Annual Program Statemen PAS US Consulate Juarez | DOS MEX PD CJ 2019 1

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS MEX PD CJ 2019 1

The Annual Program Statement (APS) from the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, administered through Public Affairs Section (PAS) Juarez, is a small grants opportunity meant to deepen cultural ties between the United States and communities in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. The core goal is public diplomacy: supporting cultural and exchange activities that highlight shared values, encourage mutual understanding, and build practical cooperation between people and institutions on both sides of the border. A central requirement is that every proposal include a clear American element, such as involvement from U.S. experts, U.S. organizations, U.S. institutions, or programming that directly connects participants to U.S. policy perspectives and cultural context. In other words, projects are expected to do more than deliver local benefits; they should also create meaningful engagement with U.S. ideas, experiences, and partners.

The program is open to a wide range of cultural and educational programming formats. Typical examples listed include academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops; joint performances and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation efforts; and professional or academic exchanges. While these examples help illustrate the intent, the opportunity is broadly framed around cultural and exchange programming, so proposals can be creative as long as they fit the public diplomacy purpose and include a U.S. connection that is more than symbolic.

PAS Juarez identifies several priority areas that will guide which proposals are most competitive. One priority is fostering a culture of lawfulness and strengthening rule-of-law values among new generations, which can include youth-focused civic education, ethics, community engagement, and programming that reinforces trust in institutions and legal norms. Another priority is entrepreneurship and U.S.-Mexico trade partnerships, including exchanges, collaboration, and joint ventures that help connect local innovators and small businesses with U.S. expertise and market practices. A third priority emphasizes educational exchanges and partnerships, especially in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), with an emphasis on programming that can improve outcomes for at-risk youth and strengthen grassroots communities and movements. A fourth priority supports activities that increase mutual understanding between U.S. and Mexican communities, including sports diplomacy, English language programming, environmental protection, arts, and other cultural expressions, with a preference for content that shares U.S. values, history, and culture. A fifth priority focuses on topics tied to democratic principles and rights, such as freedom of the press, protection of intellectual property, responsible and effective use of social media and communications, and the promotion of human rights.

While the announcement references participants and audiences as a required part of proposal design, the overarching intent points toward public-facing and community-engaged audiences in Chihuahua, including youth and emerging leaders, educators and students, entrepreneurs, civil society actors, cultural practitioners, journalists and communicators, and other groups who can benefit from sustained cross-border engagement. Strong proposals typically define their target audience precisely, explain why that audience matters for the stated priority area, and show how participants will interact with U.S. counterparts or U.S. content in a concrete way (for example, U.S. guest experts, institutional partnerships, joint productions, mentorship, or exchange components).

The opportunity also clearly lists what it will not fund. Ineligible activities include partisan political programs, charitable or development assistance, construction projects, programs supporting specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying for particular legislation or government programs, and scientific research. The grant is also not intended to underwrite an organization s internal growth or institutional development as the primary purpose, and it will not support projects that duplicate existing programs. In practical terms, applicants need to show that the project is a distinct, time-bound public diplomacy effort with measurable outcomes, not routine operations, capital improvements, or a continuation of an existing initiative without a clear new public diplomacy value-add.

Funding comes from FY2019 Public Diplomacy funds from the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Mexico). Awards are expected to be relatively small and flexible: individual award amounts can range from as low as $250 up to a ceiling of $50,000, with total funding for the opportunity listed at $50,000. The program anticipates making approximately five to ten awards, depending on the size of selected proposals. Funding may be provided as a standard grant or as a fixed amount award, and the performance period for projects can range from 3 to 24 months, with an expectation that all proposed activities are completed within 24 months or less.

Timing details matter for this APS because it is tied to a specific fiscal year funding source. The anticipated program start date is listed as 01/01/2019, and the notice states that funding is subject to availability. The opportunity originally showed a closing date of December 31, 2020, but it also notes an important constraint for FY2019 funds: to be supported with FY2019 funding, the grant must be approved before September 15, 2019. Applicants therefore needed to plan submissions and approvals around that internal funding deadline rather than relying only on the posted closing date.

Finally, the announcement emphasizes that applicants should review the full Annual Program Statement materials before submitting. That typically means the detailed guidance in the related documents (application requirements, selection criteria, budget rules, reporting expectations, and allowable costs) is essential for shaping a compliant proposal. In short, this is a small grants program designed to support U.S.-linked cultural and educational engagement in Chihuahua, with priority themes centered on rule of law, entrepreneurship and trade ties, STEAM and youth opportunity, mutual understanding through cultural exchange, and media freedom and rights-related issues, all delivered through practical, collaborative programming that avoids political campaigning, construction, fundraising, or research.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Mexico in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), education, environment, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Annual Program Statemen PAS US Consulate Juarez" 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 Apr 03, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 31, 2020 To receive FY2019 funds your grant must be approved before September 15, 2019. (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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