Deadline: 1-Jun-22
The U.S. Embassy Windhoek of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to create and sustain academic partnership between American and Namibian universities.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s youth population will double to 830 million by 2050, and helping young people meet their aspirations and have the tools to improve their communities and futures will be key to U.S. policy objectives of regional stability, inclusive economic growth, and promoting democratic values. Higher Education in Africa is under-resourced and ill-prepared to meet this tidal wave of demand.
Africa has just 1,500 public and private universities, less than 1% of the world’s top 250 universities, contributes less than 1% to global research, and only 9% of its youth are enrolled in higher education institutions (HEIs). The sector is also struggling with virtual education due to inadequate infrastructure, administration, and training.
Program Objectives:
- To establish a sustainable partnership between an American and a Namibian institution of higher education one of the following fields:
- Education
- University administration
- Climate change and the environment
- Entrepreneurship development
- Renewable energy, particularly solar and green hydrogen
- Journalism and Media Disinformation
- Other topics will be considered by the committee
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: One to Three years
- Number of awards anticipated: One award (dependent on amounts)
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $200,000
- Total available funding: $200,000
- Type of Funding: FY22 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds
- Anticipated program start date: October 1, 2022
Participants and Audiences
- Namibian students, professors, and administrators.
- Specifically, university researchers and administrators can build their institutions to play a constructive role in their democracies and foster long-term academic collaborations with American universities and build durable institutions.
- Youth and the general Namibian public are secondary audiences.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply
- Only educational institutions can apply.
- HBCUs and other minority institutions are encouraged to apply.
For more information, visit https://na.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grant-programs/