The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs leads Department efforts to expand and strengthen the relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other countries.
The grant program seeks to fund projects that bolster U.S.-Canada cooperation across several priority areas. These include climate action, prosperity, trade, and investment, with a focus on empowering underrepresented groups; democracy, human rights, and social justice, particularly emphasizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); advancing U.S.-Canada security cooperation on issues like misinformation and cybersecurity; and strengthening Arctic partnerships by promoting joint efforts in environmental conservation, scientific research, and regional security. Proposed projects must incorporate American expertise to facilitate deeper understanding of U.S. viewpoints, aiming to create and maintain enduring connections between the two nations.