Funding for English language, STEAM, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Media Literacy Countering/Disinformation Program | 4112 FY21 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for 4112 FY21 01

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica (Public Affairs Section), is offering a competitive grant opportunity for organizations to run projects in Costa Rica that strengthen education and civic resilience. The program is meant to complement existing Embassy initiatives that promote mutual understanding between Costa Ricans and Americans while expanding practical skills and opportunities that support economic development and democracy. Applicants can propose a project in one focus area or combine multiple areas, as long as the activities clearly align with the Embassy's priorities and are designed to produce tangible improvements for participants and communities.

The grant centers on four main themes. First, English language education: proposals should aim to improve the quality of English teaching and learning across levels, including preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education. Projects can include classroom instruction, but the Embassy signals a preference for work that goes beyond the classroom, such as clubs, camps, conversation exchanges, teacher mentoring, enrichment activities, or other supplemental learning experiences that increase exposure and motivation. Projects that coordinate with Costa Rican government or NGO efforts, especially the Ministry of Education and bilingual school initiatives, are positioned as more competitive.

Second, STEAM education for girls (science, technology, engineering, arts and design, and mathematics): the goal is to improve access to and quality of STEAM learning for girls at the elementary and secondary levels and encourage them to pursue STEAM pathways. Proposals may include teacher training to strengthen instruction for girls, and they are encouraged to add hands-on, beyond-the-classroom components such as workshops, maker activities, competitions, mentoring, site visits, or partnerships that make STEAM feel real and reachable. The Embassy places added value on coordination with private sector partners and/or the Ministry of Education, particularly public schools implementing Costa Rica's national STEAM curriculum.

Third, entrepreneurship: projects should build foundational business knowledge and practical skills, such as developing business plans and strategies, learning how to pitch, understanding access to finance, using digital marketing, scaling responsibly, and building resilience. A specific preference is given to initiatives that address challenges and opportunities created or intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The opportunity also favors projects that help strengthen and connect the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem across Costa Rica, not only training individuals but also improving networks, support structures, and pathways to resources.

Fourth, digital media literacy and countering disinformation: projects should help people think critically about the information they consume and share, especially on social media, and strengthen the public's ability to identify reliable, fact-based information. Priority is given to efforts that reach groups considered more vulnerable to spreading or being influenced by disinformation and to projects that build the skills of journalists and media professionals working to counter false narratives. The Embassy also highlights the importance of innovative educational approaches, including the use of digital tools and technology, and notes that election periods can be especially sensitive times when disinformation campaigns may increase.

Across all four areas, the Embassy emphasizes inclusion and geographic reach. Proposals are expected to incorporate under-represented communities, specifically naming migrant populations, women, Afro-descendent communities, and indigenous communities, and to engage people living outside the greater San Jose metropolitan area. In practical terms, this means applicants should demonstrate who they will serve, why those audiences are prioritized, and how the program design and delivery will reach them effectively, not as an afterthought.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant competition (Funding Opportunity Number 4112 FY21 01) under CFDA 19.040, offered by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica. The award ceiling is $25,000, with an expectation of up to six awards. The opportunity was posted March 19, 2021, with an original closing date of April 15, 2021. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), meaning applicants should consult the attached NOFO for the exact eligible organization types, required registrations, proposal format, budget rules, reporting expectations, and evaluation criteria.

Overall, the opportunity is looking for well-structured, partnership-oriented projects that produce measurable improvements in English learning, girls' STEAM access and confidence, entrepreneurship capacity in underserved communities, and the ability of communities and media professionals to recognize and reduce the spread of disinformation. The most competitive proposals are likely to be those that combine strong educational design with real-world engagement beyond the classroom, coordinate with relevant Costa Rican institutions or private sector partners, and deliberately serve communities outside San Jose that are often left out of mainstream programming.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Funding for English language, STEAM, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Media Literacy Countering/Disinformation 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 Mar 19, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2021. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 4112 FY21 01

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