Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0003124
The 2026 U.S. Speaker Program is a U.S. Embassy New Delhi Public Diplomacy grant opportunity to run a speaker and specialist engagement series in India that supports U.S. strategic, economic, and security priorities. The core idea is to bring American subject matter experts into direct conversation with influential Indian stakeholders, using both in-person and virtual formats, and to showcase U.S. leadership and expertise in areas tied to security, innovation, technological competitiveness, and economic growth.
The program’s content focus centers on high-priority policy and technology topics where U.S.-India cooperation and alignment matter to U.S. interests. These themes include regional security and deterrence, maritime security, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, strategic competition, energy security, and innovation-driven economic growth. The intent is not simply academic exchange, but targeted public diplomacy that reaches people positioned to shape real-world decisions in policy, technology adoption, security posture, trade, investment, and supply chain strategy.
Deliverables are clearly defined: the implementing partner is expected to organize eight to ten in-country speaker programs across India, plus ten virtual engagements. In practice, this means planning and executing a national series rather than a single event, with programming distributed across multiple locations and audiences. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically signals closer coordination with the U.S. government during implementation compared with a standard grant, especially on speaker selection, priority themes, and public diplomacy objectives.
The target audiences are professionals who have influence or upward trajectories in institutions that matter for policy and innovation. This includes established and emerging experts at leading think tanks and research institutions, technology and innovation leaders, industry stakeholders, and business leaders involved in trade, investment, and supply chains. The audience definition is intentionally broad enough to include cross-sector networks, while still emphasizing people likely to shape security, technology, and economic decisions relevant to U.S. interests.
Eligibility spans a range of institutional types that can credibly host and manage expert engagements at scale. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations such as think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations, as well as public and private educational institutions. Public international organizations and governmental institutions are also listed as eligible, indicating the Embassy is open to partnerships that can convene high-level or specialized audiences and execute programming across multiple Indian cities and virtual platforms.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity issued by the U.S. Mission to India under CFDA 19.040. The funding opportunity number is OFOP0003124, with an award ceiling of $250,000 and an expectation of one award. The opportunity was created on June 24, 2026, and the application deadline is July 24, 2026. In short, this is a single-award, mid-sized cooperative agreement intended to support a year-style slate of expert engagements designed to advance U.S. public diplomacy goals in India through structured, topic-driven programming.Apply for OFOP0003124
- The U.S. Mission to India in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2026 U.S. Speaker Program" 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 2026-06-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-24. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: 2026 U.S. Speaker Program (U.S. Embassy New Delhi)
What is the 2026 U.S. Speaker Program?
The 2026 U.S. Speaker Program is a U.S. Embassy New Delhi Public Diplomacy grant opportunity to run a speaker and specialist engagement series in India. The purpose is to support U.S. strategic, economic, and security priorities by bringing American subject matter experts into direct conversation with influential Indian stakeholders through in-person and virtual engagements.
What is the main goal of the program?
The program aims to showcase U.S. leadership and expertise in areas tied to security, innovation, technological competitiveness, and economic growth, while creating targeted public diplomacy engagements that reach people positioned to shape real-world decisions in policy, technology adoption, security posture, trade, investment, and supply chain strategy.
What kinds of activities does the program support?
The program supports a series of speaker and specialist engagements delivered in both in-person and virtual formats. The overall approach is a distributed, national series across India rather than a single conference or one-off event.
How many in-person engagements are expected?
The implementing partner is expected to organize eight to ten in-country speaker programs across India.
How many virtual engagements are expected?
The implementing partner is expected to organize ten virtual engagements.
Is the program limited to one city or region in India?
No. The deliverables indicate programming distributed across multiple locations and audiences across India, reflecting a national series approach.
What topics or themes are prioritized for the speaker series?
The content focus centers on high-priority policy and technology topics where U.S.-India cooperation and alignment matter to U.S. interests. Themes listed include regional security and deterrence, maritime security, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, strategic competition, energy security, and innovation-driven economic growth.
Is this meant to be an academic exchange program?
No. The intent is described as targeted public diplomacy rather than purely academic exchange, emphasizing practical engagement with stakeholders who can influence policy, technology choices, security decisions, and economic outcomes.
Who are the target audiences for these engagements?
The target audiences include professionals with influence or upward trajectories in institutions relevant to policy and innovation. This includes established and emerging experts at leading think tanks and research institutions, technology and innovation leaders, industry stakeholders, and business leaders involved in trade, investment, and supply chains.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (such as think tanks, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations), public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions.
What is the award type for this opportunity?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates closer coordination with the U.S. government during implementation compared with a standard grant, particularly around speaker selection, priority themes, and public diplomacy objectives.
How much funding is available?
The award ceiling is $250,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity states an expectation of one award.
Which U.S. government entity is issuing this opportunity?
This is a discretionary opportunity issued by the U.S. Mission to India (U.S. Embassy New Delhi) under its Public Diplomacy programming.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA is 19.040.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is OFOP0003124.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 24, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is July 24, 2026.
What does the program ultimately seek to achieve in India?
The program seeks to advance U.S. public diplomacy goals in India by delivering a structured, topic-driven slate of expert engagements that support U.S. strategic, economic, and security priorities and connect American experts with influential Indian stakeholders.
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