Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS ZAF FY23 03
Strength in Partnership: Call for Proposals is a funding opportunity from the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Mission to South Africa (U.S. Department of State) designed to support public diplomacy projects that deepen ties between the United States and South Africa. The core idea is relationship-building: PAS is looking for programs that create practical, people-to-people and institution-to-institution connections, encourage dialogue, and promote the exchange of knowledge and experience in ways that support mutually beneficial cooperation. Proposals must be built around a partnership: South African organizations are encouraged to apply with a U.S. partner, and U.S. organizations can apply as long as they have a South African partner. Awards are offered as grants or cooperative agreements, which also signals that PAS may be actively involved in project implementation, especially in projects that are designed to scale.
The opportunity focuses on four main thematic areas. The first theme is adapting to climate change and advancing a just green energy transition. PAS is interested in projects that connect Americans and South Africans to share expertise, experiences, and workable solutions related to climate mitigation and adaptation, while also addressing the social and economic disruptions that come with moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Competitive ideas would not only raise awareness, but also encourage collaboration and shared action, with particular attention to a transition that protects livelihoods through reskilling, support systems, and community resilience. Priority subtopics include expanding economic opportunity linked to the green transition, sustainable waste management and recycling, clean water solutions in urban and peri-urban areas, climate adaptation efforts, and urban gardening or greening initiatives.
The second theme centers on promoting equity, social justice, and social cohesion. PAS frames this around parallel challenges and histories in both countries, pointing to recent events such as the global impact of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and South Africa's July 2021 unrest, and the continuing consequences of racial and social division, economic inequality, and exclusion. PAS wants projects that create constructive, safe spaces for dialogue and exchange, connect historical injustices to present-day realities, and support human rights and social inclusion. There is a strong emphasis on reaching and supporting marginalized communities, including women and girls, LGBTQI people, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and others who face discrimination, especially when multiple identities compound exclusion. Priority activities include programming that draws connections between civil rights struggles in the United States and South Africa's liberation history, exploration of the literature and cultural histories of marginalized groups in the United States for South African audiences, and facilitated dialogues or exchanges linking U.S. and South African individuals and organizations working on equity and inclusion. PAS also leaves room for approaches that use sport or art, as long as the proposal clearly explains why those methods will resonate with South African audiences.
The third theme addresses trafficking in persons (TIP) as a global crisis affecting both countries, with serious impacts on community safety, social wellbeing, and economic stability. PAS seeks public diplomacy projects that strengthen public understanding of trafficking, improve the ability of communities to recognize and report trafficking, identify risk factors, and reduce demand for forced labor and sexual exploitation. Proposals are expected to align with recommendations in the most recent U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report for South Africa, translating those recommendations into practical public awareness and grassroots action. Priority directions include general TIP awareness, targeted awareness for populations most vulnerable to exploitation (such as children, LGBTQI persons, refugees, migrants, and commercial sex workers), efforts to reduce demand, and initiatives that increase reporting of trafficking offenses and official complicity to appropriate South African authorities. PAS explicitly welcomes partnerships that include South African government entities for this theme.
The fourth theme focuses on expanding cooperation in higher education and vocational training, recognizing universities, colleges, community colleges, and vocational institutions as engines of skills development, economic resilience, and social problem-solving. Under the University Partnership Initiative (UPI), PAS wants proposals that strengthen existing institutional ties and create new collaborations between U.S. and South African institutions, ideally with a plan for sustainability after the grant ends. Projects should also consider the possibility of scaling up if additional funding becomes available and should anticipate meaningful PAS involvement. Competitive ideas include faculty and student exchanges and dual degree models that allow South Africans to complete studies locally while building academic capacity, curriculum alignment to real labor market needs, instructional technology to expand access (including lessons from the COVID-19 period), early-career training for academics, joint research (especially in agriculture, food security, health, and STEM), skills transfer for institutional administration and management, better student recruitment and retention and job placement strategies (including countering misconceptions about TVET and community college pathways), and public-private partnerships emphasizing commercialization, technology transfer, job creation, and post-graduate placement. PAS particularly encourages linkages between South African technical universities and U.S. counterparts.
