Annual Program Statement (APS) For Fiscal Year 2026
🏛 U.S. Mission to Tunisia
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for international public diplomacy programming in Tunisia. Eligible applicants must be Tunisian organizations or U.S. organizations that partner with Tunisian counterparts. All programs must include a meaningful American element: a U.S. speaker, expert, organization, or institution.
Programs must focus on one of five priority areas: economic opportunity and innovation collaboration, science and technology leadership, cultural and educational exchange, or English language instruction. Activities can include lectures, business networking, sports and cultural events, STEM competitions, university partnerships, and professional exchanges.
Geographic preference is given to programs outside Greater Tunis or across multiple governorates. Construction activities are not funded. Awards range from $10,000 to $200,000 with no cost-sharing requirement.
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Program description
The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) at U.S. Embassy Tunis invites results-oriented proposals for programs that foster economic opportunities for U.S. businesses and investors, innovation collaboration, showcase American leadership and excellence in science, technology, culture, the arts, sports, education, and English language, and strengthen ties between the United States and Tunisia in ways that make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence (2026) and 230 years of U.S.-Tunisian friendship (2027).
All proposed programs must include an American element or a connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institutions in ways that promote increased understanding of U.S. policies, perspectives, and society and/or celebrate U.S. culture and values.
Proposals that include programming outside Greater Tunis or across multiple governorates and/or promote increased collaboration and networking among alumni of U.S. government programs are encouraged.
Examples of possible PD small grant proposals include, but are not limited to:
• Subject-matter expert, academic, and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs that include U.S. speakers/experts.
• Programs that connect U.S. companies with Tunisian partners, suppliers, and market opportunities, facilitate business-to-business networking and investment matchmaking, prepare Tunisian startups and established businesses to meet U.S. market standards, enter U.S. markets, and partner with U.S. investors.
• Sports diplomacy, culinary diplomacy, art exhibitions, film festivals, theater, musical theater, musical performances and master classes.
• Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs, including through use of new and immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) technology.
• U.S.-Tunisian University-industry partnerships, including with research or technology parks, that generate mutually beneficial commercialization projects or that create opportunities for U.S. companies in STEM fields and emerging technologies and innovation.
• Hackathons, STEM or Maker Space camps/competitions, or other related hands-on activities that showcase American leadership and excellence in innovation and STEM fields, including but not limited to space exploration, technologies with beneficial applications to daily life developed as a result of NASA initiatives, or that foster target audiences’ artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and readiness.
• University and cultural institution linkages programs that include but are not limited to development and implementation of a course, joint PhD advising, or joint degree program, or the design and teaching of a jointly-led course that includes virtual or in-person instruction from a U.S. professor/expert in fields outlined under Excellence in Education and English Teaching priority outlined in this APS.
• English language programs, including but not limited to teacher training and programs that share innovative American English teaching methodologies, specialized English courses to improve business opportunities and innovation collaboration with U.S. companies, investors, U.S.-Tunisian university-industry partnerships, and foster economic self-reliance among target audiences.
• Podcasts.
• Professional and academic exchanges and programs.
(Note: This funding cannot be used to support construction-related activities. End note.)
Priority Program Areas and Strategic Themes: Proposals must focus on one of the five priority areas outlined below:
- ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Initiatives that expand U.S. commercial and investment opportunities; strengthen U.S. ties with Tunisia’s entrepreneurship ecosystem; promote U.S. entrepreneurial values and practices; and/or share best practices of successful U.S. business partnerships, startups, and investors with the aim of creating economic opportunities for U.S. and Tunisian businesses and investors.
