U.S. Embassy Banjul Public Diplomacy (PD) Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Banjul Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available to manage two American Corners, 'American Corner Fajara" located 78 Atlantic Road and Africell located at Bundung. Each corner will be funded by a separate grant.

These grants will be a collaborative agreement with the U.S Embassy Public Diplomacy Section. The U.S. Embassy will work closely with the Recipient to develop this program. The Embassy will be involved in providing feedback, direction, guidance, and vetting for events planned by program participants. The Embassy will also participate in the career development coaching portion of the program. The Embassy will assist in providing speakers and participants for events hosted through the program. The Embassy provides equipment, an internet connection, and other logistical support for the program. The Embassy will have the direction to stop programming at any time.

Purpose of American Corners: American Corners are inviting, open-access learning and gathering places around the world that promote interaction among local communities and the United States in support of U.S. foreign policy.

American Corners are a worldwide network of publicly accessible places that enable U.S. Embassies and Consulates to build and strengthen relationships with host country communities, showcase American culture and values, promote English language learning, encourage study in the United States, and foster goodwill and mutual understanding.

Purpose:

The recipient will host a year-long professional development program for students currently enrolled college or university. This program will provide participants with career and professional group opportunities through staffing the Bundung and Fajara American Corners. The recipient will hire appropriate staff to monitor, mentor, and evaluate participant performance and maintain the documentation required to properly manage an American Space per U.S. Embassy and host institution guidance.

During their internship program interns will be responsible for creating programs around U. S. Government (USG) priorities, hosting programs on topics directed by their supervisor, supporting their fellow program participant's projects, providing timely evaluations on program impact and success, and will provide staffing for American Corners in The Gambia.

Program participants will receive life skills and career coaching. They will be provided with workplace expectations and their performance will be monitored on a quarterly basis, in writing. The program participants will have a minimum of four (4) written performance evaluations during their year-long program.

Objectives for American Corner Fajara:

· Develop and implement year-long professional development program for students. These interns will staff the corner.

· Guide program interns to create programs around U.S Embassy priorities.

· Programing priorities (The embassy can introduce additional programming at any time):

o Facilitate English language learning through access to English language speakers, resources, computers, and the Internet.

o Foster people-to-people connections, increase understanding, and build respect with host-country audiences through cultural programs.

o Support continued engagement with U.S. government alumni, connecting them to local audiences through alumni programs where credible, local voices can share firsthand information about the United States and American values.

o Civic Engagement to encourage democratic participation.

o Promote public health.

o Improve education.

o Empower women and girls.

o Support The Gambia's growing entrepreneurial sector.

Objectives for Africell:

· Develop and implement year-long professional development program for students. These interns will staff the corner.

· Guide program interns to create programs around U.S Embassy priorities with a special focus on STEM fields as well as:

o Facilitate English language learning through access to English language speakers, resources, computers, and the Internet.

o Foster people-to-people connections, increase understanding, and build respect with host-country audiences through cultural programs.

o Support continued engagement with U.S. government alumni, connecting them to local audiences through alumni programs where credible, local voices can share firsthand information about the United States and American values.

o Programs that educate and encourage youth participation in STEM fields is the focus of this corner.