Across all four themes, PAS requires proposals to clearly define a single primary audience made up of real people (not institutions as an abstract category) and to estimate how many individuals are in that audience. A project can involve multiple groups, but it must name one countable primary audience, such as vocational students, educators, community leaders, civil society representatives, journalists, religious leaders, vulnerable populations, administrators, or relevant government officials, depending on the theme. PAS also notes that short-term outcomes are acceptable if they realistically lay the groundwork for longer-term impact, which is typical for relationship-driven public diplomacy programs.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAS ZAF FY23 03) with an award ceiling of $200,000 and an expectation of around four awards. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status). The opportunity was posted on November 22, 2022, and it used two submission deadlines: February 28, 2023 and April 30, 2023. The activity areas are broadly categorized under arts/cultural affairs, education, and humanities, reflecting PAS's public diplomacy focus on exchanges, dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving rather than purely technical assistance delivered in isolation.Apply for PAS ZAF FY23 03
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Africa in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), education, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strength in Partnership: Call for Proposals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 22, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 30, 2023 Two deadlines February 28, 2023 and April 30, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Strength in Partnership: Call for Proposals
What is the "Strength in Partnership: Call for Proposals" opportunity?
Strength in Partnership: Call for Proposals is a funding opportunity from the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Mission to South Africa (U.S. Department of State). It supports public diplomacy projects that deepen ties between the United States and South Africa through relationship-building, dialogue, and the exchange of knowledge and experience.
What is the main purpose of this funding?
The central goal is to build practical people-to-people and institution-to-institution connections that encourage dialogue and support mutually beneficial cooperation between the United States and South Africa. Projects are expected to create real relationships and collaboration, not just deliver stand-alone services.
Who is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Mission to South Africa, under the U.S. Department of State.
What types of awards are available (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards may be offered as grants or cooperative agreements. The use of cooperative agreements indicates PAS may be actively involved in implementation, particularly for projects designed to scale.
Is a partnership required to apply?
Yes. Proposals must be built around a partnership. South African organizations are encouraged to apply with a U.S. partner, and U.S. organizations may apply as long as they have a South African partner.
What kinds of partnerships does PAS want to see?
PAS is looking for partnerships that create tangible, practical connections between Americans and South Africans (and their institutions), with collaboration and exchange at the center. For some themes (such as trafficking in persons), PAS also welcomes partnerships that include South African government entities.
What are the main thematic areas supported by this opportunity?
The opportunity focuses on four themes: (1) climate change adaptation and a just green energy transition, (2) equity, social justice, and social cohesion, (3) trafficking in persons (TIP), and (4) higher education and vocational training cooperation (including the University Partnership Initiative).
What is Theme 1 about (climate change and just energy transition)?
Theme 1 supports projects that connect Americans and South Africans to share expertise and workable solutions on climate mitigation and adaptation, while addressing the social and economic disruption associated with moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Strong proposals go beyond awareness-raising and build collaboration and shared action, with attention to protecting livelihoods through reskilling, support systems, and community resilience.
What subtopics are prioritized under the climate and green transition theme?
Priority subtopics include expanding economic opportunity linked to the green transition, sustainable waste management and recycling, clean water solutions in urban and peri-urban areas, climate adaptation efforts, and urban gardening or greening initiatives.
What is Theme 2 about (equity, social justice, and social cohesion)?
Theme 2 supports projects that address equity, social justice, and social cohesion by creating constructive, safe spaces for dialogue and exchange. PAS is interested in programming that connects historical injustices to current realities and supports human rights and social inclusion, especially for marginalized communities.
Which communities does PAS emphasize reaching under the equity and inclusion theme?
PAS emphasizes reaching marginalized communities, including women and girls, LGBTQI people, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and others facing discrimination, especially when overlapping identities increase exclusion.
What activities are prioritized under the equity and social cohesion theme?
Priority activities include programming that draws connections between civil rights struggles in the United States and South Africa's liberation history, exploration of U.S. literature and cultural histories of marginalized groups for South African audiences, and facilitated dialogues or exchanges connecting U.S. and South African individuals and organizations working on equity and inclusion.
Can proposals use sport or art approaches under the equity theme?
