PAS-PAN-FY24-AEIF: 2024 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Supports Global Challenges

U.S. EMBASSY PANAMA

Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Embassy of the United States in Panama announces an open competition for past participants (“alumni”) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications to the 2024 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2024). We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below. Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2024 should submit proposals to pancultural@state.gov by January 31, 2024.

Program Objectives:

AEIF provides alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and facilitated exchange programs with funding to expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition. This year, AEIF 2024 will support the United States’ commitment to equity and inclusion through English-language education.

U.S. EMBASSY Panama will accept public service projects proposed and managed by teams of at least two (2) alumni that support themes such as: equity and inclusion through English-language education.

– Building English Language Capacity to Improve Educational Opportunities

– Economically Empower Women and Minorities through Entrepreneurship Programs

– Foster Scientific and Technical Innovation through English Language Education

Proposals must address equity and inclusion (supporting marginalized and historically underrepresented communities, including those in rural areas) and include an English-language component. Proposals that do not address the themes as outlined in the program objectives will be deemed ineligible. All project activities must take place outside of the United States and its territories.

Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

·        Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded OR sponsored.

·        Projects teams must include teams of at least two (2) alumni.

·        Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.

·        Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries.

·        Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of USG exchange alumni. No other organizations are eligible to apply. Exchange alumni can partner with not-for-profit or non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions to implement project activities. The grant can be issued to the individual alumni or the partner organization.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1.     Address to Request Application Package

Application forms required below are available at Global AEIF 2024 Competition – U.S. Embassy in Panama (usembassy.gov) or in Spanish at Competencia Global AEIF 2024 – Embajada de Estados Unidos en Panamá (usembassy.gov)

2.     Content and Form of Application Submission

Applications and budgets must be submitted using the official AEIF 2024 application and budget forms.

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

The following documents and information are required:

1.     Mandatory application forms which can be found at: Global AEIF 2024 Competition – U.S. Embassy in Panama (usembassy.gov)

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations)
• SF-424A  (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals)
• SF-424B  (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (Note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov)
• AEIF-2024-Proposal-Form.docx (live.com) FY2024 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Proposal
• AEIF-2024-Budget-Form.xlsx (live.com) Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Budget Form