The U.S. Embassy in Cairo is now accepting applications for Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grants (CPAIG) projects that seek to protect Egypt’s cultural property from looting, theft, and trafficking. This open call is being conducted on behalf of the Cultural Heritage Center in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the interagency Cultural Antiquities Task Force (CATF). The CPAIG projects will help further U.S. and Egyptian efforts under the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Categories of Cultural Property in Egypt.

The application process involves two rounds. The first round includes submission of project ideas in the form of concept notes, due to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on January 28, 2023. In Round 2, the Embassy will invite shortlisted applicants to submit full project applications, due April 20, 2023.

Funding awards typically range from $80,000 to $150,000 per project.  There are no minimum or maximum award requirements.  The total available funding is estimated at $600,000, subject to availability of funds.

All applications should be submitted electronically to CairoCPAIG@state.gov no later than January 28, 2023. No hard copies will be accepted. Failure to include any of the required information results in the automatic exclusion of the proposal.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: Projects must contribute to the implementation of the cultural property agreement between the United States and Egypt, address clear needs in the country, and support U.S. foreign policy objectives.

Text of the U.S.-Egypt agreement is available on the Cultural Heritage Center website: https://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center/cultural-property-advisory-committee/current-import-restrictions.        

FUNDING PRIORITIES:
Applications for projects that foster cooperation, build best practices, and engage communities through the following types of activities will be considered:

1. TRAINING:  Build capacity of foreign law enforcement and cultural property managers to protect sites and objects.  Examples include country-specific or regional workshops on investigation and interdiction techniques, effective record keeping, the role of the judiciary, increased communication between cultural sector and law enforcement authorities, and training for cultural heritage stewards.
2. INVENTORIES:  Support the creation and/or maintenance of centralized, digital, and secure inventories of cultural objects and/or sites to better support resource allocation, aid in recovery in cases of theft, and promote public appreciation for cultural heritage preservation and protection.
3. SITE SECURITY AND PROTECTION:  Support practical and sustainable measures to more effectively secure archaeological sites (on land or underwater), museums, libraries, archives, and other collecting institutions against looting, thefts, and vandalism.  Examples include development of site security plans, installation of security systems, and training for guards and/or site stewards.
4. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR CRIME PREVENTION:  Support strategies to prevent looting and trafficking through heightened public awareness and outreach.  Examples include educational materials, community engagement and media programs, storytelling, distance learning courses, 3D models, and virtual experiences like games and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR).
5. SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS:  Support the protection of cultural heritage by advancing partner nation government, civil society, or private sector efforts to promote sustainable economic development and alternative sources of livelihood to looting and trafficking.  Projects should couple support from this grant with other funding sources that foster entrepreneurship, build employability skills, or support economic development.  Examples include site stewardship programs and programs that build skills such as marketing, English language, and storytelling training for tour guides, docents, or merchants whose livelihoods are tied to heritage tourism.

Special consideration will be given to proposals that include a multi-country/regional scope, involve international training centers, connect cultural heritage themes to other ECA programming, and/or encourage linkages between government agencies (inter-ministerial initiatives) and between governments and the private sector.

ELIGIBLE PROJECT IMPLEMENTERS
Non-governmental organizations, museums, relevant government ministries, or similar institutions and organizations, including U.S.-based organizations (subject to Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code), are eligible to apply.

CONCEPT NOTE REQUIREMENTS

Basic Project Information

• Working title
• Location (city, country)
• Estimated Length (months)
• Estimated requested fund (USD) with basic budget (e.g. personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual costs, etc.)
• Funding Area (e.g. training, inventories, site security and protection, public education and outreach, or sustainable livelihoods)

Implementing Partner Information

• Organization
• Project lead, title, and brief summary of experience
• Address
• Phone number
• Email
• Website or social media links of organization
• SAM registration status (active or not active) (Note: An active SAM.gov registration is not required for Round 1 applications.)

Concept Note Materials

• Summary of scope of work of the project addressing the following:
  • How the project relates to the U.S.-Egypt cultural property agreement and/or emergency import restrictions
  • How the project activities achieve cultural property protection and broader Egyptian goals and objectives in cultural property protection
• Explanation of the element of the U.S.-Egypt MOU on cultural property protection that the proposal supports
• Information on whether this a continuation or expansion of a previously funded project (If so, please provide project title, funding amount, and year.)
• Discussion of whether the proposed program is linked to other Department of State cultural, educational, or other exchange programs 

REVIEW CRITERIA

Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• Purpose and Need: Current need for the project, including challenges faced and how the project will resolve or mitigate the problem(s);
• Rationale: Clear articulation of how the project responds to the cultural property agreement;
• Project Activities and Theory of Change: Clear project objectives and desired results, detailed description of activities and their timeframe, and articulation of how project activities will support wider host country and community objectives;
• Management and Maintenance Plans: Clear and concise explanation on how supervision, communication, and quality assurance will be managed and monitored
• Media and Outreach Plan: Explanation of public outreach strategies and activities that highlight U.S. support for the project;
• Narrative and Performance Monitoring: Realistic and actionable goals, activities, and indicators;
• Budget:  Brief summary that justifies costs and explains how budget is aligned with proposed activities
• Supporting Materials: Indication that key staff have professional knowledge, skills, and abilities to carry out the project successfully;
• Linkages:  Innovative collaboration, integration, or coordination with other Embassy or State Department programs and resources

QUESTIONS
Please direct any inquiries regarding the submission process to CairoCPAIG@state.gov