2020 Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) in Arabic for High School Students | DOS BAGHDAD PD 2019 006

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity about?

This opportunity funds the design and implementation of the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) 2020 in an Arabic-language version for secondary (high school) students. The core idea is to expand access to talented Iraqi youth who meet IYLEP standards of merit, commitment, and leadership potential, but who do not have strong English skills due to limited learning opportunities tied to social and economic circumstances.

2) Who is the funding agency?

The funder is the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission in Iraq (the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad).

3) Is this funding a grant or a contract?

This opportunity is a Grant, and it is categorized as Discretionary funding.

4) What is the main program area or activity category?

The primary activity area is Education.

5) What is the purpose of the program?

The overall goal is to invest in the next generation of Iraqi leaders through a structured exchange experience that introduces students to U.S. society and culture while also providing leadership training and practical community engagement experience.

6) What skills and themes should the program develop?

The program is expected to focus on leadership skills, civic education and responsibility, understanding diversity and respecting differences, building tolerance, and strengthening civic participation and positive community engagement. Because the target group is high school students, activities are typically educational and interactive, emphasizing character-building, decision-making, teamwork, and connecting learning to community service and citizenship awareness.

7) What makes this IYLEP version different from typical exchange programs?

This version is specifically designed in Arabic for high school students and aims to remove English language ability as a barrier. It targets strong students with leadership promise whose limited access to high-quality English learning is often linked to economic or social disadvantage.

8) Who is the intended participant group?

The program is intended for Iraqi high school students who are academically strong and show leadership potential and commitment, with a focus on those from economically less advantaged backgrounds or marginalized groups, particularly those who lack English skills because they have had fewer opportunities to learn it.

9) Are students allowed to apply directly for this grant?

No. The grant is not for individual students. It is for eligible organizations to submit proposals to design and run the program.

10) Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations that have 501(c)(3) status with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), excluding institutions of higher education.

11) Are universities or higher education institutions eligible?

No. The eligibility description excludes institutions of higher education.

12) What is required regarding programming in the United States?

Proposals must include a "U.S.-based exchange component," meaning a core part of the program must be implemented on U.S. territory.

13) Is the exchange component mainly about travel?

No. The opportunity emphasizes that the exchange is not simply a travel experience. It is intended as a real space for cultural connection and mutual learning between Iraqi and American youth and communities.

14) How should the program support mutual understanding between Iraq and the United States?

The proposal should explain how activities will strengthen mutual understanding by enabling Iraqi students to learn about U.S. life and culture, while also allowing U.S. host communities or youth to learn about Iraq through direct interaction with the participants.

15) How does this opportunity relate to broader U.S.-Iraq cooperation?

The opportunity notes alignment with the 2008 U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement, which emphasizes building long-term ties of friendship and understanding through exchange programs and related initiatives.

16) What is the expected funding amount?

The anticipated ceiling for a single award is up to USD 1,000,000.

17) How many awards are expected?

The opportunity anticipates one award.

18) Is the award guaranteed?

No. The opportunity indicates the award is subject to the availability of funds.

19) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is DOS BAGHDAD PD 2019 006.

20) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 19.021.

21) When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date was 05 March 2019.

22) What was the original application deadline?

The original deadline to apply was 03 May 2019.

23) What are applicants expected to demonstrate in their proposals?

Based on the description, proposing organizations should show they have the administrative and technical capacity to build a complete Arabic-language exchange program for high school students, including a clear plan for implementation and oversight, participant selection, activity design, and impact measurement, with a strong focus on reaching economically disadvantaged or marginalized youth who lack English proficiency due to limited opportunity.

24) What is the main equity and access focus of the program?

The program is designed to broaden access for talented youth from less advantaged economic backgrounds or marginalized groups, specifically addressing the reality that English proficiency is often shaped by unequal access to quality language learning opportunities.