Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS SAU PD 2208
The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, through the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, offered a discretionary grant opportunity titled "eSports and Game Development Skills Training and Capacity Building" (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS SAU PD 2208; CFDA: 19.040). The program was designed to strengthen the knowledge, practical skills, professional capabilities, and collaborative networks of Saudi youth, with a strong emphasis on game development and broader STEAM-related fields. A central focus is on engaging "Emerging Voices" participants, especially those ages 18 to 30, and aligning program activities with key U.S. government public diplomacy priorities such as STEM education, gender equality, and English language learning. The opportunity also explicitly encourages exposure to U.S. higher education pathways by promoting gaming-related college majors in the United States, while simultaneously helping expand and professionalize eSports culture inside Saudi Arabia.
At the core of the concept is hands-on, immersive training and capacity building led primarily by U.S. experts. The Embassy aimed for projects that do more than basic instruction by creating sustained learning environments where participants can build portfolios, practice real-world workflows, and develop industry-relevant competencies. Beyond technical training (such as coding and development), the program highlights the importance of communications, leadership, teamwork, and community building, treating the gaming ecosystem as a gateway into the creative economy. The Embassy also expressed a longer-term goal of connecting Saudi game developers with counterparts involved in production and distribution, supporting the broader infrastructure needed for a more independent Saudi gaming industry with regional leadership potential and global visibility.
A notable feature of the opportunity is the use of eSports and coding clubs as a structured platform for "game for good" engagement and leadership development. The program description envisions clubs where Saudi youth can take on defined responsibilities that mirror real industry roles, including content developers, creative directors, tournament organizers, shout casters, marketing directors, stream producers, and game designers. By rotating through or specializing in these roles, participants would gain practical experience not only in building games or competing in eSports, but also in organizing events, managing teams, producing broadcasts, and developing audiences. This approach is meant to help youth clarify career interests and aspirations, while also providing pathways to connect with U.S. gamers and experience U.S. eSports culture through collaborative or exchange-oriented components.
Eligibility and implementers were framed broadly, with Public Affairs inviting proposals from local and American nonprofit organizations as well as educational institutions. Competitive proposals were expected to deliver a mix of skills training, capacity building, and networking opportunities that link Saudi participants to U.S. businesses and U.S. educational institutions. The activities could also include community-building elements and other forms of educational or economic cooperation, as long as they support Saudi youth working in game development, eSports, STEAM disciplines, and related creative economy areas.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument types listed were grant and cooperative agreement, with an anticipated single award. The award ceiling was USD 45,000. The opportunity was posted on Aug 14, 2022, with an original closing date of Sep 14, 2022.Apply for DOS SAU PD 2208
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "eSports and Game Development Skills Training and Capacity Building" 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 Aug 14, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 14, 2022. (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 $45,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The discretionary grant opportunity is titled "eSports and Game Development Skills Training and Capacity Building."
2) Who offered this grant opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia through the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOS SAU PD 2208.
4) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 19.040.
5) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program was designed to strengthen Saudi youth participants knowledge, practical skills, professional capabilities, and collaborative networks, with a strong emphasis on game development and broader STEAM-related fields.
6) Who is the program intended to benefit?
The program focuses on Saudi youth, with a strong emphasis on engaging "Emerging Voices" participants, especially those ages 18 to 30.
7) What themes or public diplomacy priorities does the program align with?
The opportunity highlights alignment with U.S. government public diplomacy priorities including STEM education, gender equality, and English language learning.
8) How does the program connect to U.S. higher education?
The opportunity explicitly encourages exposure to U.S. higher education pathways by promoting gaming-related college majors in the United States.
9) Does the program address the growth of eSports culture in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. The program aims to help expand and professionalize eSports culture inside Saudi Arabia while supporting youth skill-building and career exploration.
10) What types of activities were expected under this grant?
Competitive proposals were expected to deliver a mix of skills training, capacity building, and networking opportunities. The program emphasized hands-on, immersive training and sustained learning environments where participants can build portfolios, practice real-world workflows, and develop industry-relevant competencies.
11) Is the program limited to technical game development training?
No. While technical training (such as coding and development) is included, the opportunity also emphasizes communications, leadership, teamwork, and community building, treating the gaming ecosystem as a pathway into the creative economy.
12) Who was expected to lead the training?
The opportunity emphasizes training and capacity building led primarily by U.S. experts.
13) What does "capacity building" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the program description, capacity building refers to creating sustained learning environments and practical structures (such as clubs and role-based experiences) that help participants develop professional capabilities, collaborative networks, and industry-relevant competencies.
14) What is meant by a "sustained learning environment"?
The Embassy sought projects that go beyond basic instruction by creating ongoing, immersive settings where participants can develop portfolios, practice real workflows, and build durable skills and professional habits tied to the gaming ecosystem.
15) What is the long-term vision behind the program?
The opportunity describes a longer-term goal of connecting Saudi game developers with counterparts involved in production and distribution, and supporting infrastructure for a more independent Saudi gaming industry with regional leadership potential and global visibility.
16) What role do eSports and coding clubs play in the program design?
eSports and coding clubs are presented as a structured platform for "game for good" engagement and leadership development, giving youth practical roles and responsibilities similar to real industry functions.
17) What kinds of roles could participants take on within these clubs?
The opportunity envisions defined responsibilities mirroring industry roles such as content developers, creative directors, tournament organizers, shout casters, marketing directors, stream producers, and game designers.
18) How do these roles support career development?
By rotating through or specializing in different roles, participants can gain practical experience in building games, competing in eSports, organizing events, managing teams, producing broadcasts, and growing audiences, helping them clarify career interests and aspirations.
19) Does the program include international or exchange-oriented components?
The description indicates that the club-based approach can provide pathways to connect with U.S. gamers and experience U.S. eSports culture through collaborative or exchange-oriented components.
20) Who was eligible to submit proposals?
Public Affairs invited proposals from local and American nonprofit organizations as well as educational institutions.
21) What kinds of partnerships or connections were encouraged?
Competitive proposals were expected to include networking opportunities linking Saudi participants to U.S. businesses and U.S. educational institutions.
22) Are community-building elements allowed as part of proposed activities?
Yes. The opportunity notes that activities could include community-building elements and other forms of educational or economic cooperation, as long as they support Saudi youth in game development, eSports, STEAM disciplines, and related creative economy areas.
23) What funding instrument types were listed?
The funding instrument types listed were grant and cooperative agreement.
24) How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity listed an anticipated single award.
25) What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was USD 45,000.
26) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on Aug 14, 2022.
27) What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was Sep 14, 2022.
28) What types of outcomes was the Embassy looking for?
Based on the description, the Embassy aimed for outcomes such as stronger practical skills, improved professional capabilities, deeper collaborative networks, real portfolio development, exposure to U.S. education pathways, and stronger linkages between Saudi participants and U.S. experts, businesses, and institutions.
29) Does the opportunity mention anything about English language learning?
Yes. English language learning is listed as one of the public diplomacy priorities the program should align with.
30) Does the opportunity mention gender equality?
Yes. Gender equality is explicitly listed among the key public diplomacy priorities.
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