Deadline: 28 February 2020
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy South Africa of the U.S. Department of State has announced an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program focused on strengthening existing ties and fostering new collaboration between U.S. and African universities.
Program Objective
The goal of the University Partnerships Initiative (UPI) is to strengthen existing ties and foster new collaboration between U.S. and South African universities. Focus areas include promoting faculty and student exchanges, facilitating joint research, building administrative capacity, and creating public-private partnerships. Program proposals should address how relationships between institutions will be sustained after U.S. government funded efforts are concluded.
Specific Program Objectives
- Promote U.S.-South Africa faculty and student exchanges, particularly the development of dual degree programs that have South Africans complete their studies in their home country and address South Africa’s shortage of qualified academic staff.
- Facilitate joint research, especially in agriculture, food security, and STEM.
- Provide training and transfer skills in all aspects of university administration through subject-matter exchange programs.
- Explore public-private partnerships, with an emphasis on commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $600,000
- Award Ceiling: $500,000
- Award Floor: $150,000
Participants and Audiences
The intended audience is community college and university students, university administrators, corporations, the NGO sector, and USG alumni. Proposals that address linkages between South African technical universities and their American counterparts are strongly encouraged. Programs that create or grow linkages between academia and commerce are also encouraged.
Priority Region
Project activities must take place in South Africa and the United States, and be directed at South African audiences/participants.
Eligibility Criteria
The following United States and South African organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations;
- Public educational institutions
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=322869