U.S.-South Africa Space Camp program | DOS JHB 202003

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS JHB 202003

The U.S.-South Africa Space Camp program is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in South Africa (U.S. Mission to South Africa). It invites eligible organizations to propose and run a two-phase STEM enrichment program designed to give South African learners hands-on exposure to aerospace and engineering, strengthen their technical skills, and deepen their understanding of the United States through an educational experience connected to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The overall goal is both skills-building and people-to-people exchange, with learners meeting professionals in aerospace-related fields and engaging with the history and practice of space exploration.

The program is structured in two linked phases, and applicants may choose to manage both phases themselves or sub-award one phase to a partner institution. Phase I focuses on local programming in South Africa and is expected to consist of a series of workshops that teach STEM skills and share the history of space exploration. These workshops are meant to prepare and motivate learners while building a foundation of scientific and technical knowledge. Phase II centers on an international exchange component: the grantee coordinates with the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg to arrange travel for at least 10 learners from Gauteng to attend Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Alabama. The travel and participation element is not optional for proposals that intend to complete Phase II; applicants must demonstrate they can reliably organize, either independently or through a partner, the logistics required to send a minimum of ten learners to the camp.

Competitive applications are expected to show clear, credible experience teaching science and technology to young learners, along with a practical plan for delivering workshops and selecting and supporting participants. The Embassy indicates that a strong proposal will come from an organization that already has an established way to communicate with schools in the Gauteng region, which matters for recruitment, coordination, and participant selection. Proposals should also reflect readiness to handle the operational complexity of Phase II travel planning and coordination in alignment with the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg.

This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement or coordination with the funding agency during implementation. The funding opportunity number is DOS JHB 202003, and the CFDA number listed is 19.040. The award ceiling is $150,000. Eligible applicants include U.S. and South African not-for-profit entities such as NGOs, civil society organizations, and think tanks, as well as public and private non-profit educational institutions. Applications are submitted by email to JohannesburgGrants@state.gov. The original closing date listed for this announcement was 2020-07-15, and the opportunity was created on 2020-05-26.

• The U.S. Mission to South Africa in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S.-South Africa Space Camp program" 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 2020-05-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-15. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DOS JHB 202003

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