 https://gh.usembassy.gov/

2. Department of State Contacts If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: pdsaccragrant@state.gov Question Deadline: For questions on this solicitation, please contact pdsaccragrant@state.gov. Questions must be received on or before August 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., EST. Applicants should not expect an email response to questions, as questions received before the deadline will be answered in a question-and-answer document and posted at http://www.grants.gov and https://gh.usembassy.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.

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 NOFO.

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 NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO 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 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 Applications may be submitted for consideration at any time before the closing date of August 14, 2026. No applications will be accepted after that date.

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

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. Prohibition on Funding Activities that Encourage Mass-Migration Caravans towards the United States Southwest Border: None of the funds awarded under this grant may be made available to encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass-migration caravans towards the United States southwest border. Funds may not be made available for legal counseling on the United States asylum process; and/or for referrals to legal representation in the United States.

Funds may only be used for cash cards for use in the country in which they are provided or to facilitate assisted voluntary returns and other purposes that do not encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass migration caravans towards the United States southwest border. The provision of humanitarian assistance is permitted.

iii. Certification Regarding Compliance with Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws” If the place of performance or delivery of any award made under this NOFO 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.

iv. 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.

v. 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 175(a) and is compliant with this plan; and the compliance plan must follow the minimum requirements described in 2 CFR 175(b)(5).

c. That the Recipient has and will implement procedures to prevent activities described in 2 CFR 175.105(a) and to monitor, detect, and terminate any subrecipient, contractor, subcontractor, or employee of the recipient engaging in these activities.

Recipients do not need to submit a copy of the plan. However, they must provide it to the Grants Officer upon request, and as appropriate, must post the useful and relevant contents of the plan or related materials on its website and at the workplace. Recipients must re-certify on an annual basis for the entire award period of performance.

vi. Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities

a. (a) Definitions.

i. American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity means an entity included on a list developed and maintained by the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) and published in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov

ii. FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by an American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity.

iii. Unmanned aircraft means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

iv. Unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system.

b. (b) Prohibition. Recipients of funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (including subawards and subcontracts issued by the recipient) will be prohibited from:

i. delivering any FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system, which includes unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) and associated elements

ii. Operating a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system in the performance of the award; and

iii. Using Federal funds for the purchase or operation of a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system.

c. c) Exemptions, exceptions, and waivers. The prohibitions described above will not apply if the agency determines that an exemption, exception, or waiver applies and the award indicates that such a determination has been made. [See sections 1823 through 1825 and 1832 of Public Law 118-31 ( 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.) for statutory requirements pertaining to exemptions, exceptions, and waivers.].

vii. Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA)

Applicants for foreign assistance awards should be aware of requirements in 2 CFR Part 602, 603, and 604.

These policies are referred to collectively as the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA) Policy.

602: The award term imposes certain abortion-related requirements on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States NGOs, public international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

603: The award term imposes certain requirements relating to gender ideology on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States NGOs, international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

604: The award term imposes certain requirements relating to discriminatory equity ideology on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States NGOs, international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

The Department recognizes there are costs associated with these policies. Potential one-time and recurring costs the Department identifies for recipients and grantees are for familiarization with the policy, development and delivery of organizational training and implementation guidance, routine compliance monitoring, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

viii. Pre-Award Costs: Pre-award costs are generally not allowable under this APS unless approved in advance by the Grants Officer and justified in the proposal.

ix. Construction: Any award made as a result of this APS will not allow for construction activities or costs.

x. Direct Social Services: Costs that cover and provide direct social services, such as welfare, charity, health or economic relief, are unallowable. Medical assistance, such as costs to include medical professionals, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists to participate in the project activities are not allowed.

6. Other Submission Requirements: Copyrights and Proprietary Information If any of the information contained in your application is proprietary, please note in the footer of the appropriate pages that the information is Confidential – Proprietary. Applicants should also note what parts of the application, program, concept, etc. are covered by copyright(s), trademark(s), or any other intellectual property rights and provide copies of the relevant documentation to support these copyrights.

Applicants must acquire all required registrations and rights in the United States and Ghana. All intellectual property considerations and rights must be fully met in the United States and Ghana.

Any sub-recipient organization must also meet all the U.S. and Ghana requirements described above.

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review Criteria Criteria: Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the criteria enumerated below. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success.

· Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 30 points: The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives that align directly with the priorities and requirements of the NOFO. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline, and the project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. Finally, the proposal aligns with the following:

· The project clearly demonstrates a direct contribution to current U.S. foreign policy priorities.

