Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS KAZ NS PAS 21 002
The Annual Program Statement for Cultural Affairs (Funding Opportunity Number DOS KAZ NS PAS 21 002) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan, designed to support programs that strengthen an informed public, bolster civil society, and deepen cultural ties between the United States and Kazakhstan. The embassy is looking for practical, impact-oriented projects that can be carried out in Kazakhstan and that align with one or more of the three priority program areas described in the announcement. The grant mechanism is a standard grant (CFDA 19.040), with an award ceiling of $50,000 and an expectation of about 10 awards. The opportunity was posted on March 19, 2021, with an original closing date of July 15, 2021.
The first priority area focuses on effectively harnessing social media and digital media while promoting media literacy. The opportunity notes that Kazakhstan has a rapidly evolving media environment, with heavy online consumption of news and information sharing, including through messaging apps. Within that context, the embassy emphasizes the importance of building a well-informed public that can recognize and resist disinformation, navigate online bullying, and use social media strategically and responsibly. Projects in this area can target several related objectives: improving social media literacy (especially among youth and the general public) so people can spot and critically assess disinformation; training social entrepreneurs and young professionals to design, implement, and manage online campaigns, including setting goals and measuring results; and strengthening the skills of media professionals such as journalists, bloggers, and editors, including digital storytelling, data journalism, and the creation of effective information campaigns. A specific preference is given to proposals that directly support or expand Kazakh-language media, reflecting an interest in reaching audiences in the language most accessible to many communities across the country. Intended audiences here include the Kazakh-speaking public, youth outside the major cities of Almaty and Nur-Sultan, social entrepreneurs and young professionals, and working media practitioners.
The second priority area centers on civil society capacity building. The announcement frames this as part of a broader democratic vision that includes respect for civil and human rights, youth empowerment, social inclusion, and support for underserved communities, explicitly mentioning women, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI persons. The embassy seeks projects that transfer American best practices and expertise to Kazakhstani organizations working on these issues, with the goal of making those organizations more effective, resilient, and capable of sustained impact. Supported activities can include training civil society organizations in constituency outreach and messaging, with a strong emphasis on understanding target audiences and using social media marketing effectively; building skills to analyze government policies, public budgets, and procurement processes so organizations and individuals can advocate for better governance, transparency, and accountability; and improving organizational sustainability by expanding awareness of diverse funding streams, such as fundraising, merchandise sales, and partnerships with companies pursuing Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Priority audiences for this area include civil society organizations working in good governance and rule of law, human rights and social justice (particularly for underserved communities), youth empowerment, and air quality or environmental issues.
The third priority area, Sharing America with Kazakhstan, supports educational, cultural, and people-to-people programming that increases mutual understanding and strengthens cultural ties. The embassy highlights a wide range of possible cultural entry points, including visual arts, literature and storytelling, theater and performance, film, music, dance, sports, and education. Projects are encouraged to engage the broader public and, in particular, at-risk youth, using cultural activities as a bridge for dialogue and connection. The embassy is especially interested in proposals that are sustainable and that promote values such as freedom of expression, womens empowerment, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, and youth engagement and empowerment. Two key objectives are emphasized: creating educational or cultural programs that increase exposure to and understanding of the United States while underscoring shared values, and developing projects that celebrate the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Kazakhstan bilateral relations (established December 25, 1991). Audiences for this area can include the Kazakh-speaking public, rural or underserved communities, youth outside Almaty and Nur-Sultan, social entrepreneurs, university staff and students, educators, artists and artisans, and athletes.
Overall, this grant opportunity is structured to fund relatively small, targeted initiatives (up to $50,000) that are clearly tied to outcomes like improved media and digital literacy, stronger and more sustainable civil society organizations, and meaningful cultural exchange that highlights shared democratic and inclusive values. The embassy signals a strong interest in reaching communities beyond the major urban centers and in ensuring Kazakh-language accessibility where relevant, which suggests that proposals demonstrating regional reach, local relevance, and realistic methods for measuring results would fit well within the program’s intent.Apply for DOS KAZ NS PAS 21 002
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Annual Program Statement for Cultural Affairs" 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 Mar 19, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2021. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: Annual Program Statement for Cultural Affairs (Funding Opportunity Number DOS KAZ NS PAS 21 002)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan. It supports programs implemented in Kazakhstan that strengthen an informed public, bolster civil society, and deepen cultural ties between the United States and Kazakhstan.
Who is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan (the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan) under its Annual Program Statement for Cultural Affairs.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOS KAZ NS PAS 21 002.
What grant mechanism is being used?
The opportunity uses a standard grant mechanism under CFDA 19.040.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $50,000.
How many awards are expected?
The announcement indicates an expectation of about 10 awards.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was posted on March 19, 2021. The original closing date was July 15, 2021.
Where must projects be carried out?
Projects are expected to be practical, impact-oriented, and carried out in Kazakhstan.
What are the priority program areas?
