U.S. Embassy Djibouti PDS Annual Program Statement | PDS 25 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS 25 01

The U.S. Embassy Djibouti Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), part of the U.S. Department of State, is offering funding through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program under an Annual Program Statement titled "U.S. Embassy Djibouti PDS Annual Program Statement" (Funding Opportunity Number: PDS 25 01). This is a discretionary grant opportunity (CFDA 19.040; activity category focused on employment, labor, and training) intended to support creative, scalable projects that expand access to strong English language learning, highlight American leadership in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education for adults across Djibouti, and strengthen economic opportunity in ways that benefit both Djibouti and the United States. The maximum award amount listed is $25,000, and the application deadline is June 8, 2025.

The program priorities center on practical English instruction and workforce-relevant skills. Competitive projects may include formal English classes, conversation clubs, and other informal learning formats that reach students and community members. The Embassy is also looking for projects that develop and share English learning materials and curricula, especially resources that reflect local context and make smart use of digital or mobile platforms. Another priority is building institutional capacity so schools, training centers, and similar institutions can deliver better English programs over time. A strong theme is integrating STEAM into English instruction so learners gain career-relevant competencies rather than language skills in isolation. Finally, the opportunity emphasizes employability, job readiness, and entrepreneurship, with an interest in initiatives that help people access economic opportunities, grow small businesses, and strengthen the broader economic ties and mutual benefit between Djibouti and the United States.

The primary intended audience is young adults in Djibouti, particularly in regions outside major centers, who want improved English to pursue education, employment, or business opportunities. The announcement names several target groups, including secondary and university students, out-of-school youth, vocational trainees and job seekers, English teachers and educators seeking professional development (especially around STEAM integration), and emerging entrepreneurs and businesspeople. Projects that can clearly show how they will reach these audiences, improve measurable outcomes (like language proficiency, job readiness skills, or entrepreneurial capacity), and scale or continue beyond the grant period will align well with the stated objectives.

The announcement is also clear about what it will not fund. Ineligible activities include anything tied to partisan political activity, charitable or general development assistance, construction, programs supporting specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying for legislation or government programs, and scientific research. It also excludes proposals mainly aimed at the applicant organization’s institutional growth rather than public-facing programming, as well as projects that simply duplicate existing programs rather than offering a distinct added value.

Eligibility includes a range of non-commercial applicants from the United States and Djibouti, such as registered nonprofit organizations (including NGOs, civil society groups, and think tanks with relevant programming experience), individuals, non-profit or governmental educational institutions, and governmental institutions. For-profit or commercial entities are explicitly not eligible to apply. A key compliance point is that organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration. This requirement applies to organizations regardless of where they are based, and the registration must remain active while the proposal is under review and for the full period of performance if an award is made. Individuals do not need a UEI or SAM.gov registration. The announcement also limits submissions to one proposal per organization; if an organization submits more than one, all of that organization’s proposals will be ruled ineligible, so applicants need to consolidate ideas into a single, strongest submission.

Application formatting and components are strict, and noncompliant applications can be deemed ineligible. Submissions must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and documents must be formatted for 8.5 x 11 paper. Microsoft Word files must be single-spaced in 12-point Calibri with at least 1-inch margins. Required forms come from Grants.gov and include the SF-424 (for organizations) or SF-424-I (for individuals), plus the SF-424A budget form for non-construction programs. The SF-424B assurances form is required for individuals and for certain organizations (specifically those exempt from registration or not required to fully register in SAM.gov, as noted in the announcement).

Beyond the standard federal forms, applicants must include a summary page (cover sheet) listing the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, proposed start and end dates, and a short purpose statement. The core narrative proposal is capped at three pages and must be written clearly enough that a reviewer unfamiliar with the project can understand exactly what will be done. It needs to cover a project summary with objectives and anticipated impact, an introduction to the applicant (including past and current operations and any previous U.S. Embassy or U.S. government grants), a well-supported problem statement, measurable goals and objectives, detailed activities, methods/design (with a logic model as appropriate), and a timeline with dates, times, and locations of activities. It also must identify key personnel and their roles/time commitments, list partners and sub-awardees with their responsibilities, explain how monitoring and evaluation will be handled throughout the project, and describe sustainability or future funding plans after the grant ends.

Applicants must also provide a budget justification narrative in a separate file that explains each cost line in detail and aligns with the SF-424A. Required attachments include one-page CVs or resumes for key personnel, letters of support from partners that spell out each partner’s role, and (if relevant) the organization’s current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) as a PDF when indirect costs are included. Any official permission letters needed to carry out activities (for example, approvals to conduct events in certain venues) should also be included.

Applications are managed through Grants.gov for required forms, and questions about the process are directed to the Embassy’s Public Diplomacy contact email: Djiboutipdsubmissions@state.gov. Organizations should plan ahead for SAM.gov and UEI timing since registration can take time, and the Embassy expects registration to remain active during review and throughout any funded project period.

• The U.S. Mission to Djibouti in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Djibouti PDS 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 2025-05-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-08. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PDS 25 01

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: