Deadline: 29-Mar-21
The U.S. Mission to Pakistan is currently seeking applications for the English Access Microscholarship Program.
Since its inception in 2004, approximately 200,000 students in more than 85 countries have participated in the program’s two years of study through at least 360 hours of intensive, after-school, and weekend English language programming. Access provides a foundation of English language skills to bright, economically disadvantaged students, primarily 13 to 20 years of age. The program introduces participants to critical thinking skills, U.S. culture, and democratic values; improves their potential to fully contribute to the socio-economic development of their countries; and increases their ability to compete for and participate in U.S. exchange and study programs.
Program goal: Contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth and stability by engaging communities in a program that develops a more educated, skilled, and inclusive society.
Objectives
- Equip a minimum of 2,000 youth, ages 13-20, residing in low-income communities across the country, with improved English language, critical thinking, cross-cultural, media literacy, civic awareness, and leadership skills over a period of a minimum of 360 hours during a maximum time period of two years.
- Provide ongoing professional development in modern approaches focusing on studentcentered, project-based learning to at least 100 Access educators.
- Enable the spread of new classroom practices to a minimum of an additional 1,000 educators through a variety of multiplier events and engagements that allow Access teachers to share best practices with a wider audience of colleagues in the community.
- Strengthen the capacity of at least 12 local partners, which are typically NGOs or schools and referred to below as “in-country educational service providers”, through ongoing training to address administrative and pedagogical needs.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Project Funding: $3,000,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling: $3,000,000
- Length of Project Period: 4 years
- Anticipated program start date: July 1, 2021
Project Audience(s): The primary beneficiary of this program is youth in economically disadvantaged communities. The secondary beneficiary is teachers who serve in under-resourced schools in these communities. Funding allows for the program to extend across the entire country, with an emphasis on an equitable distribution of students among the U.S. Mission’s four consular regions (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar). In addition, all programs should aim for achieving gender balance, where possible.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is open to international non-profit organizations. Organizations may sub-award or subcontract with other entities, but only one non-profit organization can be the prime recipient of the award. Pakistan government entities are not eligible to apply. For-profit entitles are not eligible to be the prime recipient of an award under this NOFO. When sub-awarding or subcontracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. The applicants must submit proof of their non-profit status with their proposal submission (e.g. proof of 501(c) (3) status, Pakistan NGO license). Applications that do not include proof of non-profit status will not be considered for an award. Individuals are not eligible for an award under this NOFO. U.S.-based or registered organizations should provide proof of registration to operate in Pakistan or have a documented agreement with a partner organization registered to operate in Pakistan.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=331118
