U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires PAS Annual Program Statement | PAS AR200 FY19 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS AR200 FY19 01

The U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), issued an Annual Program Statement announcing funding available under its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. The opportunity is designed to support small grant projects that align with U.S. Embassy priorities in Argentina, with applications accepted on a rolling basis until the closing date of December 21, 2018. The program falls under CFDA 19.040 and is offered by the U.S. Mission to Argentina as a discretionary funding opportunity. While the document functions as a broad call for proposals rather than a single, narrowly defined project, it lays out what the Embassy is trying to achieve, who it wants to reach, and what types of activities are and are not likely to be funded.

The central purpose of the grants is to promote U.S. foreign policy objectives in Argentina by strengthening mutual understanding between the people and institutions of the United States and Argentina. The Embassy frames this work around advancing security and economic prosperity through academic, cultural, and educational initiatives. A major emphasis is placed on practical, public-facing programs that build community capacity, create opportunities for civic participation, and elevate discussion and action on issues of public importance. In other words, the program is looking for initiatives that generate visible engagement, strengthen networks, and leave behind skills, relationships, or models that can be sustained beyond the grant period.

Examples of activities the Embassy has funded in the past help clarify what a competitive proposal might look like. These include bringing U.S. experts to Argentina for speaking tours, public talks, or roundtables with local counterparts; organizing joint U.S.-Argentina conferences or convenings that lead to concrete outputs or measurable advances; showcasing U.S. models, best practices, or curricula that can be adapted locally; building initiatives that maintain contact and collaboration with alumni of prior U.S.-sponsored exchange programs; and other creative projects that clearly support one or more Embassy priority areas. The common thread across these examples is direct people-to-people engagement and a clear pathway to outcomes, whether that is knowledge transfer, stronger institutional ties, or expanded public participation.

The Embassy identifies several priority audiences that applicants are encouraged to target. These include youth ages 13 to 25 (especially students), emerging voices such as civil society leaders, business leaders and entrepreneurs, established opinion leaders (including leaders in cultural or academic institutions), and residents in Argentine provinces outside the city of Buenos Aires. This last point signals a strong interest in geographic diversity and reaching communities beyond the capital, so proposals that include provincial outreach or partnerships may be particularly responsive to the program statement.

At the same time, the statement is explicit about what it generally does not fund. Projects are unlikely to be approved if they primarily benefit one or a small number of private businesses or individuals, or if they are essentially scholarships for English study, conference attendance, or study tours to the United States. The Embassy also avoids proposals that are inherently political, partisan, or connected to electoral campaigns, as well as projects whose primary purpose is publishing books, pamphlets, websites, or apps. Other typically ineligible concepts include exclusively scientific research projects, projects requiring more than two years to implement, purchases of equipment or vehicles, construction or construction materials, exchanges involving countries beyond the United States and Argentina, programs focused on children under 13, and projects supporting specific religious activities. Taken together, these restrictions suggest PAS is prioritizing programming that is programmatic and engagement-driven rather than capital-intensive, partisan, purely research-oriented, or primarily product/publication-based.

Eligibility and compliance requirements are an important part of this opportunity. Both Argentine and U.S. applicants must have a current DUNS number and a SAM.gov registration (SAM logon), and both registrations are free. If an agreement is signed by a legal representative, that person must have formal authority to execute agreements on behalf of the organization. On the U.S. side, eligible applicants include registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs with programming experience), individuals, and educational institutions, while for-profit or commercial entities are not eligible. On the Argentine side, eligible applicants include NGOs, higher education institutions, and local provincial governments, but they must submit proof of valid Inspeccion General de Justicia registration with the application; failure to provide this documentation results in disqualification.

In terms of award size and timing, the listing notes an award ceiling of $100,000, with applications accepted until December 21, 2018 and reviewed on a rolling basis. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a flexible public diplomacy funding mechanism aimed at supporting Argentina-U.S. cooperation through cultural and educational engagement, with a strong preference for projects that reach key audiences (especially youth and provincial communities), demonstrate nonpartisan public benefit, and produce tangible, implementable outcomes within a two-year window.

• The U.S. Mission to Argentina in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires PAS Annual Program Statement" 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 2018-10-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-21. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for PAS AR200 FY19 01

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