U.S. Department of State: EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Grant for Kenyan Students’ U.S. Higher Education

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Kenya of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project focused on promoting U.S. higher education opportunities for high-achieving, financially disadvantaged Kenyan students. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: Project activities must take place in Kenya and the United States and be directed at Kenyan audiences/participants.

Program Objectives:

The grantee will work in coordination with the Public Affairs Sections in Nairobi in support of the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds program. This program assists highly qualified students who are likely to be awarded full financial aid from U.S. colleges and universities but lack the financial resources to cover the up-front costs of required standardized admission tests, application fees, international and domestic airfare, visa fees, SEVIS fees, and settling-in allowance. The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi will select and the EducationUSA adviser will advise the Opportunity Funds students. This program supports the U.S. Embassy objectives to achieve inclusive, market-driven, environmentally sustainable economic growth, strengthen health and human capacity, and advance new activities that promote trade, economic cooperation, and legitimate travel.

Individuals and institutions interested in bidding on this cooperative agreement are asked to submit a proposal to administer the Opportunity Funds program, EducationUSA student assistant stipend disbursement, and coordination of the Phase I College Application Boot Camp to take place in June 2021 and the Phase II Graduation and Pre-Departure Orientation to take place in July 2021. The successful grantee will demonstrate an ability to effectively handle funds, coordinate logistics, and finalize payments in a timely manner.

Key Program Components:

Opportunity Funds Program Phase I

In the first phase, the Opportunity Funds scholarship will pay for about 20 students to take the SAT, SAT subject tests, and/or the ACT. The grantee will arrange payment and registration for these tests. The estimated scholarship amount for phase one is $240 per student. The institution will manage the logistics of test registration for each student and will oversee that students take the test on various test dates at various testing centers in Kenya. It is expected that students will take the tests between May and July 2021.

Opportunity Funds Program Phase II

In the second phase, the Opportunity Funds scholarship will pay for about 12 students to travel to the United States to matriculate at a U.S. institution of higher education. The scholarship will pay for visa and SEVIS fees, required immunizations, international airfare, domestic airfare (if required), and a settling-in allowance (if required). The estimated scholarship amount for phase two is $2,200 per student. The institution will communicate with the students and EducationUSA adviser, coordinate visa appointments, make travel arrangements for domestic and international travel, and coordinate payment to the students of settling-in and other related allowances. Phase II students will receive admission decisions between December and March 2021 and will need to be ready to start classes in the United States with start dates from July to September 2021.

Student Stipend

The grantee will manage monthly stipend payments to students who will assist the EducationUSA adviser in the implementation of the programmatic aspects of EducationUSA. The EducationUSA adviser will select two qualified students who have previously participated in the EducationUSA scholars program to help administer the required training for new scholars. The grantee will disburse a monthly stipend of $200 per month per student to offset travel expenses.

Boot Camp and Pre-Departure Orientation

The grantee will manage the logistics of a College Application Boot Camp to take place in June 2021 for approximately 40 students. This will be five consecutive days of activities for students preparing their college applications to study in the United States. The institution will coordinate in-country travel for all students and provide a venue, meals, refreshments, lodging, material reproduction services, and supplies and stationery. Proposals should also include plans in case the boot camp must be held virtually instead of in-person.

The grantee will also manage the logistics of a Pre-Departure Orientation to take place in July 2021 in Nairobi, for three consecutive days for approximately 20 students. The institution will coordinate in-country travel for all students and provide a venue, meals, refreshments, lodging, material reproduction services, and supplies and stationery. Proposals should also include plans in case the orientation must be held virtually instead of in-person.

Participants and Audiences:

The participants are Kenyan EducationUSA scholars, selected by the EducationUSA adviser. EducationUSA scholars are highly qualified students who are likely to be awarded full financial aid from U.S. colleges and universities but lack the financial resources to cover the up-front costs.