Masterclass on AI for Economic Growth and Innovation | OFOP0002200

Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0002200

The U.S. Mission to El Salvador, through the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador Public Diplomacy Section, is offering a discretionary funding opportunity (OFOP0002200) to support a three-day "Masterclass on AI for Economic Growth and Innovation." The program is meant to bring practical, job-relevant artificial intelligence skills to Salvadoran youth leaders, university students, and digital content creators between the ages of 16 and 25, while also highlighting the role of U.S. technology and American AI tools in driving modern economic growth. The masterclass is framed around real-world applications that matter to emerging careers and small-business creation, especially in tourism, marketing, and digital entrepreneurship.

The core activity is an intensive, in-person style masterclass led by two American experts who specialize in AI tools and strategic communication. Their role is to provide hands-on instruction and guidance on how AI can be used to solve problems, create content, improve marketing performance, and build or scale digital ventures. In addition to the U.S. experts, the agenda will include a Salvadoran government speaker who will explain El Salvador's 2025 AI law, giving participants a clearer understanding of the policy and regulatory environment they will face when applying AI in professional or entrepreneurial settings. This pairing of technical training with local legal and policy context is intended to help participants use AI responsibly and with awareness of emerging rules and expectations.

Beyond skills training, the opportunity is also explicitly a public diplomacy initiative. The embassy describes outcomes focused on strengthening foreign audience preference for partnering with the United States in science and technology, reinforcing the image of the United States as a global leader in AI expertise, and increasing awareness of an innovation-forward U.S. technology ecosystem. In practical terms, that means funded projects should not only teach tools, but also clearly connect the learning experience to U.S. leadership in innovation and to constructive U.S.-El Salvador collaboration in the tech space.

Funding will be provided through a cooperative agreement, which typically means the U.S. government expects to be actively involved in the project during implementation rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The award ceiling is $29,150, with one award expected. The opportunity falls under an education activity category and is associated with CFDA number 19.040. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations) as well as public and private educational institutions, positioning universities, training institutes, and credible NGOs as the most natural implementers.

The application deadline listed is September 19, 2025, and the opportunity was created on July 22, 2025. Overall, the embassy is looking for an organization that can credibly deliver a short, high-impact AI learning experience for young Salvadorans, coordinate expert-led instruction, integrate a policy perspective on the national AI law, and produce a program that visibly advances U.S. science and technology engagement and reputation in El Salvador.

• The U.S. Mission to El Salvador in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Masterclass on AI for Economic Growth and Innovation" 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 2025-07-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-19. (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 $29,150.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for OFOP0002200

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