Opportunity Information: Apply for SMK80020PAS02
The Annual Program Statement (Funding Opportunity Number SMK80020PAS02) is a U.S. Department of State public diplomacy grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje (Public Affairs Section). Its core purpose is to support creative projects that strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and North Macedonia and that visibly advance the bilateral relationship. Awards are offered on a discretionary basis, using either a grant or a cooperative agreement mechanism, under CFDA 19.040. The opportunity was created December 17, 2019, with an original closing date of August 1, 2020, and it anticipated making around 10 awards with a maximum award size (ceiling) of $20,000.
The Embassy is looking for proposals aligned with several broad themes. Priority areas include entrepreneurship and innovation efforts, particularly those that connect to culture and the arts and encourage mutual appreciation of artistic work from both countries. It also emphasizes diversity and the empowerment of youth and underserved communities, as well as programming that supports North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration process. In practice, the Embassy is signaling interest in projects that build people-to-people ties, elevate shared values, and create credible, public-facing engagement around U.S.-North Macedonia connections.
Examples of activities considered appropriate include youth engagement, leadership, and education initiatives, especially those that create exchanges or structured linkages between young people in North Macedonia and the United States. The program also supports bringing an American expert or performer to North Macedonia, and it welcomes conferences, workshops, forums, panel discussions, and master classes focused on American themes or on issues of mutual interest. Additional eligible formats include exhibitions featuring American works or American themes, cultural programs with a clear focus on youth and underserved communities, and television or social media programming that advances the same public diplomacy objectives.
At the same time, the program outlines several common exclusions to help applicants avoid misaligned proposals. It does not typically fund printing or promotion of books or manuscripts, travel to the United States for professional development, or ongoing salary costs and office equipment. It also generally will not pay to finish activities that have already started using other funds. Projects aimed mainly at promoting a local arts scene without a clear U.S. public diplomacy connection are discouraged, as are commercial or trade activities and fundraising campaigns. Importantly, the Embassy excludes projects that are political in nature or that could be seen as partisan, including support for candidates, single-party electoral campaigns, or political party activities. The opportunity also notes that individual travel to conferences and meetings is not a priority, and it does not support social welfare projects or activities that support religious activities.
Overall, this grant is best understood as a small-grants public diplomacy program designed to spark tangible, collaborative programming that highlights U.S. expertise, culture, and values in ways that resonate with North Macedonian audiences, particularly young people and underserved groups, while avoiding partisanship, routine operational costs, and projects that are primarily commercial, religious, or social welfare oriented.Apply for SMK80020PAS02
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Annual Program Statement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 17, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 01, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: U.S. Embassy Skopje Annual Program Statement (SMK80020PAS02)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State public diplomacy funding opportunity offered through the U.S. Embassy in Skopje (Public Affairs Section). It is issued under the Annual Program Statement (Funding Opportunity Number SMK80020PAS02) and is designed to support creative projects that strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and North Macedonia while visibly advancing the bilateral relationship.
Who is administering the program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, specifically the Public Affairs Section.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to fund public-facing, credible projects that build mutual understanding between the United States and North Macedonia and that clearly and visibly advance U.S.-North Macedonia ties.
What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards may be issued using either a grant or a cooperative agreement mechanism, depending on the Embassy's determination for a given project.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making around 10 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award size (ceiling) was $20,000.
When was the opportunity created and when was it originally set to close?
It was created on December 17, 2019, and the original closing date was August 1, 2020.
What themes or priority areas is the Embassy looking for?
The Embassy is seeking proposals aligned with broad public diplomacy themes, with priorities that include:
- Entrepreneurship and innovation, especially projects connecting these topics to culture and the arts
- Mutual appreciation of artistic work from both the United States and North Macedonia
- Diversity and the empowerment of youth and underserved communities
- Programming that supports North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration process
- People-to-people ties, shared values, and visible engagement around U.S.-North Macedonia connections
What kinds of activities are considered appropriate or eligible?
Examples of activities considered appropriate include:
- Youth engagement, leadership, and education initiatives, especially those creating exchanges or structured linkages between young people in North Macedonia and the United States
- Bringing an American expert or performer to North Macedonia
- Conferences, workshops, forums, panel discussions, and master classes focused on American themes or issues of mutual interest
- Exhibitions featuring American works or American themes
- Cultural programs with a clear focus on youth and underserved communities
- Television or social media programming that advances public diplomacy objectives tied to U.S.-North Macedonia relations
Does the program support youth-focused programming?
Yes. Youth engagement, leadership, and education initiatives are specifically highlighted, especially those that create exchanges or structured linkages between young people in North Macedonia and the United States.
Can a project include an American expert, speaker, or performer?
Yes. The program explicitly lists bringing an American expert or performer to North Macedonia as an appropriate activity type.
Are arts and culture projects eligible?
Yes, particularly when they clearly connect to public diplomacy goals like strengthening mutual understanding, showcasing American works or themes, encouraging mutual appreciation of artistic work from both countries, and engaging youth and underserved communities. Projects mainly promoting a local arts scene without a clear U.S. public diplomacy connection are discouraged.
Are entrepreneurship and innovation projects eligible?
Yes. Entrepreneurship and innovation are priority areas, particularly when tied to culture and the arts and when they support mutual understanding and people-to-people connections between the United States and North Macedonia.
Does the Embassy prioritize projects related to Euro-Atlantic integration?
Yes. Programming that supports North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration process is identified as a priority.
What types of projects are discouraged because they lack a strong U.S. connection?
Projects aimed mainly at promoting a local arts scene without a clear U.S. public diplomacy connection are discouraged. The program emphasizes a visible link to U.S.-North Macedonia mutual understanding and bilateral ties.
What are common costs or activities the program typically does not fund?
The program lists several common exclusions. It does not typically fund:
- Printing or promotion of books or manuscripts
- Travel to the United States for professional development
- Ongoing salary costs
- Office equipment
- Costs to finish activities that have already started using other funds
Is travel to the United States for professional development supported?
No. Travel to the United States for professional development is listed as an item the program does not typically fund.
Does the program fund printing or promoting books and manuscripts?
No. Printing or promotion of books or manuscripts is specifically listed as a common exclusion.
Can the grant be used to pay ongoing salaries or buy office equipment?
Generally no. Ongoing salary costs and office equipment are listed among the common exclusions.
Can the grant be used to complete a project that has already started with other funding?
Generally no. The program notes it generally will not pay to finish activities that have already started using other funds.
Are commercial or trade-focused projects eligible?
No. Commercial or trade activities are excluded, and the program is oriented toward public diplomacy rather than commercial promotion.
Are fundraising campaigns supported?
No. Fundraising campaigns are listed among the discouraged or excluded project types.
Are political or partisan projects eligible?
No. Projects that are political in nature or could be seen as partisan are excluded. This includes support for candidates, single-party electoral campaigns, or political party activities.
Is individual travel to conferences and meetings a priority?
No. The opportunity notes that individual travel to conferences and meetings is not a priority.
Does the program support social welfare projects?
No. Social welfare projects are listed among the types of activities the program does not support.
Does the program support religious activities?
No. Activities that support religious activities are excluded.
What makes a strong proposal for this opportunity?
Based on the program description, strong proposals are those that create tangible, collaborative, public-facing engagement that highlights U.S. expertise, culture, and values in a way that resonates with North Macedonian audiences, especially young people and underserved communities, while clearly avoiding partisanship, routine operational costs, and primarily commercial, religious, or social welfare activities.
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