- CELEBRATING AMERICA’S 250thANNIVERSARY AND U.S.-TUNISIAN ENDURING PARTNERSHIP: Initiatives, including innovative, small-scale programming and programming at our American Corners, that:
1) celebrate U.S. scientific breakthroughs, innovation, economic dynamism, sport prowess, agricultural strength, national parks, tourism, public service, freedom of speech or press, and other ideas and partnerships that shaped America’s development during the 250th anniversary year of U.S. Independence (2026) and in honor of the 230th anniversary year of the 1797 treaty of friendship between the U.S. and Tunisia (2027);
2) showcase and share American excellence in visual and performing arts, music, theater, film, and cultural heritage protection, including through artistic and cultural workshops, performances, exhibitions, or other activities, including community service initiatives that bring together Americans and Tunisians during the 250th anniversary year of U.S. Independence (2026) and the 230th anniversary year of the 1797 treaty of friendship between the U.S. and Tunisia (2027);
3) leverage people-to-people or institutional ties through sports or cultural diplomacy initiatives to increase the Tunisian public’s awareness and understanding of the history and benefits of the over two centuries of U.S.-Tunisian friendship, trade, and security cooperation.
- INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Initiatives that encourage artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and readiness in Tunisia through use of U.S. AI platforms and technologies; raise awareness and promote collaboration on projects related to the 2027 solar eclipse; and expand U.S. ties to Tunisia’s innovation ecosystem through research collaboration and university-industry partnerships, including research and technology parks, to generate mutually beneficial commercialization projects that create opportunities for U.S. companies in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), including but not limited to cybersecurity, space, energy, water security, food security, smart agriculture, health technology, and AI.
- MEGA DECADE OF SPORTS: Initiatives that leverage the U.S.-hosted 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, in ways that strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Tunisia, promote American values, and demonstrate U.S. economic strength, infrastructure, and excellence and leadership in sports and tourism.
- Excellence in EDUCATION AND ENGLISH TEACHING: Initiatives that showcase American leadership and excellence in education and English teaching in public or private institutions; provide specialized English courses to improve opportunities with U.S. companies/investors for target audiences; and foster innovative collaboration between U.S. and Tunisian higher education institutions to enhance Tunisian participants’ understanding of U.S. culture, values, history, and policies, including in American studies, culture, and literature, freedom of speech, the arts and creative industries (film, music, design thinking, and cultural entrepreneurship), cultural heritage preservation, tourism and hospitality, municipal management, water and/or waste management, urban design, and STEM fields.
Program and application details are available in the TUNIS APS FY2026
Questions should be addressed to PASTunisSmallGrants@state.gov
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Completed application form or cover letter
- Project narrative/proposal statement
- Budget and budget narrative
- Evidence of Tunisian organization registration or partner organization credentials
- Résumé or biography of key U.S. expert(s) involved
- Letters of support from U.S. and Tunisian partners
Program contact
- 👤 Kaouthar Ben Mohamed Grantor
- 📧 benmohamedk@state.gov
- 📞 0021671107266
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?
Tunisian organizations or organizations with Tunisian partners. All programs must include a U.S. speaker, expert, organization, or institution. Partners must promote American policies, perspectives, culture, or values.
What types of programs are eligible?
Business networking, STEM competitions, cultural events, university partnerships, English language training, sports diplomacy, and professional exchanges. Programs must connect U.S. and Tunisian stakeholders in one of the five priority areas.
When is the deadline?
June 8, 2026. This is a fixed deadline with no rolling applications.
What are the funding limits?
Awards range from $10,000 to $200,000. No cost-sharing is required.
Does this grant fund construction projects?
No. Construction activities are not eligible. Focus on programming, events, exchanges, and partnerships instead.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Include a clear American element or partnership in your proposal. The embassy must see direct U.S. involvement or expertise.
- Emphasize geographic reach beyond Tunis or partnerships across multiple governorates. This strengthens competitiveness.
- Connect your program to at least one of the five priority areas: economic opportunity, innovation, STEM leadership, cultural exchange, or English language education.
- Propose measurable outcomes and clear deliverables. Strong results-oriented proposals are favored.
- Consider alumni networks of U.S. government exchange programs. Proposals that engage these audiences score higher.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lacking a clear U.S. connection or partner. Programs must involve American expertise or institutions. Requests for construction or infrastructure development. This grant supports programming only, not capital projects. Vague outcomes or unmeasurable goals. Specify what participants will learn or achieve.
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