U.S. Department of State
U.S. Embassy in Suriname
Notice of Funding Opportunity

 

The Embassy of the United States in Suriname 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 2024 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2024). We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below. Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2024 should submit proposals and budget using the templates on the right of this page to paramaribo-grants@state.gov by January 15, 2024.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
AEIF provides alumni of U.S. 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.

The U.S. Embassy Suriname will review applications and submit the top ranked to the global competition. To facilitate that, we are seeking expressions of interest from teams of at least two (2) alumni that support projects addressing one of these themes:

• Nurturing efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change and reduce food and water insecurity, particularly among underserved and vulnerable populations.
• Developing a sense of civic engagement in youth or marginalized communities, so historically marginalized communities realize their equal opportunity to engage and succeed in society.
• Advancing understanding of modern agricultural practices and expanding entrepreneurship skills with the goal of increasing exports to U.S. and EU markets.
• Supporting efforts to counter corruption.
• Creating opportunities for people with disabilities to engage productively in society.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION
Closing date for statements of interest: January 15, 2024
Funding type: Small grant awards
Expected size of individual awards: Between $5,000 to $35,000. 

This notice is subject to availability of funding. 

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION
1. Eligible Applicants:

The following individuals 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 U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.
• Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries.
• Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of USG 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.

Preference will be given to teams of alumni made up entirely of/or led by alumni who have not received a grant from the Embassy or U.S. State Department in the last three years.

2. Cost Sharing
Inclusion of cost share is not a requirement of this opportunity.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

Should the grant be processed with an organization that is a partner in the project, that organization must have a UEI, as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Organizations must have a commitment to equal opportunity employment practices and to non-discrimination practices with regard to beneficiaries, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

4. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)
Applicants should include in their proposal their plan for making their program accessible to people with disabilities. For suggestions please visit: https://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/creating-accessible-programming/

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package:
   Application and budget templates can be downloaded. Click on the templates link on the right of this page.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
   Applications and budgets must be submitted using the official AEIF 2024 application and budget forms.

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.

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity;
• The proposal addresses all questions in the official AEIF 2024 application form;
• All documents are in English;
• The budget is in U.S. dollars and is submitted using the designated AEIF 2024 budget form;
• All pages are numbered.

The following documents and information are required:

• Mandatory application forms:
  • SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals) found on the right of this page.
  • SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) found on the right of this page.
  • SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) found on the right of this page. (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov).
• 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.
• 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.
• Problem Statement: A short narrative which outlines the proposed project, including challenge/s to be addressed, project objectives, and anticipated impact.
• 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.
• 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.
• Local Project Partners: A list of partners who will support the proposed project, if applicable.
• Communication Plan: The communication plan 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 2024, ExchangeAlumni, and U.S. Embassy branding.
• Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: The Monitoring and Evaluation component of the proposal should outline in detail how the grantees will ensure that the proposed activities are happening and that they are advancing the program’s goals and objectives. What milestones will the program have (i.e., participants selected, workshop completed, follow up projects begun etc.). What outcomes will you measure to show success? (i.e., a change in knowledge, awareness, and attitudes; improved quality of services; increased capacity at a school, group; etc.)  Proposals should also include how and when the grantee will measure the impact of planned activities. Will you use quantitative or qualitative measures or a combination of both?  Be specific on the method and timing of the evaluation.
• Budget Justification 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.
• Attachments: Official permission letters, if required for program activities. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

E. BUDGET RULES AND RESTRICTIONS:

AEIF 2024 can support the funding of the following types of activities/costs:

• Intra-regional or in-country transportation
• Rental of venues for project activities
• PPE and sanitizing equipment
• Meals/refreshments integral to the project (i.e., working lunch for a meeting)
• Reasonable costs to support virtual programming (i.e., subscription to Zoom, WebEx, camera/microphones for virtual meetings, mailing services, etc.)
• Trainer or speaker honoraria expenses (i.e., maximum $200/day fee, travel, lodging, per diem)
• Reasonable equipment and materials
• Communications and publicity materials, such as manuals or project advertisements

AEIF 2024 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

F. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

Evaluation Criteria: The U.S. embassy Public Affairs Sections will use the criteria outlined below to evaluate all applications.  The proposals will be reviewed by a Selection Committee made up of regional and exchange program experts located at the Department of State in Washington, DC. Panelists will use the criteria below to review and evaluate applications.

Relevance to Application Theme
The proposal provides sufficient information on how the activities will support the theme(s) of the competition. The narrative explains any relevant local context the D.C. Selection Committee may not be aware of in relation to this project.  Proposed project ideas must be public diplomacy in nature (i.e., not development or military).

Purpose and Summary, Description, and Implementation Plan
When developing the purpose, summary, description, and implementation plan, applicants should aim to make all descriptions clear, concise, and compelling.  Reviewers will judge the proposals based on the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the community where it is undertaken.  Does the project address an important gap of understanding or need?  If the aim of the project is achieved, how will existing knowledge or practice be improved?  What audience do the applicants hope to reach with this project?  How many will participate?  How will they be selected?

Degree of Alumni Involvement 
Projects must include the involvement of at least two (2) exchange alumni.  They may be the project team leaders or collaborate directly with PAS in formulating the project.  More than two alumni may comprise the team, however, the minimum is two.  As the team leaders, the alumni must be closely involved in project planning, implementation, etc.  Applicants should ensure that the proposal includes the following information for each alumni team member: first name, last name, e-mail address, exchange program, country of citizenship, and roles and responsibilities.

Participation and Support from Local Partners
The proposal demonstrates buy-in and support from the community where the project will take place. Local partner involvement is a strong sign that there is community support and that the project will engage a broad array of experts, such as subject matter experts, community centers, academic institutions, businesses, local/national government, non-governmental organizations, American Spaces, etc.

Evaluation and Impact of the Project
A monitoring & evaluation (M&E) plan is pivotal to project implementation and important tracking progress towards the project’s objectives and goals.  An M&E plan should consider the data needed to effectively monitor progress toward specific outputs and outcomes as well as how that data collection will be accomplished.  Well-crafted indicators should be used to understand a program’s progress toward the desired results.  An M&E plan should be reviewed for the following:

• Completion
• Applicability and logic of objectives and indicators
• Clear approach to monitoring
• Adherence to SMART criteria
• Feasibility of baselines and targets
• Data quality plan
• Capacity to implement plan

Sustainability
Have the applicants considered how the project will continue to have positive impact after the end of the project.

Communication, Media, and Outreach Plan
The project should include a clear plan and timeline for how and when the team will share information about the project with the general public or a targeted audience.  It is important to ensure that the U.S. Embassy gets recognition throughout the process, if circumstances permit.

Budget and Budget Narrative
The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently 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.  The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project.  Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.  

G. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

The grant award will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Payment Method: Payment will be made upon request (either as advance or reimbursement) by the grantee via direct deposit to USD bank account.

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports, the frequency depending on the complexity of the program.

H. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS
Questions about the grant application process should be directed to: paramaribo-grants@state.gov

Disclaimer: This notice is subject to availability of funding. The U.S. Embassy does not guarantee availability of funding by receiving applications under this announcement. Only successful applicants will be contacted.