U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE EMBASSY RABAT
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Funding Opportunity Title: American Spaces Grant Funding 2023
Funding Opportunity Number: PAS-MOROCCO-FY23-09
Deadline for Applications: May 5, 2023
Assistance Listing Number: 19.441
Total Amount Available: $85,000
Contact Email: Rabatgrants@state.gov
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Mission Morocco is pleased to announce an open competition to award a grant or cooperative agreement for organizations to carry out programming at one or both of Mission Morocco’s two American Spaces.
American Spaces are the U.S. government’s primary cultural and information centers abroad that provide free and open access for communities worldwide interested in learning more about the United States. In Morocco, there are two American Spaces, the American Center in Casablanca known as Dar America and an American corner in Oujda known as the American Space Oujda (ASO).
Dar America and the ASO are responsible for delivering dynamic programming that promotes stability and prosperity in Morocco, while attracting diverse audiences. Previous year’s programming objectives included advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); countering disinformation; science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) training; and American culture. FY2021 programming spanned more than 240 virtual and in-person programs and events and attracted nearly 450,000 virtual and in-person attendees across the two Spaces.
Please follow all instructions below.
Program Objectives:
For FY2023, American Spaces Morocco wish to continue to implement impactful programs focused on entrepreneurship and soft skills development, STEAM training, and environment and climate change awareness.
Key Programming Descriptions:
· Professional Development for Moroccan Youth: Promote professional and soft skills development, entrepreneurship and innovation through mentoring and training to promote positive community engagement and increase employability.
· Science, Technology, Engineering, arts, and Math (STEAM) Programming: Create innovative STEAM programs to engage youth at Morocco’s American Spaces while utilizing the existing MakerSpaces.
· Environment and Climate Programming: Expand understanding of environmental and climate change challenges through engaging and hands-on programming.
The primary target audience is young Moroccans, aged 18 – 30 and the principal method of engagement will be through in-person programming at the American Spaces. Virtual engagement may be a part of the overall strategy, augmenting in-person programming, when possible, and acting as the primary method of engagement, when necessary.
Preference will be given to proposals that prioritize and maximize the needs of the audience while limiting overhead, equipment, and other expenses that do not directly support program participants.
A successful proposal will develop a robust monthly calendar of activities spanning at least eight months and directly address at least one of the three key programming areas. Prospective grantees may plan programming activities at one or both American Spaces.
Activities that could be funded include, but are not limited to:
· Youth engagement, leadership, and educational programs
· Workshops, seminars, trainings, and master classes on American themes or issues of mutual interest mentioned in the above goals of the program
· Cultural programs that target youth and underserved communities
· Programs to empower women and girls
· Radio, television, and social media training and programming in support of the above program objectives
· Programs that focus on climate crisis education, nature conservation, or clean energy innovation
Activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to:
· fees and travel costs to attend conferences in the United States
· ongoing salary costs and office equipment
· paying to complete activities begun with other funds
· projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single party electoral campaigns.
· social welfare projects
· political party activities
· projects that support specific religious activities
· trade activities; fundraising campaigns; commercial projects; scientific research; construction projects; projects whose primary aim is the institutional development of the organization itself
Participants and Audiences:
Mission Morocco American Spaces’ primary audiences are students and young professionals, ages 18 – 30 in the Casablanca and Oujda regions.
B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION
Length of performance period: Eight to twelve months
Number of awards anticipated: Up to four awards (dependent on amounts)
Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $30,000.
Total available funding: $85,000
Type of Funding: American Spaces Support Funds
Anticipated program start date: October 2023
Required registrations: SAM.gov
This notice is subject to availability of funding.
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement or grant, depending on proposal.
The Grants Officer or the Grants Officer Representative will authorize recipient to incur costs associated with the management of this grant once the exact dates and nature of the program have been confirmed. Mission Morocco’s Public Affairs Section may choose to have a substantial involvement in the planning and implementation of the award and will:
1. Approve the programming calendar
2. Approve event dates and themes
3. Assist in identifying speakers
4. Approve the location of events
5. Assist in identifying participants, as needed, and
6. Provide assistance, as needed, throughout the lifecycle of the grant.
Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in one year or less. The Department of State 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.
C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION
1. Eligible Applicants
The U.S. Mission encourages applications from Moroccan citizens and/or organizations, including:
· Registered public or private non-profit organizations, such as think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations.
· Public or private non-profit educational institutions
· Public or private non-profit cultural institutions
· Individuals
For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost-share is not required; however, if provided, please detail whether the cost-share is through in-cash or in-kind contributions and the approximate dollar amount. Cost-share will not be included in the criteria for evaluation.
3. Other Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.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.
D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Submit all forms as PDFs in electronic format to Rabatgrants@state.gov no later than May 5, 2023, at midnight. All questions about this NOFO should be addressed to: Rabatgrants@state.gov
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 not be reviewed.
1. Content of Application and Form of Application Submission
· All documents are in English.
· The proposal should be for no more than $30, 000 or range from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $30, 000.
· The project should not have an intended start date before October 2023.
· All budgets are in U.S. dollars (please use $1 = 10 MAD as exchange rate)
· All pages are numbered.
· All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
· All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.
The following documents are required:
· Mandatory application forms SF424 (Application for Federal Assistance for organizations)
· SF424A (Budget Information for non-construction programs)
· SF424B (Assurances for non-construction programs)
· Proposal Narrative Template (in English)
· Applicant Organization Information Form
· Budget Proposal (in USD) (please use $1 = 10 MAD as exchange rate) with budget justification narrative for each line item.
· CVs for Director and key project personnel
· Final registration papers for the organization (وصل نهائي)
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO Docs and Forms for Applicants > NOFO American Spaces Grant Funding 2023
