Syria Assistance Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 19.601
- Agency
-
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
Department of State
- Grant awards
- 3 $3,014,074 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- NEA Syria
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 19-7245-0-1-113
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs administers the Syria Assistance Program (CFDA 19.601) to support foreign assistance goals of the Bureau's strategic plan through grants funding Syria programming, with a current solicitation for statements of interest due August 31, 2026.
The program has issued only three federal grant awards since 2016, most recently on June 17, 2019—over seven years ago. This represents extremely limited recent activity and signals the program is not currently in a disbursement phase. The awards per year trend shows sporadic funding: two awards in 2016 and one in 2019, with no awards documented between 2019 and the present date. Combined federal dollars obligated across the three historical awards total $3 million. The Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs is the sole funding agency under this program.
Awarded grants have supported stabilization and conflict-affected populations in Syria. Representative awards include a $2 million Project Grant (June 2019) for unstated project objectives with a no-cost extension, and a $949,659 Cooperative Agreement (September 2016) supporting "Youth Resolve: Strengthening Youth Resilience to Violent Extremism in Tunisia." The program funded a small grants initiative in 2016 for $64,415 supporting credible voices programming in Kosovo partner organizations. The assistance-type mix leans toward Project Grants (67 percent of awards) with a smaller share of Cooperative Agreements (33 percent).
Eligible applicants include U.S. or foreign nonprofits, for-profit organizations, private and public institutions of higher education, public international organizations, and small businesses with functional and regional experience. Grants are selected through open competitions, directed solicitations, limited solicitations, and occasionally sole-source awards. Each solicitation specifies required experience and eligibility constraints. Grant length typically averages 12 to 18 months, though specifics vary by award. All recipients must undergo terror finance screening per Department of State and federal guidelines and maintain grant files for three years after the final report date.
The current solicitation (DFOP0018862, due August 31, 2026) seeks cooperative agreements for innovative foreign assistance programs in partner countries that advance U.S. commercial diplomacy and put American interests first. Programming should promote trade over aid and may address energy, digital connectivity, emerging technologies including AI and telecommunications, 5G infrastructure, agriculture, regional economic integration, advanced manufacturing, workforce training aligned with U.S. business needs, transitional justice, and economic recovery in conflict-affected areas. The Bureau may decide to grant multiple awards, one award, or no awards based on funding availability and proposal viability. Applicants must submit statements of interest via MyGrants, not grants.gov.
Objective and description
- Objective
Support the foreign assistance goals and objectives of the Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), as delineated in the Fiscal Year Bureau Strategic and Resource Plan. This program is for all grant awards for the entire fiscal year
- Description
Support the foreign assistance goals and objectives of the Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), as delineated in the Fiscal Year Bureau Strategic and Resource Plan. This program is for all grant awards for the entire fiscal year funded through State/NEA for Syria programming.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education; public international organizations; and small businesses with functional and regional experience. Each solicitation outlines who is eligible and what types of experience are needed to apply for funding. Any award made using State/NEA funds requires the full complement of standard federal forms and budget documents as required in 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 600. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement. 2 CFR 200 applies to this program.
- Beneficiary eligibility
U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education; public international organizations; and small businesses with functional and regional experience. Each solicitation outlines who is eligible and what types of experience are needed to apply for funding. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement.
- Uses of assistance
All funds for grants will comply with the restrictions on foreign assistance, as specified in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Although the average length is 12-18 months, the specific length of time for an NEA Syria programming grant may vary from one award to another. Details for each can be found on the respective announcements. All assistance for Centralized Payments, Cash Management, Financial Reporting, Debt Management, and Audit Assistance is with the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Payment Management one of the two non-DoD grants payment systems for use by the entire Federal Government.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
See www.grants.gov for specific announcement instructions. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Project specific, depends on the program. All awards are screened for terror finance and/or support per the relevant U.S. Department of State and federal guidelines and regulations. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement.
- Award procedure
NEA/AC solicits proposals via program announcements posted on www.grants.gov and on the websites of NEA/AC, and posts in the region. NEA Syria programming implementers are selected through open competitions, directed, or limited solicitations. Occasionally, NEA/AC will issue sole source awards. NEA/AC also enters into a limited number of Interagency Acquisition Agreements with other U.S.G. Federal agencies. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement.
- Renewals
Renewals must be coordinated with the State/NEA program officer, the Representative of State/Administration Bureau grants officer, and the recipient.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syria Annual Program Statement | Closed | ||
| Improving Community Security in Syria | Closed | ||
| Supporting Syrian Independent Media | Closed | ||
| Supporting Local Governance and Essential Services in Syria | Closed | ||
| Supporting Civil Society in Syria | Closed | ||
| Supporting the Syrian Political Process | Closed | ||
| Supporting Education in Syria | Closed | ||
| Support for Independent Media in Syria | Closed | ||
| Improving Community Security and Access to Justice in Syria | Closed | ||
| Supporting Local Governance and Civil Society in Syria | Closed | ||
| Supporting Moderate Education in Syria | Closed |
Show all 11
Grant awards
| Award | Recipient | Federal obligations | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| See award specifics | — | $2,000,000 | |
| To support the amplifying credible voices small grants program recipient organizations: kohavision, partners kosova… | — | $64,415 | |
| Youth resolve: strengthening youth resilience to violent extremism in tunisia | Generations For Peace | $949,659 |
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generations For Peace | $949,659 | 32% |
1 of 2 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2019 | $2,000,000 |
| FY2016 | $2,014,074 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 19.601?
Assistance Listing 19.601 is Syria Assistance Program, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (Department of State).
What is the CFDA number for Syria Assistance Program?
Its CFDA number is 19.601: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 19.601 awarded?
3 grant awards under 19.601 have obligated $3,014,074 in federal funds to 2 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 19.601?
The recipients obligated the most under Syria Assistance Program are Generations For Peace ($949,659).
Are there open grant opportunities under 19.601?
No opportunity listed under 19.601 is open now. The latest, Syria Annual Program Statement, was posted on August 13, 2026.
On GovTribe
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