Africa Regional Services Paris Annual Program Statement: ARS Speaker Program

Africa Regional Services Paris Annual Program Statement: ARS Speaker Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of State, Africa Regional Services. This program solicits statements of interest for virtual and in-person programs led by U. S.

speakers focusing on various themes, including Climate Change, Environment and Waste Management, and Energy Security, within Sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa Regional Services (ARS), located at the U.S. Mission to France in Paris, is a division of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs Office of Public Diplomacy and Public and Congressional Affairs.

ARS provides public diplomacy services to U.S. embassies and American Spaces in Africa ranging from the dissemination of books about American excellence and by U.S. authors in French and Portuguese to public diplomacy program development and support. ## Books and Webographies ARS manages three flagship book programs, Nouveaux Horizons, Books in French, and Books in Portuguese.

Under the Nouveaux Horizons imprint, ARS publishes books by American authors translated into French for sale and distribution in francophone Africa. Under the Books in French and the Books in Portuguese programs, ARS distributes books, audiobooks, and e-books about American excellence and American-authored books in the French and Portuguese languages to U.S. embassies as well as webographies in French.

Nouveaux Horizons is ARS’s book publishing department, which publishes books about American excellence and by American authors in French, sells them to booksellers throughout francophone Africa, and distributes copies to U.S. embassies.

Nouveaux Horizons publishes about 30 new titles each year on topics including leadership and management, personal and professional development, entrepreneurships, and American heroes, and publishes a wide range of titles for children and youth. Check out the **New Horizons (_nouveaux horizons_) page**in French to find out more, and to access our general and youth catalogs.

**Books in French**ARS also sends books by American authors translated into French to U.S. Embassies and American Spaces in francophone Africa. Check out the **Books in French page**to find out more. **Free Online Resources**ARS designs**webographies**, i.e., bibliographies of free resources on the internet in French, on topics that address U.S. foreign policy objectives and American excellence.

**Books in Portuguese**ARS provides U.S. embassies and American in Lusophone Africa with **books in Portuguese**about American excellence and by American authors **U.S. Speakers and Artists Program** ARS identifies American professionals, who speak French or Portuguese to conduct digital as well as traveling U.S. speaker programs for U.S. Missions in Africa.

U.S. embassies use Africa Regional Services (ARS) U.S. Speaker and Artist Program to explain American perspectives on a wide range of topics using independent American experts who participate in lectures, seminars, workshops, events, and conferences with African publics. These exchanges promote a better understanding of American values and policies.

ARS programs speakers in two formats: In person, by traveling to specific locations in Africa, and virtually by Zoom. Speakers come from a variety of backgrounds such as business, health, education, journalism, and other fields. Artists come from dance, music, storytelling, and other professions.

ARS funds the programs and ensures the logistics for participating speakers and artists. Interested in applying to ARS U.S. Speakers and Artists program? U.S. citizens may submit a statement of interest (SOI) to be considered for a small grant as a guest speaker or artist to conduct outreach activities that enhance the understanding of the United States in sub–Saharan Africa.

The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. The purpose of the SOI is to allow applicants to submit their credentials for consideration of inclusion on ARS’ roster of available speakers who will collaborate with U.S. embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa to reach target audiences.

Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be interviewed and later informer of their inclusion on the ARS roster. The second step begins once names are included on the roster. **Please visit**https://grants.

gov/search-results-detail/362065**to read the current Annual Program Statement. ** Questions? Contact us at ARSSpeaker@state.

gov. ## ARS Arts Program with U.S. Embassy Angola What does a great ARS Arts program look like? Take a look at the cultural exchanges and policy advances that took place during the Eleanor Dubinsky Quartet's trip to Luanda, Angola. ARS promotes understanding of U.S. policy toward Africa through international media engagement.

In partnership with AF/PDPA and the U.S.-Africa Regional Media Hub in Johannesburg, ARS conducts and arranges interviews, press conferences and media briefings with U.S. officials on issues related to U.S. policy toward Africa with French and Europe-based Pan African media. _**Are You a Journalist? **_ Do you wish to be alerted of press events we organize?

Email us atARSPress@state. gov. _**Reminder to Members of the Press Going to the United States**_ An I visa is required for all representatives of foreign media, print, radio, TV or any other media if they intend to work as a journalist during their visit to the United States.

This applies to all non-American journalists, for reporting, working on documentaries, producing videos, and/or any other work in connection with media while in the United States. Please check the Consular page of theU. S.

Embassy in Francefor further information about the visa process. _**The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)**_ IVLP is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Every year, participants from around the world travel to the United States to meet their American counterparts and discover the country.

The three-week visit allows participants to travel to different states, to visit a variety of public and private organizations related to their professional interest, and to participate in social and cultural activities. ARS selects visitors through an internal nomination process, which is not open to the public. Over the past 30 years, more than 500 Paris-based African-born journalists have participated in the IVLP.

More information about the International Visitor Leadership Program can be found here: Link: https://exchanges. state. gov/non-us/program/international-visitor-leadership-program-ivlp