U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation | PD LUS AFCP FY21

Opportunity Information: Apply for PD LUS AFCP FY21

The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant opportunity, administered through the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka in partnership with the Cultural Heritage Center in the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, invites proposals to support the preservation of cultural heritage. This funding is positioned as a public diplomacy and foreign policy tool, meaning applicants are expected to show not only that a heritage resource needs preservation, but also that the work advances broader U.S. government interests and relationships, including alignment with the U.S. Integrated Country Strategy (ICS), bilateral agreements, or related U.S. foreign policy objectives. The opportunity falls under the arts funding activity category (CFDA 19.025) and is offered as a discretionary grant by the U.S. Mission to Zambia.

A key program change in this cycle is that AFCP has combined what were previously separate small and large grant tracks into a single unified competition. As a result, award sizes are intended to span a wide range, from USD 10,000 up to USD 500,000, pending the availability of funds. This structure allows applicants to propose projects that fit the real scale of preservation needs, whether a relatively targeted intervention or a more substantial conservation effort, as long as the proposed approach is defensible and the budget matches the work plan.

The application process is split into two rounds to reduce the upfront burden on applicants and embassies. Round 1 requires a concept note and a supporting budget, submitted electronically to LusakaPASGrants@state.gov with the subject line "2021 AFCP Competition." The Round 1 submission deadline stated in the notice is November 25, 2020 (the listing also references an original closing date of November 30, 2020, but the operational instruction for applicants is the November 25 concept note deadline). Applications that are shortlisted after Round 1 will be invited to submit a full application in Round 2, with a full application deadline of March 1, 2021. Applicants are also directed to consult the AFCP 2021 Application Guide for details on eligibility by country, priority funding areas, project design support, required elements, review criteria, and what the program will not fund, including ineligible activities and unallowable costs.

For Round 1, the concept note has specific required components. Applicants must provide basic project information such as a working title, the anticipated project length in months, the exact location or site, and a cost estimate showing how much funding is being requested from AFCP in U.S. dollars. The submission must identify the project implementer (including the organization name) and indicate SAM registration status. The concept note must clearly state the project purpose, summarizing objectives, planned activities, and the results the project expects to achieve. A major portion of the concept note is the rationale for AFCP support: applicants must explain why funding the project is in the interests of the U.S. government, how the project supports ICS goals or other foreign policy priorities, what public diplomacy benefits and impacts are expected, and how the project contributes to broader host country or community goals. The notice also requires Embassy Front Office clearance and asks for five high-quality digital images (JPEG) or audiovisual files that document the site, collection, or tradition and demonstrate the urgency of the need, such as visible deterioration, structural instability, or damage from water or other threats.

In terms of who may apply, the notice emphasizes NGOs and non-profit organizations, and the eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others," suggesting flexibility depending on the program rules and country context described in the AFCP guide. Overall, this opportunity is designed for applicants who can propose credible cultural preservation work, document the condition and urgency of the heritage resource, and make a strong case that the project will generate tangible preservation outcomes while also delivering visible public diplomacy value and alignment with U.S. strategic objectives.

• The U.S. Mission to Zambia in the arts sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.025.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-11-30. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PD LUS AFCP FY21

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: