Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.–AU Trade and Investment
🏛 U.S. Mission to Ethiopia
Can you apply?
This grant is for U.S.-based organizations that can facilitate trade and investment between American companies and African markets. Eligible applicants include business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions, and other stakeholders with direct connections to U.S. businesses. Programs must advance U.S. commercial interests, expand opportunities for U.S. companies in African markets, and promote U.S. best practices. Projects should target business-to-business engagement, not individual companies.
This grant is for U.S.-based organizations that can facilitate trade and investment between American companies and African markets. Eligible applicants include business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions, and other stakeholders with direct connections to U.S. businesses. Programs must advance U.S. commercial interests, expand opportunities for U.S. companies in African markets, and promote U.S. best practices. Projects should target business-to-business engagement, not individual companies.
Program description
The African Union is a market of nearly 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of over $3 trillion across its member states. Despite the enormous U.S.-Africa trade potential, barriers like limited awareness of American business practices, insufficient business networks connecting U.S. and African firms, and market access obstacles that directly limit trade and investment flows has kept trade levels low. Our previous commercial diplomacy initiatives show that direct engagement between U.S. and African companies, supported by U.S. commercial expertise, can drive measurable increases in business partnerships and investment capacity.The U.S. Mission to the African Union (USAU) public diplomacy section invites proposals that advance U.S. commercial diplomacy by strengthening U.S.-Africa trade and investment ties and expanding opportunities for U.S. companies in African markets. Programs must clearly support U.S. economic interest, expand opportunities for U.S. businesses, and promote U.S. best practices while delivering mutual economic benefit.The target audience include business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions and other stakeholders that can facilitate and expand U.S. business engagement.Project goal: the goal of this program is to deepen U.S.-Africa economic ties by expanding trade and investment connections. The program objectives include:• Expanding U.S.–Africa trade and investment connections.• Promoting innovation and technology transfer using U.S. solutions.• Increasing economic opportunities in ways that support U.S. commercial engagementPossible activities may include business matchmaking, U.S. experts led commercial focusses workshops, sector-specific engagements designed to include U.S. market presence, and activities that address market access constraints affecting U.S. businesses.Projects must show measurable outcomes such as new business linkages, MOUs, commercial networks and investment flows. Succes
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for U.S.-based organizations that can facilitate trade and investment between American companies and African markets. Eligible applicants include business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions, and other stakeholders with direct connections to U.S. businesses. Programs must advance U.S. commercial interests, expand opportunities for U.S. companies in African markets, and promote U.S. best practices. Projects should target business-to-business engagement, not individual companies.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Evidence of organizational capacity
- Letters of support from U.S. business partners
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. Mission to Ethiopia
- 📧 AddUSAUPDGrants@state.gov
- 📞 703-516-1684
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
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$4,682,072
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$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.
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions, and organizations that facilitate U.S.-Africa business engagement. You must demonstrate capacity to connect U.S. companies with African partners.
What geographic area does this cover?
Programs focus on African Union member states and U.S.-Africa trade relationships. Activities can involve engagement across the continent.
What types of activities are funded?
Business matchmaking, workshops led by U.S. experts, sector-specific engagements showcasing U.S. solutions, and activities that remove market access barriers for U.S. businesses.
What outcomes must I demonstrate?
You need measurable results like new business linkages, MOUs, expanded commercial networks, and investment flows between U.S. and African firms.
What is the typical funding range?
Awards range from $5,000 to $25,000, with $40,000 total available. Competition is limited by the small pool.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus your proposal on direct U.S. business benefit and commercial outcomes, not general development work or capacity building.
- Include specific metrics and measurement plans showing how you'll track new business linkages, MOUs, and investment activity.
- Demonstrate existing relationships or networks with both U.S. companies and African market stakeholders to show implementation capacity.
- Emphasize innovation and technology transfer using proven U.S. solutions and best practices.
- Address real market access barriers that currently block U.S. businesses from entering or expanding in African markets.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals focus on African economic development instead of U.S. commercial interests. Projects lack clear measurement of business outcomes and trade flows. Applicants underestimate the importance of demonstrating existing U.S. business relationships and implementation capacity.
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