U.S. Mission to Nigeria: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation | DOS NGA ABU 19 025 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS NGA ABU 19 025 002

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria (U.S. Department of State) announced a funding opportunity under the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) for FY 2019 to support projects in Nigeria that protect and preserve significant cultural heritage. AFCP is a long-running program created at Congress's request (tied to the FY 2001 appropriations process) and is meant to demonstrate U.S. respect for other cultures by helping safeguard irreplaceable heritage for future generations. The fund supports work in more than 100 countries and commonly backs efforts like restoring historic structures, conserving museum and archival materials (including rare manuscripts), protecting archaeological sites, and documenting endangered traditional practices, crafts, and languages.

Projects must fall into one of three core funding areas. The first is cultural sites, which can include historic buildings and archaeological sites, along with documentation efforts that support preservation. The second is cultural objects and collections held by museums or similar institutions, such as ethnographic and archaeological objects, paintings, sculpture, manuscripts, and broader museum conservation needs. The third is forms of traditional cultural expression, including traditional music, indigenous languages, and crafts, especially where knowledge or skills are at risk of disappearing. Across these areas, applicants are expected to follow recognized international standards for cultural heritage preservation and to propose practical, clearly sequenced activities that produce lasting preservation outcomes.

For the 2019 cycle, the program indicates several proposal features that may receive added consideration, including projects tied to U.S. treaty or bilateral agreement obligations (such as cultural property agreements), alignment with the U.S. Embassy Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) goals, disaster risk reduction for cultural heritage in disaster-prone areas, post-disaster cultural heritage recovery, and preservation of UNESCO-inscribed World Heritage sites. While these are not the only eligible topics, the notice signals that proposals matching one or more of these priorities may be more competitive.

Applications had to be submitted in English by email to PASAbujaGrants@State.gov, with a deadline of December 10, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time. A complete submission required a full project narrative and supporting materials, including: basic project identifiers (title, dates, and AFCP focus area), applicant details and contact information, project location, proof of official permission to carry out the work, a clear purpose statement with objectives and intended results, a chronological work plan, and a timeline with milestones. Projects could last up to 60 months (five years) but had to begin before September 30, 2019 and finish by September 30, 2024. Applicants also had to describe participants (estimated numbers of U.S. and non-U.S. participants and primary/secondary beneficiaries) and provide resumes for key staff such as the project director.

The narrative needed to explain why the heritage resource matters (highlighting historic, architectural, artistic, or broader cultural value, described as non-religious), why the work is urgent (what is deteriorating or threatened and why action is needed now), and how results will be sustained after the grant ends (for example, ongoing maintenance plans for a site, improved storage conditions for collections, or a plan to preserve and share documentation of traditions). Budget submissions had to be detailed and broken out by year, using standard cost categories such as personnel, fringe benefits, travel/per diem, equipment, supplies, contractual, other direct costs, and indirect costs, and include a line-by-line budget narrative explaining how each figure was calculated. At least five high-quality digital images (or audiovisual files) were required to show the current condition and the need for the project, such as visible damage or risks, along with any relevant technical documentation (needs assessments, historic structure reports, or other planning materials).

In addition to the narrative package, applicants were required to include federal forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs). Organizations also needed a DUNS number and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). The opportunity did not require cost sharing at any set level, but if an applicant proposed cost sharing, they would be responsible for documenting, tracking, and reporting it, and it would be subject to federal audit rules under 2 CFR 200.

Eligible applicants were reputable, accountable, non-commercial entities capable of managing preservation projects, including NGOs, museums, ministries of culture, and similar institutions. The source listing also indicates eligibility for various government entities and public institutions of higher education, as well as nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status. The award ceiling listed was $200,000, and the funding instrument type was a grant under the Arts funding activity category (CFDA 19.025). AFCP does not make awards to individuals or commercial entities, and it may also exclude past award recipients that failed to meet prior objectives or reporting obligations.

The selection process starts with the U.S. Mission to Nigeria reviewing proposals using criteria that emphasize the clarity and quality of the project plan (purpose, description, timeframe, and importance), the urgency of the preservation need, sustainability after funding, the rationale for U.S. support, a media and outreach plan, the strength and realism of the budget and budget narrative, and the adequacy of supporting materials. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) then reviews the Mission's recommendations and makes the final funding decisions, after which all applicants are notified. If selected, the award is formally issued and administered by a Grants Officer, and recipients must comply with the federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) requirements and submit periodic performance and financial reports plus a final report; AFCP uses this reporting to meet Congressional reporting requirements and to publish an annual summary of completed projects.

A major part of the notice is a clear list of ineligible activities and costs. AFCP will 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, curriculum development, archaeological excavations or exploratory research surveys, stand-alone historical research (unless integral to the project), new exhibits or new collections acquisitions, new construction or building additions, commemorative art/architecture commissions, creation or modern adaptation of performances, replicas or conjectural reconstructions, relocation of sites, removing objects from the country, and most digitization unless it is part of a broader conservation/documentation effort. It also excludes endowments or revolving funds, fundraising costs, contingencies and miscellaneous fees, pre-award costs unless specifically allowable and approved, most international travel unless essential, travel outside the host country for professional development, projects under $10,000, and independent U.S. projects overseas. These restrictions are meant to keep awards focused on direct, tangible preservation outcomes with clear public benefit and proper stewardship.

• 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 2018-10-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-10. (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 DOS NGA ABU 19 025 002

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