Annual Program Statement
🏛 U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 3, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and individuals supporting U.S. diplomatic priorities in Zimbabwe. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, think tanks, NGOs, educational institutions, individuals, and public international organizations. For-profit entities cannot apply. Organizations must have a UEI and SAM.gov registration; individuals do not. Applications cannot fund partisan politics, direct social services, construction, religious activities, fundraising, or lobbying.
The grant supports public diplomacy initiatives addressing six priority areas: commercial diplomacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, technology literacy, free speech, and American excellence in education and culture. Proposals should focus on media literacy, independent journalism, anti-disinformation work, or economic development connecting entrepreneurs to U.S. markets.
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Program description
1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives
The Public Diplomacy Section invites proposals for programs that support one of the following U.S. Embassy priority program areas listed below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to propose collaborative approaches and programs that integrate multiple priority areas.
Priority Program Areas/Goals: Applicants may submit a proposal to address one of the program goals below. Proposals should focus on one or more of the priority outcomes, but applicants may also recommend their own objective.
Priority Program Areas:
· Commercial Diplomacy and U.S.-Zimbabwe Trade
· Artificial Intelligence for improved prosperity
· Cybersecurity
· Technology Literacy and Resilience
· Free Speech
· American Excellence in education, media, sports, creative industries, civil society
GOAL 1. FREE SPEECH AND OPEN EXPRESSION
Promote democratic principles including freedom of speech and civic participation; particularly if they share best practices for citizen advocacy or explore the challenges modern media houses face in a digital economy and the ethical standards needed to gain public confidence.
Project Audience(s): Organizations and individuals that reflect American values, policies and priorities
Priority Outcomes(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.
Outcome: A more informed and media-literate Zimbabwean public that can identify and resist disinformation, with stronger independent media institutions operating transparently and ethically. Strengthening independent media in Zimbabwe advances U.S. strategic interests in promoting open, stable societies across Africa.
GOAL 2. ADVANCE U.S.- ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL TIES AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
Advance economic prosperity; particularly connecting social entrepreneurs and the creative community with online marketing tools.
Project Audience(s): Organizations and individuals that reflect American values, policies, and priorities
Priority Outcomes(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.
Outcome: Increased bilateral trade activity, expanded market access for U.S. goods and services, and a growing cohort of Zimbabwean entrepreneurs with direct ties to U.S. businesses and platforms. Deepening commercial relationships with Zimbabwe creates new markets for American exports, strengthens U.S. economic influence in the region, and reduces Zimbabwe’s economic dependence on adversarial partners. This directly supports the America First economic agenda and commercial diplomacy priorities.
GOAL 3. HARNESS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR DEVELOPMENT
Empower Zimbabweans to leverage American innovations in technology, AI, and digital tools, to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods, and improve digital trade opportunities between the United States and Zimbabwe.
Project Audience(s): Organizations and individuals that reflect American values, policies, and priorities.
Priority Outcomes(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.
Outcome: A growing base of Zimbabwean professionals and institutions equipped to adopt, adapt, and deploy emerging American technologies – including AI – for economic and social development, using U.S.-developed platforms and frameworks. Promoting U.S.-developed technology standards and platforms in Zimbabwe expands American technological influence and market share, and builds a digital ecosystem aligned with U.S. values of openness, security, and innovation.
GOAL 4. EXPAND U.S.-ZIMBABWE PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES
Deepen bilateral relationships through targeted workshops, alumni engagement, and exchange partnerships that advance shared solutions and reinforce American values and influence.
Project Audience(s): Organizations and individuals that reflect American values, policies, and priorities.
Priority Outcomes(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.
Outcome: Strengthened alumni networks and new professional cohorts with sustained engagement with U.S. counterparts, resulting in collaborative projects, cross-sector partnerships, and ongoing people-to-people dialogue. Strong professional networks create durable channels of U.S. influence and goodwill in Zimbabwe. Alumni of U.S. exchange programs consistently demonstrate greater alignment with U.S. foreign policy interests and serve as credible advocates for American businesses, institutions, and values within their professional and social communities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project proposal/narrative
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity statement
- Evidence of SAM.gov registration (for organizations)
- Statement of work with clear roles for sub-contractors (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Reginah Mawere Grantor
- 📧 PublicDiplomacyGrants-ZIM@state.gov
- 📞 02428677011000
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.040 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$4,682,072
-
$3,371,312
-
$2,650,000
-
$2,446,525
-
$2,050,500
-
$1,861,451
-
$1,700,000
-
$1,565,795
-
$1,500,000
-
$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?
Nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, educational institutions, public international organizations, and individuals are eligible. For-profit entities cannot apply.
Do I need a SAM.gov registration?
Organizations must have a UEI and valid SAM.gov registration. Individuals do not need either.
What activities does this grant fund?
Public diplomacy programs addressing free speech, commercial ties, AI, cybersecurity, technology literacy, and American excellence. Projects must reflect U.S. values and policies.
Can this fund direct humanitarian or social services?
No. The grant excludes charitable services, medical support, construction, religious activities, and partisan politics.
How competitive is this funding?
Awards range $10,000–$15,000 with $30,000 total available. Competition varies with proposal quality and alignment to embassy priorities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your proposal explicitly to one of the six priority areas. The embassy clearly signals these focus areas as central to evaluation.
- Design projects with multiplier effects: connect local organizations to U.S. institutions, platforms, or expertise. The grant favors collaborative approaches.
- For media/free speech proposals, emphasize anti-disinformation training and transparent journalism practices, not general media funding.
- For economic development proposals, focus on connecting entrepreneurs to online markets and U.S. business networks, not direct service provision.
- Check that your organization has an active UEI and SAM.gov registration at least two weeks before the deadline. Incomplete registrations cause rejections.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting proposals that fund direct humanitarian services, medical support, or charity work instead of public diplomacy. Applying as a for-profit entity or with unclear sub-contracting arrangements. Proposing partisan political programs or activities that do not reflect stated U.S. policy priorities.
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