Opportunity Information: Apply for ESP23NOFODEFENSAYYO4
Mission Spain Public Diplomacy NOFO "Defensa y Yo 4.0" (2023-2024) is a U.S. Department of State grant competition run by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid and the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona (together, PD Spain). The award funds one organization to design, manage, and deliver the fourth edition of "Defensa y Yo," a public diplomacy program created in 2021 to increase Spanish university students' understanding of security and defense topics and to encourage more informed discussion among their peers. The program model blends learning and engagement through expert-led sessions, a student competition tied to the lecture themes, and a culminating study visit for the top student finalists to Brussels to connect directly with NATO and other security and defense institutions.
The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement (meaning PD Spain will remain actively involved in shaping and overseeing key elements), with one expected award and a funding ceiling of $90,000. The funding opportunity number is ESP23NOFODEFENSAYYO4 under CFDA 19.040. It was posted September 11, 2023, with an original application deadline of October 11, 2023. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with details provided in the full NOFO materials, and applicants are directed to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Spain grants page for complete instructions and required attachments.
Programmatically, the grant supports delivery across sixteen selected Spanish public universities and is aimed at reaching at least 500 undergraduate students ages 18-25, particularly those studying International Relations, Law, Journalism, and Business Administration. PD Spain is looking for proposals that not only continue the established format, but also deepen ties with university administrators and faculty, and better connect participants across all four editions of the program. A major emphasis is building a durable community around the initiative by engaging alumni from prior cohorts and linking students into mentorship pathways, including collaboration with the alumni association GeoSeDe.
The NOFO lays out three core objectives. First, students should leave with stronger knowledge and practical tools to talk about security and defense issues accurately, helping them become better-informed future leaders and peer influencers. Second, the program should create and strengthen working relationships with university administrators and professors at the participating institutions, making the initiative easier to sustain and integrate into academic environments. Third, it should create mentorship relationships that connect current participants with students from earlier "Defensa y Yo" editions and with the GeoSeDe alumni network, reinforcing continuity beyond a single academic term.
To achieve these goals, the selected recipient must run a structured lecture series between February and May 2024, delivering one session at each of the sixteen universities. Lectures can be in person, with virtual delivery allowed when necessary. The ideal design envisioned by PD Spain is to bring in four U.S. expert speakers total (one per month), with each speaker visiting or reaching four universities during a single week. Speakers may come from academia, civil society, international organizations, think tanks, or the U.S. government, and they must be chosen by the grantee in coordination with PD Spain. Beyond delivering the sessions themselves, the grantee is responsible for creating guidelines and support materials for participating professors, helping universities implement the program consistently and effectively.
Measurement and learning are built into the grant requirements. The recipient must formally register all lecture attendees and carry out both quantitative and qualitative evaluation before and after the program, using tools like surveys and focus groups. The evaluation is expected to measure changes in participants' knowledge and attitudes and to capture broader trends in the target audience's mindsets and understanding around security and defense topics. This data collection component is not optional; it is part of demonstrating impact and informing future iterations.
The program also has a strong communications deliverable. The grantee must design and maintain a mobile-friendly website that highlights program information and outcomes, including dedicated editorial space on the grantee's own site. In parallel, the recipient must build a media and social media plan focused on promoting the program across the sixteen universities and showcasing results. Coordination is required with both PD Spain and the communications offices of participating universities, signaling that local institutional buy-in and message alignment are important to the funder.
A central engagement feature is the student competition tied to the lecture themes. The recipient must design and administer the competition, ensuring that only registered students who attended the sessions can submit projects. The competition is meant to identify the strongest project at each university, producing one finalist per institution. The grantee must also establish a transparent review and selection process that includes PD Spain, since the competition results determine which students become "Defensa y Yo Fellows" and participate in the Brussels exchange component.
The exchange portion requires substantial planning and duty of care. The grantee must conduct an in-person pre-departure orientation in Madrid for the selected fellows and produce preparation materials (digital and printed) that clearly explain responsibilities, expectations, logistics, and practical issues like travel, lodging, meals, incidentals, and applicable accident and sickness coverage. The award must cover the costs of a four-day exchange program in Madrid and Brussels in fall 2024 for the winners, including transportation, accommodations, meals, and incidental expenses. During the Brussels exchange, the grantee must also run a dedicated social media plan that spotlights the student winners and the program's outcomes.
Operationally and financially, the recipient is expected to manage the program end-to-end, including timely disbursement of stipends and allowances and careful tracking of costs. Any budget or spending irregularities must be reported promptly to PD Spain. The cooperative agreement also requires regular check-ins and program review meetings with PD Spain to assess progress, troubleshoot barriers, and refine implementation. The grantee must respond quickly to requests for statistical or program information (including via spreadsheets and databases) and remain fully compliant with all NOFO terms, especially around reporting, documentation, and budget oversight.
For applicants seeking more details, the NOFO directs organizations to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Spain and Andorra grants webpage (https://es.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/) and notes that questions should be sent to SpainPDGrants@state.gov.Apply for ESP23NOFODEFENSAYYO4
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Spain in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mission Spain Public Diplomacy NOFO Defensa y Yo 4.0, 2023-2024" 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 Sep 11, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 11, 2023. (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 $90,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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