Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0016683
Building Capacity for Responsible, Inclusive, and Rights-Respecting Approaches to AI is a U.S. government grant opportunity focused on helping selected priority countries engage more effectively in United Nations discussions and related international events where artificial intelligence policy and governance are being shaped. The central aim is to strengthen country-level and multilateral capacity so that AI is developed, deployed, and governed in ways that are responsible, inclusive, and aligned with human rights. Rather than starting from scratch, the project is designed to build on and connect to work already underway across the UN system and among international partners, helping countries translate high-level principles into practical readiness, assessment, and governance approaches that can be represented in global fora.
The funding is offered by the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy under a discretionary program and will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the government expects to stay substantially involved during implementation (for example, through ongoing coordination, shared planning, and oversight). Only one award is expected, and the maximum award amount is $3,000,000. The opportunity was created on June 11, 2024, with an original closing date of August 10, 2024, and it falls under CFDA number 19.665.
Programmatically, the project emphasizes convening, coordination, and sustained engagement "in, at, and around" UN fora and events, meaning support may include participation and coordination before, during, and after major meetings where AI norms and governance frameworks are debated. The work is expected to leverage and align with several prominent initiatives and tools, including UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and its supporting instruments such as the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and Ethical Impact Assessment (EIA) concepts. It also points to human rights-oriented efforts associated with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including the B-Tech initiative, which is known for focusing on practical guidance at the intersection of technology and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In addition, the opportunity highlights the International Telecommunication Union's AI for Good Global Summit as a key platform, along with the United Nations Development Programme's readiness assessment work and USAID-supported AI capacity-building activities, including support connected to the Global Index on Responsible AI.
In plain terms, the grant is trying to close the gap between fast-moving AI adoption and the slower pace of governance and safeguards in many countries. By improving technical and policy capacity and supporting engagement in international processes, the project is meant to help countries advocate for and implement approaches to AI that prioritize inclusion, transparency, accountability, and protection of fundamental rights. The emphasis on aligning with existing UN tools suggests the project will likely focus on practical implementation support, shared methodologies, and coordination among governments and institutions so that countries can participate meaningfully in global negotiations and bring those outcomes back into their domestic policy environments.
Eligibility is broad in the narrative description, listing U.S.-based nonprofits and NGOs under sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6), Public International Organizations or Foreign Public Entities, foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, and even for-profit organizations or businesses. However, the structured eligibility field specifically states: nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education). Anyone considering applying would need to reconcile those two statements by relying on the official eligibility requirements in the full notice, but based on the provided source data, the clearest eligibility rule is that the applicant must be a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is not an institution of higher education.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building and international engagement award aimed at helping priority countries show up prepared at major UN AI policy venues, use established readiness and ethics assessment frameworks, and promote AI governance approaches that are not only innovative but also grounded in inclusion and human rights protections. The single-award structure and relatively high ceiling suggest the selected implementer is expected to act as a central coordinating partner, linking country engagements with UN processes and existing tools rather than running a series of disconnected activities.Apply for DFOP0016683
- The Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Building Capacity for Responsible, Inclusive, and Rights-Respecting Approaches to AI" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.665.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-10. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "Building Capacity for Responsible, Inclusive, and Rights-Respecting Approaches to AI" grant?
This is a U.S. government grant opportunity that supports capacity-building so selected priority countries can engage more effectively in United Nations discussions and related international events where AI policy and governance are being shaped. The goal is to help countries translate high-level AI principles into practical readiness, assessment, and governance approaches that can be represented in global fora and carried back into domestic policy environments.
Who is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy through a discretionary program.
What type of award is this?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. In practical terms, that typically means the U.S. government expects to be substantially involved during implementation through ongoing coordination, shared planning, and oversight.
How many awards will be made?
Only one award is expected under this opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount is $3,000,000.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity was created on June 11, 2024, and the original closing date listed is August 10, 2024.
What is the CFDA number for this grant?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 19.665.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The central aim is to strengthen country-level and multilateral capacity so that AI is developed, deployed, and governed in ways that are responsible, inclusive, and aligned with human rights. A major focus is helping priority countries participate meaningfully in UN-led and UN-adjacent processes that shape international AI norms and governance frameworks.
What problem is the grant trying to address?
