Opportunity Information: Apply for AFMWI 20 01
The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe, through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), offered the FY2020 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program to support projects that deepen cultural ties between the United States and Malawi. The central aim of this opportunity is to fund cultural and exchange-focused programming that showcases shared values and encourages practical, people-to-people cooperation between Malawians and Americans. In addition to promoting mutual understanding, the program is designed to help audiences in Malawi better understand U.S. policies and perspectives through direct engagement, collaboration, and exposure to American expertise.
A core requirement of any proposed project is the inclusion of a clear American cultural element. This can take several forms, such as partnering with an American organization or institution, involving American experts or speakers, or connecting the program content to U.S. approaches, experiences, or professional practices in a particular field. The expectation is that the American component is not just symbolic, but meaningfully integrated into the activities so it contributes to dialogue, learning, and stronger bilateral connections.
The grant emphasizes programming that is interactive and exchange-oriented. The opportunity specifically points to examples like academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; and professional or academic exchanges and related programs. These examples signal that PAS is interested in initiatives that bring communities together, create shared experiences, and build long-term networks across sectors such as education, culture, and professional development.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity funded by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Malawi. The funding opportunity number is AFMWI 20 01, and it falls under CFDA 19.040. The program anticipated making about six awards, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $25,000 per grant. The opportunity was posted on March 5, 2020, with an original application deadline of September 30, 2020. Eligibility is broadly described as "Others," indicating that applicants likely extend beyond a single standard category and may include various nontraditional or locally relevant entities, as further defined in the full eligibility guidance.
Overall, the PAS Lilongwe FY2020 Small Grants Program is best understood as a relatively small, targeted funding stream for high-impact public diplomacy projects. Successful proposals would typically be those that clearly connect Malawian participants with American counterparts or American cultural/professional perspectives, use cultural and educational engagement as the main vehicle for cooperation, and demonstrate how the activities will strengthen mutual understanding and U.S.-Malawi relationships in practical, visible ways.Apply for AFMWI 20 01
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malawi in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Lilongwe Public Affairs Section (PAS) Public Diplomacy FY2020 Small Grants Program" 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 05, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2020. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: U.S. Embassy Lilongwe (PAS) FY2020 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program
What is the FY2020 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program offered by the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe?
It is a small grants opportunity offered by the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe through its Public Affairs Section (PAS) to support projects that deepen cultural ties between the United States and Malawi. The program funds cultural and exchange-focused programming that highlights shared values and supports practical, people-to-people cooperation between Malawians and Americans.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central aim is to fund cultural and exchange-oriented projects that strengthen mutual understanding, encourage collaboration, and build visible, practical connections between Malawian and American communities. A related goal is helping audiences in Malawi better understand U.S. policies and perspectives through direct engagement and exposure to American expertise.
What kind of projects does the program want to fund?
The opportunity emphasizes interactive, exchange-oriented public diplomacy programming. Examples mentioned include academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops; joint performances and exhibitions; and professional or academic exchanges and related programs.
Is an American component required in every project?
Yes. A core requirement is the inclusion of a clear American cultural element. The American component is expected to be meaningfully integrated into the activities, not merely symbolic.
What counts as a "clear American cultural element" for this grant?
The grant description provides several ways to meet this requirement, such as partnering with an American organization or institution, involving American experts or speakers, or connecting program content to U.S. approaches, experiences, or professional practices in a particular field.
Does the American element need to be more than a token reference?
Yes. The opportunity states the American component should not be just symbolic. It should be integrated in a way that contributes to dialogue, learning, and stronger U.S.-Malawi connections.
What does "interactive and exchange-oriented" mean in the context of this grant?
Based on the examples provided, it points toward programming that brings people together for active engagement (rather than one-way messaging), creates shared experiences, and helps build longer-term networks across sectors like education, culture, and professional development.
What sectors or themes does this grant appear to prioritize?
The description points to education, culture, and professional development as key areas, with a broader emphasis on cultural ties, exchange activities, and people-to-people cooperation that strengthens U.S.-Malawi relationships.
Who is funding this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity funded by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Malawi (U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe), administered via the Public Affairs Section (PAS).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is AFMWI 20 01.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program falls under CFDA 19.040.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The program anticipated making about six awards.
What is the maximum grant amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $25,000 per grant.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 5, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was September 30, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly described as "Others," which suggests applicants may extend beyond a single standard category and could include various nontraditional or locally relevant entities, as further defined in the full eligibility guidance.
Is this a large-scale funding program?
No. It is described as a relatively small, targeted funding stream intended for high-impact public diplomacy projects.
What makes a proposal a strong fit for this opportunity based on the description?
Successful proposals would typically (1) clearly connect Malawian participants with American counterparts or American cultural/professional perspectives, (2) use cultural and educational engagement as the main vehicle for cooperation, and (3) show how the activities will strengthen mutual understanding and U.S.-Malawi relationships in practical, visible ways.
Does the program focus only on culture, or also on policy understanding?
It focuses on cultural and exchange programming, and it is also designed to help audiences in Malawi better understand U.S. policies and perspectives through direct engagement, collaboration, and exposure to American expertise.
Are lectures and speaker series eligible activities?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly lists academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series as examples of the types of programming it supports.
Are arts-based projects eligible?
Yes. The description specifically includes artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions as examples of relevant activities.
Are exchange programs eligible?
Yes. Professional or academic exchanges and related programs are explicitly mentioned as example activities aligned with the grant.
What kind of outcomes is PAS likely looking for?
Based on the stated goals, the program is looking for outcomes like strengthened mutual understanding, deeper cultural ties, sustained people-to-people connections, and practical cooperation that builds long-term networks linking Malawians and Americans.
Is the grant aimed at projects that build long-term networks?
Yes. The description highlights building long-term networks across sectors, which signals that programs creating durable relationships and continued collaboration are aligned with the intent of the opportunity.
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