OPEN CFDA 19.040 ↗ Competitive Grant Competitive ~100h typical effort

Notice of Funding Opportunity 2026 – Lebanon

🏛 U.S. Mission to Lebanon

✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026

⏰ Deadline
Aug 7, 2026 in 22 days
💰 Award amount
$100K – $250K
📊 Total program funding
$500K
🎯 Expected awards
2 recipients
📍 Scope
International

Can you apply?

This grant is for Lebanese not-for-profit organizations working on digital literacy and countering false narratives. Eligible applicants include think tanks and civil society organizations based in Lebanon. All programs must include an American element, connection with U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions. Projects should strengthen local understanding of U.S. peace and stabilization efforts in the region.

Geographic scope is Lebanon only. Programs must measure results through comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plans. Applicants should identify target audiences and design data collection strategies.

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Program description

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Beirut, Lebanon announces an open competition to implement programs that promote U.S. priorities and strengthen ties between the United States and Lebanon. U.S. priorities include highlighting U.S.-led peace and stabilization efforts and advancing digital literacy to identify and counter false adversarial narratives and claims. All programs must include an American element, or connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Please follow all instructions below.


Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) invites proposals for programs that support the following U.S. Embassy Beirut priority program area:

·      Advance digital literacy, the use of artificial intelligence tools, and other instruments and forums to identify and counter false adversarial narratives and claims.

Applicants are expected to identify their target audience, scope of work and effectively measure the results of their programs throughout the implementation period. This includes designing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan, detailing how the project’s performance will be tracked over time, and outlining the approach and data collection strategies to be utilized. PDS encourages project ideas that acknowledge the United States as Lebanon’s committed partner, reinforce expectations of mutual responsibility in addressing and overcoming challenges, and highlight the built-in elements that constitute the building blocks of American excellence (i.e. innovation, education, culture, and creativity).

Project Goal:  Strengthen local public understanding of U.S.-led peace and stabilization efforts, and its role as a partner committed to security, economic opportunity, and responsible regional leadership.

Project Objectives: PDS welcomes project ideas that advance one of the following objectives.

Objective:

  • Advance digital literacy, the use of artificial intelligence tools, and other instruments and forums to identify and counter false adversarial narratives and claims.
  • Programs that advance digital literacy among local audiences and/or knowledge-based institutions to identify and counter false information.
  • Programs that leverage artificial intelligence tools and platforms to identify, analyze, and counter false adversarial narratives that undermine Lebanon’s stability.
  • Programs that promote the United States as a credible partner, and strategic enabler, in resolving conflict in Lebanon and reaching a peace agreement.

 

  • Priority Outcome(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas.
  • Increased capabilities and skills among identified target audiences to recognize and counter false narratives while protecting free speech and countering censorship.
  • Reduced acceptance of false narratives that portray U.S.-mediated engagements as arbitrary, destabilizing, or disengaged.
  • Increased local recognition of the United States’ leadership and positive role in stabilizing Lebanon.
  • Increased accurate descriptions of U.S. strategic priorities and policy objectives by Lebanese knowledge-based institutions and stakeholders.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants

How to apply

Application links

Key dates & requirements

Required documents

  • Project Narrative/Proposal
  • Budget and Budget Narrative
  • Organizational background and capacity statement
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
  • Evidence of American partnership or expert involvement

Program contact

Funding track record

Recent awards under CFDA 19.040 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.

106
awards (3 yrs)
$80M
total funded
74
unique recipients
$752K
average award

Top 10 Largest Recent Awards

  1. $4,682,072
  2. $3,371,312
  3. $2,650,000
  4. $2,446,525
  5. $2,050,500
  6. $1,861,451
  7. $1,700,000
  8. $1,565,795
  9. $1,500,000
  10. $1,480,000

Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.

Funding history

Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.040). How funding has trended year over year.

2018 $129,428,262
2019 est. $34,549,598
2020 $129,979,440
2021 $128,999,999

FAQ

Who can apply for this grant?

Lebanese not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, and NGOs can apply. All projects must include connection with American experts or institutions.

What is the deadline and funding amount?

Deadline is August 7, 2026. Awards range from $100,000 to $250,000.

What types of programs are funded?

Programs that advance digital literacy, counter false narratives, and promote U.S. role in Lebanon's stability and peace efforts.

Is cost-sharing required?

No cost-sharing is required for this grant.

What is the priority focus area?

Digital literacy and using AI tools to identify and counter false adversarial narratives and claims.

💡 Tips for applicants

  • Clearly define your target audience and explain how they will benefit from digital literacy training or narrative-countering activities.
  • Include robust monitoring and evaluation plans with specific metrics to measure program success and impact over time.
  • Emphasize the American element—explain which U.S. organizations, experts, or institutions will partner with your organization.
  • Demonstrate how your program reinforces U.S. commitment to Lebanon's stability, peace, and economic opportunity.
  • Align your objectives with at least one of the priority outcomes: building counter-narrative skills, reducing acceptance of false claims, or increasing recognition of U.S. leadership role.

⚠️ Common mistakes

Applications fail when the American element is weak or unclear. Vague monitoring plans without specific metrics or data collection methods weaken competitiveness. Projects that ignore the stabilization and peace-building context of U.S.-Lebanon relations often score poorly.

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