· The project will positively impact America’s reputation among foreign government partners.

· The project will positively impact American’s reputation among foreign publics.

· The proposal does not include any activities contrary to the following Executive Orders:

· Executive Order 14173: "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

· Executive Order 14287: “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens”

· Executive Order 14168: Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government

· Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points:

· The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project, including internal controls in place to manage federal funds. If sub-awards are proposed, applicant demonstrates experience managing subawards.

· The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address.

· The organization demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. This includes a financial management system, a bank account, and if applicable, satisfactory audit findings.

· Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations, including the Award Provisions and Standard Terms and Conditions.

· Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate.

· Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 20 points: The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.

· Budget – 10 points: The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. The budget demonstrates that the organization has devoted time to accurately determine expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.

· Monitoring and Evaluation - 10 points: The project proposal includes an M&E plan. The applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals and objectives outlined in the proposal. The proposal includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured. Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.

· Sustainability – 5 points: The project proposal describes clearly the approach that will be used to ensure maximum sustainability or advancement of project goals after the end of project activity.

2. Indirect Costs If two or more applications receive equivalent scores based on the evaluation criteria outlined in this NOFO, preference will be given to the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate, as consistent with Executive Order 14332, Section 4(b)(iii). This preference will only be applied as a tie-breaking mechanism and does not supersede the primary evaluation criteria.

3. Review and Selection Process

a. Acknowledgement of receipt. Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt of their proposal.

b. Review. All submissions are screened for technical eligibility. If a submission is missing any required forms/documents listed above in Section D. Application Contents and Format, it will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed by the grants review committee. A technical review panel will review eligible proposals based upon the criteria noted in this APS.

c. Follow up notification. Applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the APS deadline regarding the results of the review panel.

4. Risk Review

i. Under the merit review as required by 2 CFR 200.206, prior to making a Federal Award the Department will review and consider the following risk factors:

a. Financial stability

b. Management systems and standards

c. History of performance

d. Audit reports and findings

e. Ability to effectively implement project requirements

ii. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov An applicant can review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.

Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, the Department will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

iii. High Risk Designation

Awardees that are deemed to be high risk based on the above risk factors will be held to special award conditions. At a minimum, the recipient and/or project designated as High Risk will be required to submit monthly narrative reports and/or quarterly detailed financial reports. Recipients may also be required, upon request of the Grants Officer or Grants Officer Representative, to provide electronic copies of receipts or other supporting documentation (e.g., timesheets, travel documents) for costs incurred. The Grants Officer may withhold 10% of the award amount until final reports have been reviewed and approved by the GO. The recipient may be required to pay all salaries supported by the grant via electronic funds transfer. Other special award conditions may also be included if deemed appropriate by the Grants Officer.

iv. Risk Analysis Management

To qualify for final consideration, certain applicants may be required to undertake the Risk Analysis Management (RAM) vetting process by providing Risk Analysis Information (RAI) about their “key individuals” (i.e., individuals with the ability to control applicant organizations’ funds), including “key individuals” from selected sub-recipients. Please note: these individuals could be different from the key personnel listed in the section 4 of required documents. The purpose of vetting potential contractors and grantees is to reduce the risk that federal assistance funding is provided to terrorists or their supporters. Potential grantees will be notified separately if RAI is required. Applicants submit key individuals’ RAI by completing the Risk Analysis Information Form, DS-4184, through the secure web portal at https://ramportal.state.gov. The DS-4184 requests the following RAI for each key individual: Full Name; Aliases; Gender; Birth Place; Birthdate; Home/Work Addresses; Phone Numbers; Employer; Professional Title; Email Addresses; Skype ID (if included, email address is also required); Numbers from All Official IDs (e.g., passports, ID cards, etc.); Nationalities; and Social Security Number (if U.S. person). Questions about the DS-4184 form may be emailed to RAM@state.gov. Failure to submit information when requested, or failure to pass vetting, may be grounds for rejecting your proposal.

G. AWARD NOTICES

The award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and counter-signature. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Payment Method:

Recipients will be required to request payments by completing form SF-270—Request for Advance or Reimbursement and submitting the form to the Grants Officer and Grants Officer Representative.

Recipients may not draw down funds without the affirmative authorization of the Department of State. In addition, recipients must submit, with each SF-270 payment request, a detailed explanation justifying the request.

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following: NOTE:

· Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 89 FR 30046 on April 22, 2024, particularly on:

· Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an impartial process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205),

· Promoting the freedom of speech and…