Africa Regional Services Paris Annual Program Statement: ARS Speaker Program
This program funds U.S. citizen individuals on a speaker roster to deliver in-person or virtual outreach programs in sub-Saharan Africa on U.S. foreign policy themes, not university-led research.
RESTRICTED TO: INDIVIDUALS FELLOWSHIP
⚑ U.S. citizen individuals only; organizations are not eligible · Roster-based APS: inclusion does not guarantee funding; grants are made only when matched to embassy/consulate requests · Applicant must provide programs in English and either French or Portuguese · Foreign nationals and green-card holders are ineligible
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 15 none | university cannot apply directly (ineligible) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 15 none | university cannot apply directly (ineligible) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 5 none | no commercialization signal |
Description
Priority Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa Regional Services (ARS) Paris, part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, invites U.S. citizen speakers, artists, and athletes/coaches to submit Statements of Interest (SOIs) for inclusion on the ARS U.S. Speaker Program roster. Roster members may be selected for small program specific grants to conduct in-person and virtual outreach across sub-Saharan Africa.
The ARS Speaker Program supports U.S. foreign policy goals in Africa by strengthening security, supporting shared prosperity, and promoting American excellence. In line with the Department’s Freedom 250 initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the United States and the Decade of Sport in America programs are encouraged to:
Share the American story and 250 years of American excellence in innovation, technology, and culture; and celebrate American achievement in sports.
Lead the next era of results driven U.S.–Africa partnership.
This Annual Program Statement seeks U.S. citizen individuals with demonstrated expertise who can deliver programs in English and either French or Portuguese.
Priority Program Areas include security; economic prosperity, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship; energy security, and critical minerals; and American arts, sports, and creative industries as engines of economic opportunity.
Selected individuals will be added to the ARS roster following review and interview. Being on the roster does not guarantee funding; individual grants will be made only when a specific U.S. embassy or consulate request matches a roster member’s expertise and availability.
SOIs must be submitted using the dedicated form available at https://forms.office.com/g/NyK95VxSH9 . All supporting documents (credentials/testimonials/endorsements, U.S. passport and a CV or résumé) must be emailed to arsspeaker@state.gov . Make sure the email subject line says “SOI” with your full name. Incomplete Statements of Interest will be rejected.
Eligibility
Green-card holders and non-American citizens are not eligible applicants. For profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. Organizations are not eligible under this APS.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Marion Salvanet Grantor <ARSSpeaker@state.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Federal (generic)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.