Bureau of African Affairs · Department of State
U.S.-Africa Strategic Investment Program
In short: Bureau of African Affairs expects to make 10 awards of $5 million to $50 million. Open to many kinds of groups. See who can apply.
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due May 31, 2027 · 233 days left
- Award size
- $5M – $50M
- Total available
- $500M · about 10 awards
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Private college or university, Public college or university, Small business, Larger business, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- No match required
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
The U.S.-Africa Strategic Investment Program advances America's national interests by harnessing market-based, private sector-led growth across two strategic focus areas: Critical Minerals Investment and Commercial Diplomacy Acceleration. This program seeks market-based solutions that strengthen the environment for foreign investment in sub-Saharan Africa through transparent and competitive processes, creating sustainable economic growth in two strategic focus areas. Projects must demonstrate clear, measurable benefits to one or more sub-Saharan countries, such as increased investment from high-quality U.S. and U.S.-aligned companies. Applicants are also encouraged to identify how their projects create conditions that enable U.S. commercial participation.
Who can apply, from the official notice
Public International Organizations are also eligible to apply. See APS for full eligibility criteria.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/056a9131-82b2-4289-b41b-88cd33f85926 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/f64ef052-7c42-4859-935a-ff071ef44cb8
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct10
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - May10
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - May24
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - May29
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - May31
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice AF-A_Annual_Program_Statement_V4.pdf (24 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Award size and project length
Project period: 36 months · p. 2
“Assistance Listing Number 19.989 Estimated Length of Award Performance Period 12 to 36 months Estimated Number of Awards 10 awards (dependent on amounts) Estimated Award Amounts Awards may range from a minimum of $5 million to a maximum of $50 million per…” Open page 2
Registrations you need first (2)
SAM.gov, Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 2
“Applicants for Window 2 must be registered in SAM.gov and include their UEI on the cover page of the SOI No changes are made to the timeline or requirements for SOIs submitted in Window 1.” Open page 2
Grants.gov · p. 14
“Questions and answers will be anonymized and posted on Grants.gov.” Open page 14
Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
What to submit
Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 2
“Applicants for Window 2 must be registered in SAM.gov and include their UEI on the cover page of the SOI No changes are made to the timeline or requirements for SOIs submitted in Window 1.” Open page 2
Form SF-424A · p. 5
“See the SF-424A for the definition of construction:” Open page 5
Form SF-424 · p. 20
“SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B (if applicable)” Open page 20
Form SF-424B · p. 20
“SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B (if applicable)” Open page 20
Length limits
Details: 1 page max · p. 11
“SOI content must include the following, submitted together as part of a single PDF document with content in the order listed below: 1) Table Listing of Critical Details (1 page maximum; include as cover page to the submission) I.” Open page 11
Narrative: 2 pages max · p. 11
“(Yes/No/Unsure) 2) Narrative (2 pages maximum)” Open page 11
Summary Budget: 1 page max · p. 12
“Non-U.S. government resources need not be newly mobilized due to the SOI / proposed award per se, but the SOI must demonstrate that U.S. government resources are not the only resources supporting the project. 3) Summary Budget (1 page maximum)” Open page 12
Formatting rules
12-point font, 1-inch margins, single-spaced · p. 12
“All documents must be single-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins and submitted together within a single PDF.” Open page 12
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 6
“Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing is not required.” Open page 6
Dates in the notice
December 1, 2026 · p. 2
“Application Window 2 will adhere to the following timeline: o Opening December 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027 o Questions due December 11, 2026 o Response to questions expected January 10, 2027 o Notification of results March 31, 2027” Open page 2
September 30, 2027 · p. 2
“Total Available Funding $500 million pending funding availability Type of Funding FY 2026 National Security Investment Program (NSIP), must be obligated by the Department to one or more awards by September 30, 2027 Anticipated Program Start Date Rolling, no…” Open page 2
January 31, 2027 · p. 14
“Applications due by 11:59 pm ET January 31, 2027” Open page 14
Mistakes that get applications rejected (1)
Could get your application rejected: While applicants may propose cost share or matching, cost-sharing/matching will not be evaluated as part... · p. 6
“While applicants may propose cost share or matching, cost-sharing/matching will not be evaluated as part of the merit review process.” Open page 6
Files from the official listing
The notice, forms and templates the agency attached. Some programs ask for a letter of intent or a form before the full application.
- 20260819_APS_QnA.pdf (268 KB)
APS questions and answers dated August 19, 2026 - AF-A_Annual_Program_Statement_V4.pdf (569 KB)
APS Version 4 (August 28, 2026)
About the federal program
State/African Regional - Other Economic Support Funds (ESF) Projects/Programs, also called “African Regional ESF - Other”
Program number 19.989 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of State · Grant
How applications are judged
In each year's official notice: read this year's.
Match
None required (federal program listing).