2025 U.S.- Philippines Entry to the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Competition

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announces an open competition for past participants (“alum” or “alumni”) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications to the 2025 U.S.- Philippines Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2025).

AEIF provides alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and facilitated exchange programs with funding to expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition.

This year PAS will accept public service projects proposed and managed by teams of at least two (2) alumni that support one or more of the following themes:

• Peace and Security

o Conflict Mediation and Resolution

o Resilience to ongoing and emerging security threats

o Nonviolent Advocacy

• Economic Prosperity

o Digital literacy

o Establishing Public-Private Partnerships

o Social Entrepreneurship

• Organizational Capacity Building for Alumni Engagement

o Proposal writing

o Organizational management

o Budgeting/Financial management

• Proposals that do not address the theme as outlined in the program objectives will be deemed ineligible. All project activities must take place within the Philippines.

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

·        Length of performance period: 12 months

·        Number of awards: 1-3

·        Award ceiling: $35,000

·        Award floor: $5,000

·        Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement.

 This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award (FAAs), or Cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements and some FAAs are different from grants in that PDS staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation (“Substantial Involvement”). If a cooperative agreement or an FAA that includes substantial involvement may be used.

Examples of substantial involvement can include, but are not limited to: 

•            Active collaboration with the recipient in the implementation of the award;

•            Joint preparation or presentation of results with the recipient;

•            Involvement in the selection of program participants and scholarship recipients;

•            Approval of the curriculum and the structure of the Program;

•            Approval of the participants for the program.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

PAS will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

 Certification Regarding Compliance with applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws

None of the funds awarded under this agreement may be used for any initiatives or programs, or any activities that do not comply with Executive Order 14173 titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.

The Recipient shall submit, prior to award or upon request from Grants Officer, a certification that confirms:

1.   Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4)of title 31, United States Code and;

2.    It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.