The opportunity is designed to help close the gap between rapid AI adoption and the slower pace of governance and safeguards in many countries, by improving technical and policy capacity and supporting sustained engagement in international processes.
What kinds of activities does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes convening, coordination, and sustained engagement in, at, and around UN fora and events. This includes supporting participation and coordination before, during, and after major meetings where AI norms and governance frameworks are debated.
What does "in, at, and around" UN fora and events mean in this context?
It indicates the work may support engagement across the full lifecycle of international events: preparation and coordination ahead of meetings, active participation during meetings, and follow-up work afterward to maintain momentum and connect global outcomes back to country-level policy and governance efforts.
Is the project expected to create entirely new AI governance frameworks?
No. The project is described as building on and connecting to work already underway across the UN system and among international partners, rather than starting from scratch. The emphasis is on aligning with existing tools and initiatives and helping countries apply them in practical ways.
Which UN and international initiatives and tools are specifically referenced?
The opportunity highlights several prominent initiatives and tools, including UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and related instruments such as the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and Ethical Impact Assessment (EIA) concepts; human-rights-oriented efforts connected to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including the B-Tech initiative; the International Telecommunication Union's AI for Good Global Summit; the United Nations Development Programme's readiness assessment work; and USAID-supported AI capacity-building activities, including support connected to the Global Index on Responsible AI.
How does human rights alignment show up in the program design?
The program explicitly frames responsible AI governance around inclusion and protection of fundamental rights and points to human-rights-oriented work such as OHCHR-associated efforts and the B-Tech initiative, which focuses on practical guidance at the intersection of technology and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
What role does UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI play in this opportunity?
UNESCO's Recommendation and its supporting instruments are positioned as key references for practical implementation. The opportunity suggests the project will leverage established approaches like UNESCO's Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and Ethical Impact Assessment (EIA) concepts to support readiness, assessment, and governance.
What is the significance of the ITU AI for Good Global Summit in this grant?
The ITU's AI for Good Global Summit is highlighted as a key platform where AI issues are discussed. The project may support engagement connected to such events to help priority countries participate effectively in global AI conversations.
How does the grant relate to UNDP and USAID work on AI readiness and capacity building?
The opportunity calls for alignment with UNDP's readiness assessment work and USAID-supported AI capacity-building activities, including support connected to the Global Index on Responsible AI. This signals an expectation of coordination and interoperability with existing capacity-building efforts rather than duplicating them.
Who are the "priority countries" mentioned in the description?
The description states the project focuses on selected priority countries but does not name them in the information provided.
What is the expected role of the selected awardee given this is a single-award opportunity?
With only one award expected and a relatively high funding ceiling, the implementer is expected to act as a central coordinating partner. The description suggests the awardee will link country engagements with UN processes and existing tools, rather than running a series of disconnected activities.
What outcomes does the program appear to be aiming for?
Based on the description, intended outcomes include stronger country-level capacity to assess and govern AI, improved ability to participate meaningfully in UN and international AI policy processes, and better translation of global principles into practical readiness and governance approaches grounded in inclusion, transparency, accountability, and human rights protections.
What organizations are eligible to apply?
The narrative description lists a broad set of potential applicants, including U.S.-based nonprofits/NGOs under 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6), Public International Organizations or Foreign Public Entities, foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, and for-profit organizations. However, the structured eligibility field specifically states: nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education).
There seems to be conflicting eligibility information. Which should applicants follow?
Based on the information provided, the clearest eligibility rule comes from the structured eligibility field: the applicant must be a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is not an institution of higher education. The narrative description is broader, but anyone considering applying would need to reconcile the two by relying on the official eligibility requirements in the full notice.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Based on the structured eligibility field provided, institutions of higher education are excluded ("other than institutions of higher education").
Are for-profit businesses eligible?
The narrative description mentions for-profit organizations or businesses, but the structured eligibility field restricts eligibility to 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education). Based only on the provided data, eligibility most clearly points to U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Is this grant primarily about domestic AI deployment within the United States?
No. The focus described is on helping selected priority countries engage effectively in UN discussions and related international events and on strengthening country-level and multilateral capacity connected to global AI governance processes.
Does the opportunity emphasize coordination with existing UN system work?
Yes. A core design feature is building on and connecting to work already underway across the UN system and among international partners, using established tools and methodologies to support practical implementation and consistent engagement across forums.
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