Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 001 FY2024
The U.S. Embassy in San Jose, through its Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Department of State, is offering a grant opportunity to support a "Girls in STEAM" program in Costa Rica. The core purpose is public diplomacy: the project should help Costa Ricans better understand U.S. values, culture, people, and foreign policy priorities, while also building the academic skills, soft skills, and leadership capacity of high-school aged girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). In practical terms, the Embassy is looking for a program that strengthens girls' confidence and ability to pursue STEAM education and careers, and that helps reduce the gender gap that often shows up in STEAM fields both academically and professionally.
The program concept is expected to include, at minimum, a one-week (or longer) tech camp. This camp can be designed in a variety of formats, but it should feature real skills-building and hands-on learning, ideally with innovation activities such as project development, design challenges, or competitions. The camp should give participants meaningful exposure to STEAM topics and practice using STEAM skills, rather than being limited to lectures. Beyond technical learning, proposals should also intentionally promote women's participation in STEAM fields of study and career paths, and should incorporate leadership development so that participants leave with stronger communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and self-advocacy skills that support long-term success.
A key factor that makes proposals more competitive is a clear U.S. connection. The Embassy encourages applicants to integrate American experts, organizations, institutions, universities, private-sector businesses, or other elements that build understanding of U.S. perspectives and people. This could include virtual guest speakers from the U.S., mentorship sessions with U.S.-based professionals, collaboration with American companies operating in Costa Rica, or participation by U.S. educators, researchers, or volunteers. The point is not just technical training, but also a thoughtful exchange component that advances the Embassy's public diplomacy goals while supporting girls' STEAM growth.
The application process is structured as a two-step competition. First, applicants submit a short Statement of Interest (SOI) that is only one to two pages long. At this stage, the Embassy does not want a full proposal. The SOI should clearly describe the program idea, objectives, intended participants and target audience, and provide a general budget overview at a high level. The Embassy will review SOIs for merit and eligibility, and only selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. Those full proposals will then go through a second merit review before the Embassy makes a final award decision. The full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), including complete instructions and requirements, is available on Grants.gov as an attachment and is also posted via the U.S. Embassy San Jose website link referenced in the opportunity.
In terms of eligibility, the Embassy will consider applications from both the United States and Costa Rica. Eligible applicants include registered nonprofit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society or nongovernmental organizations) with relevant programming experience, individuals, and nonprofit or educational institutions. The funding instrument is a grant, the opportunity is labeled as mandatory under the listing, and it falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA number 19.040). The opportunity number is PD 001 FY2024. The anticipated award ceiling is $50,000, with one award expected. The original closing date listed for submissions is March 15, 2024, and the opportunity was created on January 8, 2024.Apply for PD 001 FY2024
- The U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy San Jose Public Diplomacy Section Girls in STEAM Project" 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 2024-01-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-15. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Girls in STEAM Program Grant (U.S. Embassy San Jose)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy San Jose (Public Diplomacy Section) grant opportunity to support a "Girls in STEAM" program in Costa Rica. The project is intended to advance public diplomacy goals while strengthening high-school aged girls' academic, soft, and leadership skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM).
2) What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is public diplomacy. The project should help Costa Ricans better understand U.S. values, culture, people, and foreign policy priorities, while also building participants' skills and confidence to pursue STEAM education and careers and helping reduce the gender gap in STEAM.
3) Where will the program take place?
The program is intended to support a Girls in STEAM initiative in Costa Rica.
4) Who is the intended participant group?
The intended participants are high-school aged girls. Proposals should describe the intended participants and target audience in the Statement of Interest (SOI).
5) What types of activities are expected in the program?
At minimum, the concept is expected to include a one-week (or longer) tech camp. The camp should be skills-focused and hands-on, ideally incorporating innovation activities such as project development, design challenges, or competitions. The goal is meaningful exposure to STEAM topics and practical use of STEAM skills rather than lecture-only programming.
6) Is a tech camp required, and how long should it be?
Yes. The program concept is expected to include, at minimum, a one-week (or longer) tech camp.
7) What does the Embassy mean by "hands-on" STEAM learning?
The opportunity emphasizes real skills-building and active learning. Examples named in the opportunity include project development, design challenges, or competitions, with participants practicing STEAM skills instead of only attending lectures.
8) Does the program need to include leadership development?
Yes. Proposals should intentionally incorporate leadership development so participants strengthen communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and self-advocacy skills that support long-term success.
9) How should the program address gender gaps in STEAM?
The program should be designed to strengthen girls' confidence and ability to pursue STEAM education and careers and should intentionally promote women's participation in STEAM fields of study and career paths.
10) What makes an application more competitive?
A clear U.S. connection is identified as a key competitiveness factor. The Embassy encourages applicants to integrate American experts, organizations, institutions, universities, private-sector businesses, or other elements that build understanding of U.S. perspectives and people.
11) What are examples of acceptable "U.S. connections" for this program?
Examples mentioned include virtual guest speakers from the U.S., mentorship sessions with U.S.-based professionals, collaboration with American companies operating in Costa Rica, or participation by U.S. educators, researchers, or volunteers.
12) Is the U.S. connection only about technical training?
No. The opportunity emphasizes that the point is not just technical training. Proposals should include a thoughtful exchange component that advances public diplomacy goals while supporting girls' STEAM growth.
13) What is the application process?
The competition is two-step. First, applicants submit a short Statement of Interest (SOI). Only selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals then go through a second merit review before a final award decision.
14) What is a Statement of Interest (SOI), and how long should it be?
The SOI is an initial, short submission that should be one to two pages long.
15) What information should be included in the SOI?
The SOI should clearly describe the program idea, objectives, intended participants and target audience, and provide a general budget overview at a high level.
16) Should applicants submit a full proposal at the SOI stage?
No. At the SOI stage, the Embassy does not want a full proposal. Full proposals are requested only from applicants selected after the SOI review.
17) How will applications be reviewed?
The Embassy will review SOIs for merit and eligibility. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals, which will then undergo a second merit review before the Embassy makes a final award decision.
18) Where can applicants find the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and detailed instructions?
The full NOFO (including complete instructions and requirements) is available on Grants.gov as an attachment and is also posted via the U.S. Embassy San Jose website link referenced in the opportunity.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
The Embassy will consider applications from both the United States and Costa Rica. Eligible applicants include registered nonprofit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society or nongovernmental organizations) with relevant programming experience, individuals, and nonprofit or educational institutions.
20) Are applicants required to be based in the United States?
No. Applications are considered from both the United States and Costa Rica.
21) What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
22) What is the opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity number is PD 001 FY2024.
23) What is the CFDA number and activity category associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.040. The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
24) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The anticipated award ceiling is $50,000.
25) How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
26) What is the submission deadline?
The original closing date listed for submissions is March 15, 2024.
27) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on January 8, 2024.
28) Which Embassy office is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Embassy in San Jose through its Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Department of State.
29) What does it mean that the opportunity is labeled as "mandatory" under the listing?
The opportunity is labeled as mandatory under the listing, as stated in the opportunity information provided.
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