The Strategic Commercial Engagement for U.S.–AU Trade and Investment opportunity, administered by the U.S. Mission to Ethiopia, invites proposals that advance U.S. commercial diplomacy by strengthening trade and investment ties between the United States and Africa. The African Union represents a market of nearly 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of over $3 trillion, yet trade levels remain low due to limited awareness of American business practices, insufficient business networks, and market access obstacles. Previous commercial diplomacy initiatives have shown that direct engagement between U.S. and African companies, supported by U.S. commercial expertise, can drive measurable increases in business partnerships and investment capacity.

Overview

The program seeks to expand opportunities for U.S. companies in African markets while delivering mutual economic benefit. Projects must clearly support U.S. economic interests, expand opportunities for U.S. businesses, and promote U.S. best practices. The target audience includes business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions, and other stakeholders that can facilitate and expand U.S. business engagement.

Goal: Deepen U.S.–Africa economic ties by expanding trade and investment connections.

Objectives:

• Expand U.S.–Africa trade and investment connections.
• Promote innovation and technology transfer using U.S. solutions.
• Increase economic opportunities in ways that support U.S. commercial engagement.

Funding and Benefits

• Program Funding: $40,000
• Expected Awards: 3
• Award Minimum: $5,000
• Award Maximum: $25,000
• Funding Instrument: Grant
• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include "Other" as listed under Miscellaneous. Applicants should refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for additional eligibility details.

Activities and Expected Outcomes

Possible activities may include business matchmaking, U.S. expert-led commercial-focused workshops, sector-specific engagements designed to increase U.S. market presence, and activities that address market access constraints affecting U.S. businesses. Projects must show measurable outcomes such as new business linkages, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), commercial networks, and investment flows.

Deadline and Timeline

• Closing Date: June 8, 2026
• Opportunity Posted: May 7, 2026
• Archive Date: July 8, 2026
• Funding Opportunity Number: OFOP0002726

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. Additional information, including the full NOFO and required templates, can be found on the Grants.gov listing. Applicants are encouraged to review all supporting documents, including the Proposal Template and Budget Narrative Template, prior to submission.

Contact Information

Grantor Contact Email: AddUSAUPDGrants@state.gov

For technical support, contact the Grants.gov Support Center at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.