Human Capital Development Project | PASCNBNOFO FY20 03

Opportunity Information: Apply for PASCNBNOFO FY20 03

The Human Capital Development Project is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity, administered through the U.S. Mission to Australia, to support a combined research and public messaging effort focused on human capital development across the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. In this context, human capital development is defined broadly as programs and initiatives that give people, especially young people in the Indo-Pacific, the skills, education, training, and resources needed to participate in the global economy and build long-term self-reliance. The opportunity is framed as supporting the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy, positioning human capital development as a practical, visible way to respond to regional needs while strengthening perceptions of the United States and its role as a partner.

A central concept in the project is the Department of State's "All of America" approach. Rather than focusing only on U.S. government programs, the project is meant to capture the full ecosystem of U.S.-linked contributions to human capital development, including efforts by U.S. businesses, U.S. NGOs, philanthropic organizations, and academic institutions. The logic is that assembling credible data and real-world impact stories across these different sectors will help the Department of State see where U.S. engagement is strong, where gaps exist, and where there are opportunities to expand partnerships and networks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

The program is structured around three main activities that build on each other. First, the recipient must conduct a research study covering a representative sample of eight to ten countries drawn from a larger list that includes Southeast Asian and Pacific Island countries as well as Australia and New Zealand. The selected set is expected to reflect regional diversity, meaning it should include a mix of more- and less-developed economies, large and small populations, and both mainland and maritime states. Applicants are expected to justify which countries they choose and why. The research must gather both quantitative information (such as counts, scale, reach, or other measurable indicators of engagement) and qualitative material (such as narratives, testimonials, case examples, and impact stories) about U.S. human capital development activities in those countries. The deliverables from this phase include a searchable database and a narrative report that uses visuals to highlight positive outcomes and tangible impacts.

Second, the recipient must convert the research findings into a strategic messaging campaign aimed at foreign publics in the selected countries. Working closely with the U.S. Mission to Australia, the Department of State, and U.S. embassies in the region, the recipient is expected to develop campaign materials such as social media graphics, short videos, and written narratives that spotlight compelling examples of high-impact "All of America" initiatives. A key requirement is that materials be produced in the official languages of the surveyed countries, and that they be designed in a way that embassies and consulates can localize and adapt. The recipient must also produce a three-month campaign plan explaining how posts and content should be deployed, how messaging will be tailored to each country context, and how localized examples will be incorporated so the campaign feels relevant on the ground rather than generic.

Third, the project requires a formal evaluation of the messaging campaign using pre- and post-campaign public surveys in the selected countries. The intent is to measure whether the campaign actually moves the needle on two core outcomes: awareness of U.S. human capital development efforts in the respondent's country and overall opinion of the United States relative to other countries. The recipient must document the evaluation approach and results in a report that includes survey methodology, findings, and analysis. This evaluation component is not optional; it is positioned as the mechanism for determining campaign effectiveness and for identifying lessons that can improve future public messaging.

The opportunity also emphasizes performance management and accountability. Proposals are expected to include clear performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time-bound, ideally with baseline data and explicit targets tied to each expected result. Applicants should explain data sources, measurement methods, how often indicators will be tracked, and the units of measurement. Where feasible, reporting should support sex-disaggregated data to better understand who is being reached and influenced.

This award is issued as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, meaning the U.S. Mission to Australia anticipates substantial involvement in the project. In practical terms, the Mission will have approval authority over major elements, including the work plan and country selection, the structure and format of the research database and report, the messaging content and campaign plan, and the design of the pre- and post-campaign surveys (including the demographics sampled) as well as the final format of the survey results report. That level of oversight signals that the awardee should be prepared for ongoing coordination, iterative review, and alignment with U.S. public diplomacy priorities.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity is titled Human Capital Development Project (Funding Opportunity Number PASCNBNOFO FY20 03). It is a discretionary award with a cooperative agreement instrument, under CFDA 19.040, categorized under humanities/cultural affairs. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not higher education institutions). The program anticipated a single award with a ceiling of up to $1,000,000. The notice was originally posted on August 11, 2020, with an original closing date of September 11, 2020, and the award was noted as pending the availability of funding.

Overall, the grant is designed to do more than just catalog programs; it aims to produce an evidence-based narrative about U.S. contributions to human capital development across a strategically important region, package that narrative into practical content that U.S. posts can deploy quickly, and then verify through surveys whether the messaging measurably improves awareness and perceptions. The expected end state is a stronger understanding among regional audiences of what the United States contributes in areas like skills development and education, greater ability for embassies to communicate those contributions in local languages, more favorable public opinion, and ultimately greater engagement with U.S.-linked opportunities as awareness rises.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Australia in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human Capital Development Project" 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 Aug 11, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 11, 2020. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for PASCNBNOFO FY20 03

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