Call for Applications: Advancing U.S.-Oman Partnerships Program

U.S. Embassy Muscat’s Public Affairs Section invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural, educational, professional, and scientific ties between the United States and Oman through programming that highlights shared values, strengthens people-to-people ties and institutional linkages, and promotes bilateral cooperation.

Objectives

• Increase People-to-People Engagement:
  • Facilitate meaningful interactions between American and Omani participants that lead to sustainable connections and long-term collaboration.
• Promote Shared Values and Understanding:
  • Advance appreciation of U.S. values and perspectives while encouraging dialogue about shared goals and challenges.
• Develop Skills and Knowledge:
  • Enhance participants’ professional, educational, and leadership capabilities in targeted fields, such as STEM, entrepreneurship, or cultural preservation.

Priority Areas

• Cultural and Artistic Exchange: Programs that highlight shared cultural heritage, support artistic collaboration, or promote mutual appreciation through music, art, literature, or other creative expressions. These initiatives may also include efforts to preserve and revitalize cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible.
• English Language and Education: Initiatives to enhance American English language skills, improve teaching methodologies, and foster collaboration between educational institutions in the U.S. and Oman.
• Entrepreneurship and Economic Development: Programs that encourage innovation, support small business development, promote workforce readiness, and enhance trade relations with the United States.
• STEM and Innovation: Projects that promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, foster innovation, and facilitate joint research and technological collaboration with the United States or American companies

Funding Information

• Total Available Funding: $100,000 (subject to availability of funds).
• Awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $100,000 (subject to availability of funds).
• Length of performance period: 3 to 12 months.

Eligible Activities

• Workshops, seminars, or training sessions featuring U.S. experts or practitioners.
• Cultural or artistic collaborations that engage diverse audiences.
• Study tours, exchanges, or site visits to showcase best practices and encourage institutional linkages.
• Joint research initiatives or projects that address shared challenges.
• Public performances or exhibitions that highlight U.S.-Omani partnerships.

Ineligible Activities

• Partisan political activities.
• Charitable donations or direct aid (e.g., food drives, scholarships).
• Construction, renovation, or purchase of property.
• Purchase of alcoholic beverages.
• Profit-making ventures.
• Entertainment (e.g., receptions, parties, purely social events).
• Equipment purchases unrelated to program activities.
• Projects promoting religious doctrine or practices.
• Fundraising campaigns.
• Lobbying or influencing legislation.
• Excessive or unapproved travel costs.
• Academic research without programmatic goals.
• Projects unrelated to Embassy/DoS mission goals.
• Duplication of funding from other U.S. government sources.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
  • Public and private educational institutions
  • Individuals
  • Eligible Public International Organizations and Governmental Institutions.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.