Yes. PAS leaves room for proposals that use sport or art, but the proposal should clearly explain why those methods will resonate with South African audiences.
What is Theme 3 about (trafficking in persons)?
Theme 3 addresses trafficking in persons (TIP) as a global crisis affecting both countries. PAS seeks public diplomacy projects that strengthen public understanding of trafficking, improve community ability to recognize and report trafficking, identify risk factors, and reduce demand for forced labor and sexual exploitation.
Do TIP proposals need to align with any external guidance?
Yes. TIP proposals are expected to align with recommendations in the most recent U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report for South Africa and translate those recommendations into practical public awareness and grassroots action.
What TIP focus areas are prioritized?
Priority directions include general TIP awareness, targeted awareness for populations most vulnerable to exploitation (such as children, LGBTQI persons, refugees, migrants, and commercial sex workers), efforts to reduce demand, and initiatives that increase reporting of trafficking offenses and official complicity to appropriate South African authorities.
Are government partnerships encouraged for TIP projects?
Yes. PAS explicitly welcomes partnerships that include South African government entities for TIP-related projects.
What is Theme 4 about (higher education and vocational training)?
Theme 4 focuses on expanding cooperation in higher education and vocational training, including universities, colleges, community colleges, and vocational institutions. Under the University Partnership Initiative (UPI), PAS seeks proposals that strengthen existing institutional ties and create new collaborations between U.S. and South African institutions, ideally with a sustainability plan after the grant ends.
What kinds of activities are competitive under the University Partnership Initiative (UPI)?
Competitive ideas include faculty and student exchanges, dual degree models that allow South Africans to complete studies locally while building academic capacity, curriculum alignment to labor market needs, instructional technology to expand access (including lessons from COVID-19), early-career training for academics, joint research (especially in agriculture, food security, health, and STEM), skills transfer for institutional administration and management, and improved student recruitment, retention, and job placement strategies (including countering misconceptions about TVET and community college pathways).
Are public-private partnerships relevant under the education and training theme?
Yes. PAS highlights public-private partnerships emphasizing commercialization, technology transfer, job creation, and post-graduate placement.
Does PAS encourage any specific institutional linkages under Theme 4?
Yes. PAS particularly encourages linkages between South African technical universities and U.S. counterparts.
Is sustainability after the grant period important?
Yes. Especially under the University Partnership Initiative, proposals are expected to include a plan for sustainability after the grant ends.
Should proposals consider scaling up?
Yes. PAS notes that projects should consider the possibility of scaling up if additional funding becomes available and should anticipate meaningful PAS involvement, especially in projects designed to scale.
Do proposals need to define a target audience?
Yes. PAS requires proposals to clearly define a single primary audience made up of real people (not institutions as an abstract category) and estimate how many individuals are in that audience.
Can a project involve more than one audience?
Yes. A project can involve multiple groups, but it must name one countable primary audience and provide an estimate of the number of individuals in that primary audience.
What are examples of acceptable primary audiences?
Examples mentioned include vocational students, educators, community leaders, civil society representatives, journalists, religious leaders, vulnerable populations, administrators, or relevant government officials, depending on the theme.
Are short-term outcomes acceptable?
Yes. PAS notes that short-term outcomes are acceptable if they realistically lay the groundwork for longer-term impact, consistent with relationship-driven public diplomacy programs.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAS ZAF FY23 03.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $200,000.
How many awards does PAS expect to make?
PAS expects to make around four awards.
Is this discretionary funding?
Yes. This is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status).
Do applicants need U.S. 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. Nonprofit organizations are eligible both with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on November 22, 2022.
What were the submission deadlines?
The opportunity used two submission deadlines: February 28, 2023 and April 30, 2023.
What program areas or categories does PAS associate with this opportunity?
The activity areas are broadly categorized under arts/cultural affairs, education, and humanities, reflecting a public diplomacy focus on exchanges, dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.
What kind of project approach is PAS looking for overall?
PAS is looking for public diplomacy programming centered on exchange, dialogue, and collaboration that produces real relationships and practical cooperation between Americans and South Africans, rather than isolated technical assistance delivered without relationship-building.
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