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Notice of Funding Opportunity: U.S. Public Diplomacy Palestinian Peacebuilding Program

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (U.S.OPA) announces an open competition for a grant through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The U.S. Public Diplomacy Palestinian Peacebuilding Program is designed to partner with Palestinian, American, and International non-profit/non-governmental to implement activities which advance the applicant’s goals and the U.S.OPA-PD mission: to advance a comprehensive and lasting peace through a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the development of
a vibrant, representative, and responsive Palestinian civil society, private sector, and governing institutions through substantive engagement with American people, institutions, ideas and ideals in order to improve American-Palestinian relations and create greater opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation. 

Priority Region: Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza or a combination of two or three of them. 

Program Objectives: 

All proposed projects must aim to advance the U.S.OPA-PD mission goals stated above, contain a substantive American element, and achieve one or more of the following specific objectives:

  • Promote negotiation, non-violence, social change, and civic education
  • Help participants imagine alternatives to occupation, violence, despair, or apathy
  • Train and empower participants to tell stories from the conflict that highlight human dignity, empathy, and outside-of-the-box thinking for local and international audiences
  • Build capacity of peacebuilding institutions and organizations led by Palestinians.
  • Create opportunities for Palestinians to engage representatives of the U.S. government – including the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs—on issues of importance to them, including U.S. foreign policy and international affairs as well as local issues and perspectives
  • Advance equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. • Each proposal must have a substantial monitoring and evaluation component that will contribute to research in the field of peacebuilding to help make data-based decisions that make an impact on the ground 

Participants and Audiences:

Palestinians in East Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza. 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 6 to 18 months
Number of awards anticipated: 1 or more awards (dependent on amounts)
Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $20,000 to a maximum of $100,000 Total available funding: $100,000
Type of Funding: FY22 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds
Anticipated program start date: September 2022 

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type:

Grant, fixed amount award, or cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that U.S. OPA staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation.

Program Performance Period:

Proposed programs should be completed in 18 months or less noting that at least the last 3-6 months of the period of performance — after the end of the substantive project activity — should be dedicated to short- and medium-term measurement and evaluation of project success to measure indicators and determine if leading goals and objectives have been met.

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 following types of applicants are eligible to apply:
Palestinian, American, and International not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

Preference will be given to Palestinian organizations when possible.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost share is allowed but not required and will not factor into the merit review process.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

In order 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.

The following types of projects are not eligible for funding: · Projects relating to partisan political activity
· Charitable or development activities
· Construction projects

· Projects that support specific religious activities or promote only one faith/religion · Fund-raising campaigns

· Lobbying for specific legislation or projects · Scientific research

· Projects intended primarily for the growth/institutional development/maintenance of the applicant organization or its partner organizations

D. Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than midnight Jerusalem local time (GMT +3) August 15, 2022

Organizations wishing to submit proposals to the Public Affairs Section should review the following documents and forms: