U.S. Mission to Nigeria: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation | AFCP 2020 S ABUJA

Opportunity Information: Apply for AFCP 2020 S ABUJA

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria, under the U.S. Department of State, announced the 2020 Small Grants Competition for the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). This program funds projects in Nigeria that protect and preserve cultural heritage, with the broader aim of advancing U.S. foreign policy goals and demonstrating respect for other cultures. AFCP has supported preservation work in over 100 countries, backing efforts like restoring historic structures, conserving museum and archival collections (including rare manuscripts), safeguarding archaeological sites, and documenting endangered traditional skills and languages. Funding for awards depends on the availability of FY2020 appropriations, and the competition described had an application deadline of December 1, 2019 (11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time). Proposals had to be submitted in English by email to PASAbujaGrants@State.gov, and final grant agreements would also be executed in English.

AFCP funding is organized around three main project categories. The first is Cultural Sites, which can include conserving an ancient or historic building, preserving an archaeological site, or documenting cultural sites to support future preservation. The second is Cultural Objects and Collections held by museums or similar institutions, covering activities such as conservation needs assessments and treatment, collection inventories for conservation planning, improved storage and display environments, and specialized training for collections care. The third is Forms of Traditional Cultural Expression, which supports documentation and audiovisual recording of traditional music and dance for teaching and dissemination, as well as training to preserve traditional crafts or applied arts that are at risk of disappearing. Across all categories, proposed activities are expected to align with recognized international standards for cultural heritage preservation.

For FY2020, AFCP noted several specific priority factors that could strengthen an application. Projects received additional consideration if they helped meet U.S. treaty or bilateral agreement obligations, aligned with U.S. Embassy Integrated Country Strategies, reduced disaster risks to cultural heritage in disaster-prone areas, supported post-disaster recovery of cultural heritage, preserved UNESCO World Heritage sites, or partnered with or connected to other programs supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The announcement also addressed sites and objects with religious connections, emphasizing that such projects can be eligible when the significance and justification are strictly cultural (architectural, artistic, historical, or similar) rather than religious, consistent with U.S. constitutional limits.

Applicants were expected to submit a complete package with several required elements. This included standard federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B), basic project details (title, dates, and the relevant AFCP focus area), applicant identification details (including contact information, a DUNS number, and SAM registration status), and the project location. A key requirement was proof of official permission to conduct the work from the entity responsible for the site, object, or collection. The narrative components needed to cover the project purpose and objectives, a step-by-step activities plan presented in chronological order with milestones and target dates, and a clear statement of importance focused on nonreligious cultural values. Applicants also had to explain why the project was urgent, provide a public awareness plan describing how they would highlight AFCP support through print, electronic, and social media, and include a maintenance plan explaining how results would be sustained after the grant period ends (or how documentation and skills would be preserved and shared for intangible heritage projects). Proposals could request project periods of up to 60 months (five years). In addition, applicants had to include resumes or CVs for the project director and key personnel, estimates of participant numbers (U.S. and non-U.S., and primary versus secondary participants), and a detailed budget broken out by one-year periods (2020, 2021, 2022, etc.) along with a budget narrative explaining major costs and cost calculations and justifying any international travel. At least five high-quality digital images (JPEG preferred) or audiovisual files were required to show the condition and urgency of the site, object, or tradition, along with any relevant planning materials such as conservation assessments or historic structure reports.

Eligibility was broadly aimed at reputable, accountable, non-commercial entities with demonstrated capacity to manage cultural preservation projects. Examples included NGOs, museums, ministries of culture, and similar organizations. The opportunity also listed eligible applicant types in general terms that included certain government entities and eligible nonprofit organizations. Applicants were required to have a DUNS number and SAM registration. Cost sharing was not mandatory and there was no required minimum or maximum cost-share percentage, but if an applicant proposed cost sharing, they would be obligated to provide it and track and report it in compliance with federal audit and grant rules (2 CFR 200).

The review process began with the U.S. Mission to Nigeria evaluating proposals on factors such as the clarity and strength of the purpose and project description, feasibility of the timeframe, demonstrated importance, urgency, the maintenance plan, the rationale for U.S. support, the outreach and media plan, budget quality and justification, and the strength of supporting materials. The Mission would then forward recommendations to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which would make the final selections. Award administration would be handled by a Grants Officer at the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, and both successful and unsuccessful applicants would be notified in writing. The notice also made clear that selection does not create any obligation for future funding, and that any extensions or increases are at the Department of State's discretion. Recipients would be required to submit performance and financial reports, including final reports, and AFCP uses this reporting for required submissions to Congress and for public reporting on completed projects.

The announcement also spelled out a long list of ineligible activities and costs, and proposals that included them would be disqualified. AFCP would not fund preservation or purchase of privately or commercially owned property or collections, natural heritage projects, work involving human remains, preservation of news media or widely available published materials, development of classroom curricula, research-driven archaeological excavations or surveys, stand-alone historical research (unless integral to project success), acquisition or creation of new exhibits or collections, new construction or building additions, commemorative commissions of new art or architecture, creation or modernization of performances in ways that produce new works rather than preserving existing traditions, replicas or conjectural reconstructions of lost sites or objects, relocating sites, removing cultural objects from the country, digitization that is not part of a broader conservation or documentation effort, stand-alone plans or studies not tied to implementation, endowments or revolving funds, fundraising costs, contingency or miscellaneous fees, costs incurred before an award unless specifically allowable and approved, most international travel unless essential to the project, travel or study outside the host country for professional development, projects with total costs below $10,000 or above $200,000, and independent U.S. projects overseas. AFCP also does not make awards to individuals, commercial entities, embassies, or prior recipients that failed to meet earlier AFCP objectives or reporting requirements.

• The U.S. Mission to Nigeria in the arts sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Mission to Nigeria: 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 2019-10-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-12-01. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for AFCP 2020 S ABUJA

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