Deadline: 07-May-24
The Global Leaders Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is accepting proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, administer, and implement the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program.
The JCSVEI will strengthen engagement between young people in the Middle East and North Africa (NEA) region and in the United States as a lasting tribute to the legacy of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. The JCSVEI will use various virtual exchange formats, technology, and online tools to facilitate exchange programs that address the themes of: Civic Engagement; Empowering Women and Girls; Climate Change and Sustainability; Language Learning and Practice; and Digital Literacy Skill Development. By using a wide range of virtual exchange formats, the program should reach approximately 10,000 participants each year. The JCSVEI will also include an Alumni Leadership Academy, and other follow-on alumni engagement activities.
The JCSVEI aims to make international exchange experiences available to individuals in the Middle East and North Africa and the United States through programs that connect people virtually in sustained and meaningful ways. The program will also include a substantial Alumni Leadership Academy program that will offer a multi-month learning experience and in-person programming for alumni of the JCSVEI virtual programs.
The JCSVEI supports the following broad goals:
- Promote mutual understanding and lasting partnerships between people from the Middle East and North Africa region and the United States.
- Provide opportunities for participants to collaborate, and share ideas, approaches, and strategies to develop solutions to pressing local and global challenges.
- Equip people with the tools they need to communicate and collaborate in a digital environment.
- Enhance leadership and professional skills for both non-U.S. and American participants to encourage positive change in their communities.
Program Themes
- Applicants should propose a portfolio of virtual exchange programming that addresses a minimum of three of the outlined themes:
- Civic Engagement;
- Empowering Women and Girls;
- Climate Change and Sustainability;
- Language Learning and Practice; and,
- Digital Literacy Skill Development;
Funding Information
- Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024
- Approximate Total Funding: $6,000,000 pending the availability of funds
- Approximate Average Award: $6,000,000, pending the availability of funds
- Minimum “Floor” of Award: $6,000,000, pending the availability of funds
- Maximum “Ceiling” of Award: $6,000,000, pending the availability of funds
- Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2024, pending the availability of funds
- Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 30, 2026
Program Specific Guidelines
- The proposal should integrate the program goals into all aspects of the program design and implementation. The proposal should demonstrate any regional and thematic expertise and detail the applicant’s and subrecipients’ ability to implement virtual exchange in a variety of settings. Organizations should consider how they will implement virtual exchange activities, given the potential limits to internet access from participants in some locations and while continuing to advance foreign policy objectives and achieve lasting benefits for U.S. citizens and international participants.
- The recipient will be responsible for managing and supporting all virtual, and domestic and international, activities and serve as the primary program contact for involved U.S. embassies. Award recipients must work closely with involved U.S. embassies to seek approval of local partners, recruitment, other in-country program activities, and the selection of alumni for the Alumni Leadership Academy.
Participants
- Participants in the JCSVEI must be young people from the United States, or from one of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Eligibility Criteria
- U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, exchange-of-persons, and other not for-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit applications for this competition. Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application.
- ECA’s grant guidelines require that organizations demonstrate at least four years of experience in conducting international exchanges to be eligible for awards exceeding $130,000 in ECA funding. As noted in section B above, ECA anticipates issuing one grant/cooperative agreement, for approximately $6,000,000. Therefore, organizations that do not demonstrate four years of experience in conducting international exchanges in your proposal are ineligible to apply under this competition.
- Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization.
For more information, visit Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.