Empowering Saudi Women and Youth through Sports

The U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that limited funding is available through the Embassy’s Public Affairs grants program to support activities that promote U.S.-Saudi bilateral relations in the following priority area: Empowering women and youth in Saudi Arabia through sports. This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Eligibility is limited to those who qualify to receive U.S. grants and have the ability to develop and implement their proposed programs in Saudi Arabia within the timeframe indicated on their applications. The U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia and the Department of State encourage organizations that have not previously received international program funding from the U.S. government to apply. Applicants must have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following subject areas: sports business or academic programming, sports management and entrepreneurship, sports training, sports entrepreneurship training, building sports-related institution-to-institution partnerships. The U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia requests proposals for projects aimed at empowering women and youth in Saudi Arabia through sports. While a wide range of project proposals will be considered, successful projects will incorporate many of the following elements: A clearly defined project objective, with specific supporting goals and quantifiable project milestones. A focus on sports programming that complements, rather than competes with, programs already active in Saudi Arabia by reaching currently underserved populations, working in areas where little training is currently offered, or addressing important topics underrepresented in current programs. For example, priority will be given to proposals that include participants from outside of the major cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran/Damman) and/or that focus on sports disciplines such as (but not limited to) soccer, basketball, motorsports, American football, or other sports where Saudi women and youth are traditionally underrepresented. The creation, strengthening, or expansion of a women’s sports or sports federations network that encourages and facilitates the transfer of skills and sharing of resources between members. The expansion and the creation of a diverse group of certified referees and coaches in different sports disciplines with a priority on training and certifying women referees. A mentorship program that aims to accelerate initial success in women/girl-focused Saudi sports federations by pairing them with related, successful sports federations in the United States in an organized and sustainable fashion. A sustainable strategic plan to provide program participants with knowledge or skills of lasting value and application beyond the term of the project. Use of traditional and innovative educational programs and networking tools in the pursuit of broader goals such as empowering women, economic development, job creation, understanding the value of diversity, sports business development, acquisition of sports leadership skills, etc. An integrated project messaging/media plan designed to amplify the reach of key program messages to Saudi participants who do not participate in the program. An innovative approach that highlights American expertise or U.S.-Saudi partnerships and creates/strengthens networks between Americans and Saudis. All project proposals must meet the eligibility criteria and carefully follow the instructions in the document containing the full Notice of Funding Opportunity under the Related Documents tab.