Funding Wizard

The U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica, announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to strengthen government institutions through civil society engagement. U.S. Embassy San Jose intends to issue awards in an amount not to exceed $250,000 in FY 2022 Economic Support Funds (ESF), pending availability of funding. The anticipated start date for this activity is September 30, 2023, and project periods should not exceed two years. The U.S. Embassy San Jose intends to fund 3-5 awards between the amounts of $150,000 and $250,000 each. The NOFO and submitted proposals should focus on Pillar II of the Root Causes Strategy (RCS): Combating corruption, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing the rule of law. Specific objectives and indicators should be included in the proposals that allow the organization to measure and demonstrate progress. Proposals may also support Pillars III - Promoting respect for human rights, labor rights, and a free press, and Pillar IV – Countering and preventing violence, extortion, and other crimes perpetrated by criminal gangs, trafficking networks, and other organized criminal organizations. Funding awarded under this NOFO cannot be used for law enforcement, to train members of law enforcement, or to provide social services. U.S. Embassy San Jose invites qualified U.S. non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or non-U.S.-based NGOs, and U.S. and non-U.S.-based public and private institutions of higher education to submit proposals that include an implementation strategy focused on building strong, capable, and accountable governments. Proposals should be oriented toward activities by civil society organizations working with the government of Costa Rica to improve the delivery of government services, particularly to vulnerable and/or marginalized communities and in areas outside of the Central Valley, with a particular focus on Limon. Proposals should focus on vulnerable populations that – may include, but not limited to, women and girls, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, people of African descent, members of racial and ethnic minorities, refugees and internally displaced persons, members of religious minorities, LGBTQI+ persons, rural residents, migrants, and individuals adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. These proposals will assist or complement central/local/municipal government efforts to increase and improve services. Proposals should facilitate citizens’ abilities to hold the government accountable for its responsibilities. Proposals cannot provide direct support to the central, regional, or municipal governments of Costa Rica. Ideal projects will focus on one or more of the following objectives: Objective 1: Promotion of activities by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working with the government to advance anti-corruption initiatives and increase transparency and openness. Objective 2: Development of tools to increase responsible management of public resources, building government capacity to publish data that is easily accessible to citizens. Objective 3: Addressing Limon Province’s most pressing needs by fostering actions such as anti-corruption initiatives, accountable local governments and transparency mechanisms, improved interinstitutional coordination, employability governance and jobs policy. Objective 4: Strengthening civil society's role in environmental governance. U.S. Embassy San Jose reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for the award. The authority for this NOFO is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. Eligible organizations interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the type of project sought and the application submission requirements and evaluation process.

The U.S. Embassy San Jose Public Diplomacy (PD) Section of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit a Statement of Interest to implement programs that strengthen ties between the United States and Costa Rica through cultural, exchange, and outreach activities that highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation. The thematic areas for the projects must be aligned with Public Diplomacy priorities and the strategic goals of U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica detailed below. Please carefully read and follow all instructions.PDS will review proposals through two separate rounds of funding. You may submit your proposal within the time periods for either round.Each round of funding will entail a two-step process for successful proposals. Submission of the Statement of Interest (SOI) is the first step. Applicants must submit a concise two-page Statement of Interest that clearly communicates program ideas and objectives. This first step is not a full proposal application. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submitprogram ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.To be eligible for award, the applicant must submit all required information in its application through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), including the requirements found in any attachments to this Grants.gov opportunity. (Please contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 and support@grants.gov with any submission problems.

Please refer to the Annual Program Statement document in https://cr.usembassy.gov/ or request it in PAgrantapplications@state.gov PD San Jose invites proposals for cultural programs that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for FY2022 that strengthen people-to-people ties between the U.S. and Costa Rica through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes cooperation. All programs must include an U.S. cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy, perspectives, history, culture, or values. Priority Program Areas Arts and Cultural Programs: Programs that foster cultural exchange and the promotion of shared values, reaching a broad public audience through festivals and other arts or cultural events. Sports Diplomacy: Programs that foster the promotion of shared values, inclusion, and equity through sports. · Diversity and Inclusion: Programs that promote equal rights and opportunities for immigrants, LGBTI individuals, people with disabilities, indigenous communities, and racial minorities. Target Audiences in Costa Rica Communities that are home to immigrant or migrant populations, Afro-descendant populations, Indigenous communities, LGBTQI+ communities, High school/university students, Communities outside the San Jose Metropolitan Region Activities that may be funded include, but are not limited to Speaking tours/public talks by U.S. experts, Activities that foster long-term collaboration between U.S. and Costa Rican institutions, Cultural heritage conservation, education, and preservation programs, Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions, Sports diplomacy programs. The following types of programs are not eligible for funding: Programs relating to partisan political activity; Charitable, humanitarian, social welfare, or development activities, Construction projects; Programs that support specific religious activities; Fund-raising campaigns; Lobbying for specific legislation or programs, Scientific research; Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; Programs that duplicate existing programs; International travel, unless specifically justified within the proposal COVID-19 Special Announcement to All Potential Applicants: In light of the restrictive travel and public gathering environments caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Embassy in San Jose expects interested applicants to submit proposals that include a virtual programming option. Depending upon the public health restrictions in force at the time the program takes place, applicants should have plans to execute in-person, hybrid, or virtual programming in compliance with COVID health and safety guidelines issued by the Government of Costa Rica. Please reflect these options in the budget submitted. As always, submitted budgets are subject to negotiation and approval by the Grants Officer before finalizing any grant award.