Deadline: 16-Apr-2024
The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Islamabad announces an open competition for one assistance award through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), contingent on funding availability, through the Public Diplomacy Grants Program.
The grantee will implement a program which strengthens linkages and increases collaboration between U.S. and Pakistani Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Competitive proposals should aim to (1) build linkages between U.S. and Pakistani universities through joint research and publications (themes listed below) and/or (2) strengthen the institutional capacities of Pakistan universities to partner with U.S. counterparts.
This program aims to build new university linkages and continue strengthening existing partnerships between U.S. and Pakistani universities through one-to-one or one-to multiple university partnerships that support education professionals including faculty and administrators and student collaboration on research and skills-building in the following areas:
- Supporting inclusive economic development
- Bolstering environmental sustainability & climate resilience;
- Enhancing educational opportunities
- Fostering civic engagement & empowering marginalized communities;
- Strengthening democratic institutions;
Project Goal
- This project seeks to foster inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in Pakistan by building university linkages between U.S. and Pakistani universities and enhancing educational and exchange opportunities that will in turn make Pakistani society better educated, more skilled, and more inclusive.
Project Objectives
- Objective 1: Create lasting partnerships between Pakistani students and education professionals including faculty and administrators and American university counterparts to improve research capabilities and expertise of HEIs in Pakistan (through best practices shared by U.S. partner universities). Partnership areas may include curriculum and professional development for faculty, research, distance learning (via Internet/DVC), sharing of resources, and faculty and student exchanges.
- Objective 2: Improve economic and employment opportunities of Pakistani students by enhancing post-education career skills and services available to students attending these HEIs through participation in experiential learning as part of short-term exchange travel to the United States. Faculty and student exchange programs lasting 3 to 4 weeks are preferred, though shorter durations are also permitted pending focus of the exchange.
- Objective 3: Develop equity, diversity, and leadership skills among education professionals and students in Pakistan.
- The means of achieving the above objectives is left purposefully broad to encourage the submission of innovative proposals tailored to the international education and research goals of prospective U.S. and Pakistani partner institutions.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $1,700,000
- Award Ceiling: $500,000
- Award Floor: $400,000
- Length of performance period: Eighteen (18) to twenty-four(24) months
- Number of awards anticipated: Three (3) to Four (4) awards
- Anticipated program start date: July 1, 2024
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Public and private educational institutions
- For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.