Grant Programs

Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Embassy Kigali grants programs.

The Embassy does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding. The U.S. Embassy posts notice of funding opportunities (NOFO) on https://www.grants.gov/ and https://rw.usembassy.gov/embassy/kigali/grants/. Please note that all requests for funding must be received through an open competition, follow the guidelines listed in the NOFO, and must be submitted using the embassy’s application form.

We encourage you to review the current opportunities and apply through a NOFO if your request is eligible. Opportunities change throughout the year, so please follow the embassy on social media and continue to check the website for current opportunities.

For a complete listing of current U.S. government funding opportunities, please visit https://www.grants.gov/.

Current U.S. Embassy Kigali Grant Opportunities

Name of grant	Description	Deadline
PDS Annual Program Statement.	The U.S. Embassy in Kigali, Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an open competition for initiatives that promote educational and cultural engagement and foster mutual understanding between the United States and Rwanda. The Embassy seeks projects designed to further the development of Rwanda’s future leaders, build the capacity of Rwandan institutions, and promote awareness and understanding of shared U.S. and Rwandan values. Find more details on the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications must be submitted using the form: “Kigali PD Small Grant Application Form”. Submissions in any other format will not be reviewed.	May 31, 2023
Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (ASSHF).	The U.S Embassy Kigali of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a program (or programs) to support their local communities. Please carefully follow all instructions below. The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise two-page statement of interest designed to clearly communicate program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decision(s) are made. The embassy will not consider SOIs exceeding the two-page limit. The deadline for SOI submission is May 8, 2023, at midnight Central Africa Time. Find more details on the Notice of Funding Opportunity.	May 8, 2023

Closed U.S. Embassy Kigali Grant Opportunities (Expired)

Name of grant	Description	Deadline
Africa Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF) – Supporting Investigative Journalism in Rwanda	U.S. Embassy Kigali and the U.S. Department of State announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to promote responsive governance and accountability with respect to local communities’ priorities by providing training and support for more thorough investigative journalism via a variety of platforms. For details, please carefully follow all instructions provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).	August 20, 2022 (Expired)
Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund	U.S. Embassy Kigali and the U.S. Department of State announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to support their local communities. All projects should be community based, locally initiated, and foster community self-reliance. Please carefully follow all instructions provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Cover Sheet	July 25, 2022 (Expired)
U.S. College Preparatory Program	The Public Diplomacy Section of the Embassy of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda (PAS Kigali) announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out the U.S. college preparatory program. This program will assist academically qualified and highly motivated low and middle income students in Rwanda who are good candidates for financial assistance from U.S. colleges and universities but lack financial resources to cover upfront costs of obtaining admission, as well as access to information to better their educational future. For details, please carefully follow all instructions provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).	June 30, 2022 (Expired)
PAS Annual Program Statement	The Public Diplomacy Section of the Embassy of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda (PAS Kigali) is pleased to announce that we are accepting grants proposals for our FY22 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions provided in the Annual Program Statement.	June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Youth Leadership Mentoring Program	The Public Diplomacy Section of the Embassy of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda (PAS Kigali) announces an open competition for Rwandan organizations to submit proposals for a year-long mentorship program t promote youth participation in community service, volunteerism, good governance, and citizen-centered governance initiatives. Under this project, a grantee will collaborate with PAS Kigali to build upon the citizenship participation skills of a cohort of Rwandan youth leaders so they may follow their dreams to constructively engage in policy processes at the community level or other levels. For details please read the full notice of funding opportunity.	May 30, 2022 (Expired)
Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)	The Public Diplomacy Section of the Embassy of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda (PAS Kigali) announces an open competition for organizations to submit proposals to carry out the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program, which promotes women’s empowerment through the “DreamBuilder: Helping Women Entrepreneurs Transform Ideas into Enterprise” online platform. Under this project, a grantee will collaborate with PAS Kigali to host sessions with aspiring women entrepreneurs between the ages of 20-35. Successful applicants will include workshops/sessions to be conducted by expert facilitator(s) and will employ the DreamBuilder online entrepreneurial skill building course, which was designed specifically for women. For details, read the full notice of funding opportunity.	May 26, 2022 (Expired)
Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund	The U.S. Embassy in Kigali of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to support their local communities by 1) providing assistive services to people with disabilities, 2) improving access to clean water, or 3) strengthening income-generating activities by using innovative products (high-tech or low-tech) or adding value to products. Grants may range from 1,000 USD to 15,000 USD. Organizations comprised of and supporting people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For details, please carefully read the Notice of Funding Opportunity.	August 17, 2021 (Expired)
Advocacy on Expropriation Compensation in Rwanda	The U.S. Embassy in Kigali announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to improve expropriation and compensation processes and practices by engaging the Rwandan government institutions involved in expropriation, increasing citizens’ understanding of their rights in cases of expropriation, and establishing a mechanism to assist poor citizens to challenge land valuations in cases of expropriation. The goal of the project is to empower citizens to advocate for their individual land rights related to expropriation and advocate for broader policy and procedural changes as needed. For details, please carefully read the Notice of Funding Opportunity.	August 9, 2021 (Expired)
Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund	The U.S. Embassy in Kigali of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to improve fiscal transparency of the central government and state-owned enterprises. The overall objective of the grant is to expand the amount of publicly available budget information and increase the public’s capacity to analyze it. On the supply side, the project will seek to encourage the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the Parliament, and local governments to make pre- and post-budget enactment information available. It will also aim to encourage the government to provide feedback on inputs from the public. On the demand side, the project will strengthen the capacity of CSOs, media, and community-based institutions to engage in budget preparation and demand accountability. For details, please carefully read the Notice of Funding Opportunity.	August 3, 2021 (Expired)
PAS Annual Program Statement	The U.S. Embassy Kigali Public Diplomacy Section (PAS) is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions provided in the Annual Program Statement.	June 30, 2021 (Expired)
U.S. College Preparatory Course 2022	U.S. Embassy Kigali, Rwanda will fund a university preparatory course for academically qualified and highly motivated students in Rwanda. The college preparatory program will assist low and middle income students who are good candidates for financial assistance from U.S. colleges and universities but lack the financial resources to cover upfront cost of obtaining admission. The EducationUSA Advising Center at U.S. Embassy Kigali works with the students through regularly scheduled meetings and seminars to assist them throughout the application process to secure admission and scholarships to attend colleges and universities in the United States. For details, read carefully the NOFO.	May 31, 2021 (Expired)
Facilitating Virtual Access to U.S. Embassy Kigali Programs	This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity soliciting proposals from organizations that seek to assist Rwandan youth, women, persons with disabilities, and other audiences to have virtual access to U.S. Embassy programs. Please carefully read this Notice of Funding Opportunity in its entirety and follow instructions to apply.	January 30, 2021 (Expired)
English for American Spaces youth patrons	The U.S. Embassy Kigali Public Diplomacy Section (PAS) invites requests for funding for programs to teach English to U.S. Embassy American Center youth patrons while at the same time strengthening ties between the United States and Rwanda. Successful requests for funding will offer English instruction for six months to one year in our American Center.	August 15, 2020 (Expired)
U.S. College Preparatory Course 2021	The U.S. Embassy Kigali Public Diplomacy Section (PAS) announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a college preparatory program which will assist low and middle income students who are good candidates for financial assistance from U.S. colleges and universities but lack the financial resources to cover upfront cost of obtaining admission. The college preparatory course includes programs that support preparation for the SAT, TOEFL, and essay writing skills, key components of college access and a robust measure of college readiness among Rwandan high school students.	July 22, 2020 (Expired)