2025 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2025)

Funding Opportunity Title:                 2025 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2025)

Funding Opportunity Number:           PAS-MOROCCO-FY25-02

Deadline for Applications:                  January 31, 2025         

Assistance Listing Number:               19.022

Total Amount Available:                      $35,000

Email:                                                     [email protected]

 

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

 The United States Embassy in Morocco announces an open competition for past participants (alumni) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications to the 2025 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2025) to carry out a program related to one of Mission Morocco’s priority areas for 2025: Climate, Digital Transformation, Economics, Education, and Governance.

 

We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below. Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2025 should submit completed applications and all relevant materials to [email protected] by January 31, 2025.

Program Objectives:

 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, public service projects that support the following objectives will be given priority:

 ·      Promoting Innovation in Climate Adaptation: Focus on educating youth and publics about current environmental issues, including crafting creative solutions to environmental challenges, green energy initiatives and energy conservation, climate change adaptation strategies, as well as action plans to deal with water scarcity exacerbated by climate change and urbanization.

 ·      Strengthening Mutual Economic Prosperity: Focus on educating youth and publics about current environmental issues, including crafting creative solutions to environmental challenges, green energy initiatives and energy conservation, climate change adaptation strategies, as well as action plans to deal with water scarcity exacerbated by climate change and urbanization.

 ·      Strengthening Collaboration Between Civil Society and Community-Level Governments: Encourage Moroccan youth to participate in civic life through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement, particularly in vulnerable communities.

 

Participants and Audiences:

 Please be specific when mentioning the target audience(s) of your proposed project, including demographic information and the approximate number of beneficiaries to be directly and indirectly impacted by project activities.

 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: Up to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated: Up to two awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $35,000

Total available funding: $35,000

Type of Funding: Fulbright-Hayes Public Diplomacy Funds

Anticipated programs start date: October 2025

 

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

 

Funding Instrument Type: 

 Grant, fixed amount award, or cooperative agreement. The type of funding instrument, exact amount of funding, the scope of work, and the terms and conditions of a successful award will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the applicant and U.S. Embassy representatives after the application has been selected for funding.

 

Program Performance Period: 

 Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

 

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

 1.     Eligible Applicants:

 The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program (https://alumni.state.gov/list-exchange-programs) or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program (https://j1visa.state.gov/).
• Projects teams must include teams of at least two (2) alumni.
• Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but they may be included on alumni teams: however, the team must have at least two non-U.S. citizen exchange program alumni leading the project.
• Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni. Not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions are not eligible to apply in the name of the organization but can serve as partners for implementing project activities.

 

2.     Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required for this funding opportunity.

 

3.     Other Eligibility Requirements

 To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individual applicants are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

 Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal.

 

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

 1.     Address to Request Application Package:

All application required forms are available at: https://ma.usembassy.gov/education-culture/funding-opportunities/

 

2.     Content and Form of Application Submission:

 Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

 

Content of Application

Please ensure:

·      The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

·      All documents are in English

·      All budgets are in U.S. dollars

·      All pages are numbered

·      All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

·      All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a        minimum of 1-inch margins.

 

The following documents and information are required: 

1.     Mandatory application forms

·      SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance --individuals) at

·      SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

·      SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs)

2.     2025 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Proposal Form

1.     About Your Project: Please provide information on the title of your project, the requested budget total, and the primary location of the project. Projects need to take place outside of the U.S. or its territories.

2.     Project Team Information: At least two exchange alumni team members are required for a project to be considered for funding. Applications need to provide the name and contact information, describe the role each team member will have in the project, and their experience, qualifications, and ability to carry out that role. Applicants need to indicate what proportion of the team member’s time will be used in support of the project.

3.     Problem Statement: A short narrative which outlines the proposed project, including challenge/s to be addressed, project objectives, and anticipated impact.

4.     Project Goals and Objectives: The goal/s of the proposed project need to describe what the project is intended to achieve and include the objectives which support the goal/s. Objectives should be specific, measurable, and realistically achievable in a set time frame.

5.     Project Methods, Design, and Timeline: A description of how the project is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal/s. This should include a description of the project’s direct and indirect beneficiaries as well as a plan on how to continue the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. The proposed timeline for the project activities should include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Applicants may also submit proposed workshop or training agendas and materials.

6.     Project Timeline: A timeline of your project activities.

7.     Beneficiaries: An estimated number of direct and indirect beneficiaries of your proposed project.

8.     Local Project Partners: A list of partners who will support the proposed project, if applicable.

9.     Communication Plan: It should include a communication and outreach strategy for promoting the proposed project. It may include social media, websites, print news, or other forms of media intended to use to share information about the project to beneficiaries and the public. Communications should include AEIF 2025, Exchange Alumni, and U.S. Embassy branding. 

10. Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: The Monitoring and Evaluation component of the proposal should outline in detail how the proposal’s activities will advance the program’s goals and objectives. This should include any outcomes showing a change in knowledge, awareness, and attitudes; improved quality of services; increased capacity at a school, group; etc. Proposals should also include how the grantee will measure the impact of planned activities.

 

3.     2025 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Budget Form with Budget Narrative: Applicants must submit a detailed budget and budget narrative justification utilizing the template provided. Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. Budgets shall be submitted in U.S. dollars and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars.

 

4.     Attachments:

·      1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program.

·      Official permission letters, if required for program activities

 

3.     Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) for Organizations

 

Required Registrations:

 All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

4.     Submission Dates and Times

 Applications are due by midnight on January 31, 2025, to [email protected]

 

5. Funding Restrictions

AEIF 2025 does not support the following activities or costs, and the selection committee will deem applications involving any of these activities or costs ineligible:

 ·      Any airfare to/from the United States and its territories

·      Activities that take place in the United States and its territories

·      Staff salaries, office space, and overhead/operational expenses

·      Large items of durable equipment or construction programs 

·      Alcohol, excessive meals, refreshments, or entertainment

·      Academic or scientific research

·      Charitable or development activities 

·      Provision of direct social services to a population 

·      Individual scholarships

·      Social travel/visits

·      Gifts or prizes

·      Duplication of existing programs

·      Institutional development of an organization

·      Venture capital, for-profit endeavors, or charging a fee for participation in project

·      Support for specific religious activities

·      Fund-raising campaigns

·      Support or opposition of partisan political activity or lobbying for specific legislation