U.S. - Tanzania Tech Challenge | PDS DAR FY24 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS DAR FY24 003

The U.S. - Tanzania Tech Challenge is a grant opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam (Funding Opportunity Number: PDS DAR FY24 003) that funds technology-driven ideas designed to strengthen civic engagement, improve media and digital literacy, and support information integrity in Tanzania. The competition is looking for practical, innovative tools and programs that help people better access reliable information, spot misinformation, and participate more actively in their communities. The Embassy is especially interested in solutions that can reach rural and underserved areas, including efforts delivered in local languages or designed for communities with limited media access.

Projects can take many forms as long as they are tech-based and clearly tied to the challenge goals. Examples mentioned in the notice include education and training programs, gaming and interactive learning platforms, fact-checking tools, content authentication or provenance tools (including approaches like blockchain-based verification), synthetic media and deepfake detection, social listening, messaging-based solutions, and other consumer-facing awareness or media literacy products. The problem areas the program highlights include limited access to verified information outside major urban centers, low levels of media literacy that make communities more vulnerable to manipulation, and the need for accessible digital training resources that can bridge cultural and information gaps.

The grant is built around two core objectives. First, it aims to identify and financially support Tanzanian tech companies (and other eligible Tanzanian entities) as they develop and expand solutions that boost civic participation and improve the integrity of Tanzania's information environment. Second, it aims to build sustained, constructive collaboration among Tanzanian tech firms and key stakeholders such as educational institutions, media organizations, civil society groups, and government actors, with the idea that long-term impact depends on strong partnerships rather than stand-alone tools.

Funding is provided as a grant, with awards dependent on funds being available. Individual awards will not exceed USD 250,000, and the Embassy anticipates making about three awards. The opportunity is open until 8:59 PM UTC on August 13, 2024, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis up to that deadline. All proposed project activities must take place outside the United States and its territories, and submissions must focus only on Tanzania; proposals centered on other countries or locations are disqualified.

Eligibility is restricted to Tanzanian entities, including Tanzanian not-for-profit organizations (such as NGOs, civil society organizations, and think tanks), Tanzanian public and private educational institutions, and Tanzanian for-profit organizations. Each organization may submit only one proposal; if an organization submits more than one, all of its submissions become ineligible. Applications must be submitted in English and emailed by the deadline, following all instructions in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (including formatting, length, and required components).

A major administrative requirement is that applicant organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration to receive an award, and the notice warns that SAM registration or renewal can take 4 to 8 weeks. Sub-grantees do not need a UEI at the time of application, but they will need one before funds can be directed to them. In limited cases, exemptions from UEI and SAM.gov requirements may be granted, such as when an applicant’s identity must be protected for safety reasons or when urgent circumstances prevent registration before award; any exemption request must be emailed to the point of contact at least two weeks before the deadline and must be approved by the Grants Officer.

Applications are submitted by email to GECTechChallenge@state.gov, and correspondence should reference the title "2024 Tanzania Tech Challenge." Required application materials include a one-page cover page/executive summary, a point-of-contact table, a list of program partners and sub-awardees and their roles, key personnel details (including roles, qualifications, and time allocations), a list of funding sources, and a main proposal narrative capped at eight pages (not counting the cover page and attachments). The proposal needs to explain the technology and approach clearly, including a short 250-word summary, a 280-character "tweet-length" description, which category the tool fits into, the origin and measurable objectives of the idea, intended users and target communities, organizational track record (including any prior U.S. government funding), an implementation timeline, a monitoring and evaluation approach, and a plan for sustainability beyond the grant period. It also asks for technical and operational specifics such as system design, integration with other platforms, speed of deployment, reporting/analytics features, what differentiates the tool from similar products, any government experience, current customers, and willingness to partner locally.

Applicants must also include standard federal forms, including SF-424 and SF-424A, with SF-424B required for individuals and for organizations that are not registered in SAM.gov. Proposals are reviewed in a multi-stage process and scored on a 100-point scale by the Embassy Public Diplomacy Section with support from other State Department colleagues and subject matter experts as needed. Only successful applicants are contacted, award decisions remain at the discretion of the U.S. government, and the Embassy reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. Awardees must sign a grant agreement and submit program and financial reports as required, and they may only begin incurring costs on or after the official start date shown on the signed award document.

• The U.S. Mission to Tanzania in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. - Tanzania Tech Challenge" 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 2024-06-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-13. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PDS DAR FY24 003

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