We are thrilled to announce that the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) is now open for application. Funding range for proposals is between $5,000 and $25,000.
Since its inception in 2011, the U.S. Department of State has funded over 500 AEIF projects led worldwide by alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. AEIF grants support Exchange Alumni team initiatives that increase regional and global collaboration of alumni, support U.S. foreign policy objectives, and benefit local communities.
Past projects have strengthened the role of women in climate change advocacy in Kenya, supported women’s economic empowerment in Morocco, and much more!
This year, projects that support the following objectives will be given priority:
· Help Moroccan youth build and develop skills to improve their potential through innovative science (especially environmental and health awareness), technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) programs, as well as through entrepreneurship programs and vocational training.
· 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.
· Encourage Moroccan youth to participate in civic life through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement.
· Strengthen understanding of U.S. values and institutions; highlight US culture, including American Studies, English language teaching/learning, and study in the United States; as well as support diversity through the acceptance of minority groups, including individuals with special needs or handicapping conditions, and other areas of mutual interest.
For the Phase I submission, Alumni are encouraged to submit a short concept paper explaining their project idea and implementation plan as well asa draft budget to Rabatgrants@state.gov by December 19, 2023. Alumni should work in teams of at least two alumni and meet all program eligibility requirements below.
· 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.
Projects that qualify for additional consideration, will be asked to submit a full proposal for the Phase II submission, due by January 30, 2023. Phase II submission projects will be evaluated on the relevance of the project theme to Mission goals, quality of the proposal and implementation plan, degree of alumni involvement and their capacity to implement the project in partnership with the U.S. Mission, participation and support from local partners, the quality of the monitoring and evaluation plan and a comprehensive draft budget. 3 Teams will be selected to work closely with Rabat Grants and The Alumni Office to finalize three final proposals to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in Washington, DC. The final grants will be awarded by Washington, DC.
We wish you best of luck,
Your friends at the U.S. Embassy,
