NOFO: Public Diplomacy English Language Program in Kyrgyzstan

Deadline: 31-May-25

The U.S. Embassy Bishkek Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Department of State has announced an open competition to implement a program to increase English proficiency across the Kyrgyz Republic to expand engagement with American partners, and build opportunities for stronger economic ties between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic.

A lack of adequately skilled English teachers with sufficiently high levels of English across the Kyrgyz Republic significantly impedes students learning English at a functional level. Addressing this will allow them to access English-language information and deepen economic connections with the United States.

Additionally, Kyrgyzstanis’ limited access to native English speakers restricts their ability to improve their English, their knowledge of American culture and business practices, and their motivation to learn the English language. Therefore, the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic seeks to fund program(s) for no more than two years to enhance high school and university teachers’ fluency and functionality in English to the B2 level and above throughout the Kyrgyz Republic; increase students’ access to teachers with a high level of English, including native speakers; improve students’ English level; increase the range of different students studying English that attain the B2 level; and promote knowledge of American culture.

This opportunity will help create a teaching corps in the Kyrgyz Republic equipped with stronger English and teaching skills in order to increase the number of secondary and university students achieving higher English proficiency. By connecting Kyrgyzstani teachers and students with native, American speakers of English; with Kyrgyzstanis who speak English fluently; and with authentic English-language content relevant for Kyrgyzstanis, programs from this NOFO will advance English in the Kyrgyz Republic to open doors for greater collaboration with U.S. businesses and expand Kyrgyzstanis’ understanding of American culture and leadership.

Goal

• Increase the number of Kyrgyzstanis who are proficient in English by improving the quality of English language teaching and learning in secondary schools and universities of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Objectives

• This program will complement other U.S. Embassy programs focused on promoting American English:
  • The U.S. Embassy-funded Next Generation Education program promotes the English abilities of up to 800 teachers annually to the B1 level.
  • The Access English Scholarship program has supported teacher training for relatively small cohorts of Access English teachers who were already proficient in English.
  • The embassy-funded National English Language Teacher Olympiad promotes English and pedagogical abilities to a large audience of in-service English teachers.
  • A program to prepare 20 rural teachers to take the TOEFL test achieved modest improvement in the group’s average English level.
  • C5 + Opening Networks through English (O.N.E.) Educators’ Workshop promotes a cohort of 40 highly skilled English teachers to the B2 level and above.
• Project Objectives:
  • Improve the English language proficiency of pre-service and early- to mid-career teachers through the Kyrgyz Republic through targeted training programs that lead to a minimum B2 or higher CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) level, with at least 80% of participants demonstrating a one-level increase.
  • Improve Kyrgyzstani secondary and university English teachers’ and students’ English language proficiency, confidence using English, and understanding of American culture through engagement with native, American English teachers and/or American English-language content, resulting in at least 60% of beneficiaries using English more often to access information about the United States and reporting increased understanding of American culture.
  • Improve Kyrgyzstani secondary public school students’ English language proficiency by recruiting USG program alumni, students and/or recent graduates of international universities based in the Kyrgyz Republic (with B2 level or higher English proficiency) to teach English to public school students for at least one academic year, resulting in at least 60 percent of these students demonstrating an increase in English-language proficiency.

Funding Information

• Awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $200,000 (approximately, and pending funding availability)
• Duration: 12 to 24 months.

Project Audience

• Pre-service and in-service English teachers: This program will support pre-service and in-service secondary and university English teachers of both sexes throughout the Kyrgyz Republic who demonstrate potential to achieve at least B2-level English proficiency by the end of the program.
• Advanced English speaking USG program alumni/students: Additionally, this program will target U.S. government (USG) program alumni and students and recent graduates of international universities in the Kyrgyz Republic who already speak English at an advanced level. The program will strive to recruit male advanced speakers of English, although it will support participants of both sexes.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following non-profit organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Kyrgyz Republic-Registered:
    • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
    • Public and private educational institutions
    • U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and educational institutions, partnering with Kyrgyz Republic-registered organizations.

Ineligibility Criteria

• For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.
• This opportunity will not support:
  • Projects relating to partisan political activity;
  • Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support;
  • Construction projects;
  • Projects that support specific religious activities;
  • Fund-raising campaigns;
  • Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
  • Scientific research or surveys.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic.