Deadline: 30-Jun-20
The U.S. Embassy Kigali of the U.S. Department of State has announced an open competition for organizations to submit applications for a cooperative agreement to organize a training program and mentorship exchange on university advancement and international partnerships for mid-career Rwandan higher education administrators during the 2020-21 academic years.
Program Objectives
- The U.S. Embassy in Kigali, through the Bureau of African Affair’s University Partnership Initiative (UPI), will fund a cohort-based training and mentorship exchange program for emerging higher education administrators in Rwanda during the 2020-21 academic year,focused on university advancement and international partnership.
- There is no shortage of interest among U.S. higher education institutions in establishing partnerships in Rwanda. While U.S. institutions and Rwandan colleges and universities make many initial connections and agree to a good number of formal collaborations, most of these MOUs “quickly start gathering dust,” in the words of one local administrator. Rwandan institutions describe difficulties identifying, cultivating, and sustaining the right type of international partnerships. They also express difficulties mobilizing resources for all campus operations, including in support of international partnerships.
- Early to mid-career administrators hold the keys not just to international collaboration in higher education, but also to better student outcomes and ultimately the success of the country’s ambitious transformation into a knowledge-based economy. Emerging administrators in Rwanda often do not have the practical know-how or support to take full advantage of the United States’ status as Rwanda’s preferred partner in higher education and the strong interest by many U.S. institutions, which often see Rwanda as an ideal learning environment across a variety of fields. If they can modernize the approach of Rwandan administrators toward university advancement and international partnerships, then these influential partners will be primed to make connections that will benefit students, schools, and society at large in both Rwanda and the United States.
- In coordination with Embassy Kigali, grant recipient will design and implement a training program and mentorship exchange for no less than six (6) emerging Rwandan higher education administrators, selected to create a diverse cohort representing both public and private institutions. Programming components may include but are not limited to the following:
- The cohort will participate in workshops in Kigali, focused on exploring best practices in university advancement and international partnerships. Local experts and visiting academics will lead focused conversations. Virtual exchanges will be one priority topic in order to tailor the program to the realities of the covid-19 era.
- Site visits will illustrate a variety of existing models, and highlight ongoing U.S.-Rwandan collaborations including CMU Africa, the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), and the University of Nebraska’s connection with the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA).
- Up to six U.S.-based higher education administrators will be selected to mentor the Rwandan participants individually or in small groups. Mentors will have experience and connections in both university advancement and international partnerships. Mentor selection will prioritize a diverse range of U.S. institutions. In the event that international travel continues to be impractical, the selection of mentors with first-hand experience in Rwanda or similar settings will be prioritized. If global conditions allow, mentors will visit Rwanda for one week to learn about their partner’s institution(s) and to speak with the full cohort. Visits will be scheduled non-concurrently over the academic year to maximize impact. Mentors will connected electronically with their partner(s) throughout the year and host their partner’s fellowship.
- In 2021, the Rwandan administrators will visit their mentor’s campus for a two-week fellowship. The program will focus on advancement and partnership best practices in action and be individualized to each administrator’s unique needs. The cohort will reunite to pitch partnership deals at a relevant opportunity, including NAFSA, AIEA, etc. Participants will be able to request program funding for a senior administrator from their institution to join them for a few days at their mentor’s campus and/or at the convention event.
- Upon return to Rwanda, the cohort will organize a one-day symposium on university advancement and international partnership in Kigali in fall 2021. The cohort will author and present a white paper on working-level best practices and higher-level policy and planning recommendations within the Rwandan higher education system. This paper should be prepared for eventual publication.
- Throughout the program, Rwandan administrators will receive training on grant writing and have the opportunity to compete for funding of up to $10,000 per project for proposals that either directly or indirectly facilitate a new U.S.-Rwanda higher education partnership.
Funding Information
Award amounts: maximum of $250,000.
Participants and Audiences
Jointly with grantee, U.S. Embassy Kigali will participate in selecting a diverse cohort of mid-career administrators representing a variety of Rwandan higher education institutions. This program will also actively engage senior administrators within the Rwanda higher education system and U.S. HEIs.
Eligibility Criteria
U.S. or Rwandan not-for-profit organizations and U.S. or Rwandan public or private educational institutions are eligible to apply. For-profit organizations are not eligible for this grant.
Evaluation Criteria
- Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
- Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.
- Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
- Budget: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.
- Monitoring and evaluation plan: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured.
- Sustainability: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=327470