Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2022) | PASNOFO 22 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for PASNOFO 22 01

The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2022) is a small-grants opportunity run through the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa for alumni of U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. The goal is to help exchange alumni take the skills, networks, and ideas they gained during their time on exchange and turn them into practical, alumni-led projects that address real community challenges. Since 2011, AEIF has supported hundreds of alumni projects worldwide through a competitive process, and the 2022 round is positioned as part of a broader U.S. commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and advancing regional peace and security.

In Ethiopia, the Embassy is looking for public service projects that are both proposed and managed by teams of at least two exchange alumni. Competitive proposals are expected to connect clearly to democracy and governance outcomes, with examples of relevant sub-themes including strengthening transparent and democratic institutions, promoting good governance and rule of law, supporting peacebuilding and human rights principles, engaging stakeholders in democratic processes, increasing transparency and accountability, and encouraging youth engagement to improve rule of law. A core requirement is that the project activities must take place outside the United States and its territories, and proposals that do not directly address the stated themes are treated as ineligible.

AEIF 2022 awards are described as small grants, with individual award amounts expected to range from USD 10,000 to USD 40,000. The opportunity was posted on February 1, 2022, with proposals due by March 3, 2022, and funding decisions expected no later than April 10, 2022. Projects are meant to be time-bound and achievable, with a performance period of one year or less, which means applicants need to propose activities that can realistically be implemented, monitored, and wrapped up within that timeframe.

Eligibility is centered on the applicant being an exchange alumnus or alumna from a qualifying U.S. government-funded exchange program (as listed on the State Department alumni site) or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program (including J-1 related programs). Applications must be submitted by alumni, and each project team must include at least two alumni. U.S. citizen alumni are not allowed to submit proposals as the applicant, but they may participate as team members. Teams may mix alumni from different exchange programs and even different countries, which opens the door for cross-program and cross-border collaboration. Applicants may only submit one proposal. Cost sharing is optional and not required.

A notable structural point is that organizations such as NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions cannot apply “as the organization” for this grant, but they can participate as implementing partners to support the alumni-led team. Administrative requirements also depend on how the award is processed: if the grant is made to an individual, the individual does not need a DUNS number or SAM.gov registration; if the grant is processed through a partner organization, that organization must have a unique entity identifier (DUNS, per the notice) and an active SAM.gov registration. Partner organizations are also expected to follow equal opportunity and non-discrimination practices for both employment and beneficiary selection, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

The application must use the official AEIF 2022 application and budget templates and follow formatting and submission rules closely, because noncompliant submissions can be ruled ineligible. Submissions must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars using the designated budget form, and pages should be numbered. The required content focuses on both the credibility of the team and the practicality of the workplan. Applicants must provide project team details (names, contacts, roles, relevant qualifications, and the estimated proportion of each member’s time devoted to the project). They must also include a concise proposal summary describing the challenge being addressed, the objectives, and the anticipated impact.

Beyond the summary, the proposal must clearly lay out project goals and measurable objectives, along with a methods/design section and a timeline that explains exactly how activities will be implemented, when and where they will occur, and who will benefit. Strong proposals are expected to identify direct and indirect beneficiaries, explain why the chosen approach will work, and address sustainability by describing how results will continue beyond the grant period or what additional resources might support continuation. Applicants may also include draft training agendas or workshop materials if relevant. Proposals should list local partners, if any, and include a communication plan that explains how the project will be promoted and how outreach will reach intended audiences, using channels such as social media, websites, print, or other media. Communications are expected to incorporate AEIF 2022, Exchange Alumni, and U.S. Embassy branding.

Monitoring and evaluation is treated as a required, substantive part of the proposal, not an afterthought. Applicants need to explain how they will track progress and measure results, including outcomes such as changes in knowledge, awareness, or attitudes; improved quality of services; or increased capacity within a school, group, or community. The proposal should specify what indicators will be used and how data will be collected to demonstrate impact.

Budgeting expectations are strict and detail-oriented. Applicants must submit a line-item budget and a budget justification narrative using the provided template, describing expenses with as much specificity as possible. AEIF 2022 also lists clear restrictions: it will not fund travel to or from the United States, any activities conducted in the United States, staff salaries or routine overhead (office space and operational expenses), large durable equipment or construction, alcohol or excessive hospitality costs, academic or scientific research, charitable or development-style aid, direct provision of social services, individual scholarships, social visits, gifts or prizes, duplication of existing programs, institutional development for an organization, venture capital or for-profit activities (including charging participation fees), support for specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, or any partisan political activity or lobbying for specific legislation.

For submission, alumni teams must email their proposal to PASAddisGrants@state.gov by March 3, 2022, using the subject line format “AEIF 2022 proposal