The announcement describes three priority areas:
- Effectively harnessing social media and digital media while promoting media literacy
- Civil society capacity building
- Sharing America with Kazakhstan (educational, cultural, and people-to-people programs)
Do projects have to align with a priority area?
Yes. The embassy is looking for projects that align with one or more of the three priority program areas described in the announcement.
What does the grant mean by "practical, impact-oriented" projects?
Based on the description, the embassy is seeking relatively small, targeted initiatives with clear, measurable outcomes, such as improved media and digital literacy, stronger and more sustainable civil society organizations, or meaningful cultural exchange that highlights shared values.
What types of projects fit under Priority Area 1 (social media, digital media, and media literacy)?
Priority Area 1 focuses on strengthening an informed public in a rapidly evolving media environment with heavy online news consumption and information sharing. Projects may include:
- Improving social media literacy so people can identify and critically assess disinformation
- Helping communities recognize and respond to online bullying
- Training social entrepreneurs and young professionals to plan, implement, and manage online campaigns (including goal-setting and measuring results)
- Strengthening skills of media professionals (journalists, bloggers, editors) in areas such as digital storytelling, data journalism, and effective information campaigns
Is there a language preference for projects under Priority Area 1?
Yes. The announcement states a preference for proposals that directly support or expand Kazakh-language media.
Who are the intended audiences for Priority Area 1?
Intended audiences include the Kazakh-speaking public, youth outside the major cities of Almaty and Nur-Sultan, social entrepreneurs and young professionals, and working media practitioners (such as journalists, bloggers, and editors).
What types of projects fit under Priority Area 2 (civil society capacity building)?
Priority Area 2 supports efforts to strengthen civil society organizations and advance a democratic vision that includes respect for civil and human rights, youth empowerment, social inclusion, and support for underserved communities. Projects may include:
- Transferring American best practices and expertise to Kazakhstani organizations working on these issues
- Training civil society organizations on constituency outreach and messaging, including understanding target audiences and using social media marketing effectively
- Building skills to analyze government policies, public budgets, and procurement processes to support advocacy for transparency and accountability
- Improving organizational sustainability by expanding awareness of diverse funding streams such as fundraising, merchandise sales, and partnerships with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives
Which communities are explicitly mentioned as underserved in Priority Area 2?
The opportunity explicitly mentions women, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI persons as underserved communities of interest within the civil society capacity building priority.
Who are the priority audiences for Priority Area 2?
Priority audiences include civil society organizations working in good governance and rule of law; human rights and social justice (particularly for underserved communities); youth empowerment; and air quality or environmental issues.
What types of projects fit under Priority Area 3 (Sharing America with Kazakhstan)?
Priority Area 3 supports educational, cultural, and people-to-people programming that increases mutual understanding and strengthens cultural ties between the United States and Kazakhstan. The announcement notes potential cultural entry points such as visual arts, literature and storytelling, theater and performance, film, music, dance, sports, and education.
Does Priority Area 3 encourage outreach beyond major cities?
Yes. The opportunity encourages engagement with the broader public and highlights interest in reaching at-risk youth and communities beyond Almaty and Nur-Sultan, including rural or underserved communities.
What values does Priority Area 3 emphasize?
The embassy notes particular interest in sustainable proposals that promote freedom of expression, womens empowerment, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, and youth engagement and empowerment.
What are the key objectives under Priority Area 3?
The announcement emphasizes two key objectives:
- Creating educational or cultural programs that increase exposure to and understanding of the United States while underscoring shared values
- Developing projects that celebrate the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Kazakhstan bilateral relations (established December 25, 1991)
Who are the intended audiences for Priority Area 3?
Audiences may include the Kazakh-speaking public, rural or underserved communities, youth outside Almaty and Nur-Sultan, social entrepreneurs, university staff and students, educators, artists and artisans, and athletes.
Is there an emphasis on reaching Kazakh-speaking audiences?
Yes. Across the opportunity, the embassy signals strong interest in Kazakh-language accessibility where relevant, including a stated preference for proposals that support or expand Kazakh-language media.
Does the opportunity prioritize projects outside Almaty and Nur-Sultan?
The announcement repeatedly highlights interest in reaching communities beyond the major urban centers, especially youth outside Almaty and Nur-Sultan and rural or underserved communities.
What kinds of outcomes does the embassy appear to be looking for?
Based on the opportunity description, the embassy is looking for outcomes such as improved media and digital literacy (including resisting disinformation), stronger and more sustainable civil society organizations (including better outreach, advocacy, and diversified funding), and cultural exchange that strengthens mutual understanding and highlights inclusive, democratic values.
What does the announcement suggest about measuring results?
It specifically mentions training on setting goals and measuring results for online campaigns, and it indicates that projects with realistic methods for measuring results would fit well with the program intent.
Are sustainability and long-term impact important for this opportunity?
Yes. Sustainability is explicitly emphasized in Priority Area 3, and Priority Area 2 includes a strong focus on organizational sustainability through diversified funding streams and partnerships.
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