U.S. EMBASSY TO SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SECTION ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT | OFOP0001500

Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0001500

The U.S. Embassy in Bern, through its Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), is offering small grants for projects that deepen cultural ties and practical cooperation between the United States and Switzerland or Liechtenstein. The overall goal is to support cultural and exchange-style programming that highlights shared democratic values, encourages dialogue, and strengthens bilateral relationships. A core requirement is that every proposed project must have a clear American component, meaning it should incorporate U.S. culture or include a substantive connection to U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions in a way that helps local audiences better understand U.S. perspectives and policy approaches.

This opportunity is structured as an annual program statement under the PDS Small Grants Program (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0001500). It is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Mission to Switzerland and is tied to CFDA number 19.040. While it sits broadly within a science and technology and research and development activity category, the intent is public diplomacy: using educational, cultural, and professional exchanges to build understanding and collaboration. The Embassy expects to make around 8 awards, and the maximum funding per award (the ceiling) is $12,500, which points to projects that are focused, clearly scoped, and feasible within a modest budget.

The Embassy is looking for proposals that fit one or more of four priority program areas. The first priority is recognizing and countering disinformation and misinformation, which could include media literacy, civic resilience, training for educators or community leaders, or other initiatives that help audiences identify and respond to information manipulation. The second priority centers on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Within that, there is a special emphasis on expanding opportunities for women and girls, in all their diversity, in STEAM fields, as well as increasing the visibility, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of underrepresented groups in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, including immigrants, migrants, refugees, and asylees. The third priority focuses on apprenticeships and workforce development, specifically promoting mobility and knowledge transfer between Switzerland or Liechtenstein and the United States, which could involve exchanges, joint workshops, study visits, or partnerships that compare and share best practices in vocational education and training systems. The fourth priority aims to strengthen entrepreneurship and economic collaboration between the United States and Switzerland, with particular attention to emerging entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, and business students, suggesting programs like mentorship networks, startup-focused exchanges, pitch or innovation events, or transatlantic collaboration platforms.

The intended participants and audiences are clearly defined and locally anchored. Programs should primarily serve residents of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with special consideration for underrepresented communities. The Embassy also places emphasis on youth aged 16 to 25, as well as emerging and established professionals and leaders working in the priority fields. In practical terms, competitive proposals will likely show a strong plan for reaching these groups, removing barriers to participation, and producing measurable public diplomacy outcomes such as new partnerships, improved skills, greater mutual understanding, or sustained networks.

Eligibility is intentionally broad across the nonprofit, public, and individual spheres. Applications are open to Swiss, Liechtenstein, and U.S. entities and individuals, including registered nonprofit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society or NGO groups with relevant programming experience), individuals, non-profit or governmental educational institutions, and governmental institutions. The Embassy explicitly notes that it especially encourages and will prioritize applications from alumni of U.S. State Department exchange programs who currently live in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, which is a signal that alumni-led initiatives, alumni networks, and projects that leverage exchange experience may receive favorable consideration. At the same time, for-profit and commercial entities are not eligible to apply, so proposals need to be clearly non-commercial in purpose and structure.

The application window for this specific posting lists an original closing date of August 30, 2024, and applicants are directed to consult the full program statement on the Embassy website for complete requirements, proposal formatting, and any mandatory compliance or reporting expectations. Overall, this is a small-grants public diplomacy opportunity designed to fund practical, partnership-oriented projects with an unmistakable U.S. connection, strong local relevance in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, and clear alignment with the Embassy's priorities around information integrity, inclusive participation, skills and apprenticeship exchange, and entrepreneurship-driven collaboration.

• The U.S. Mission to Switzerland in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. EMBASSY TO SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SECTION 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 2024-07-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-30. (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 $12,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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