Opportunity Information: Apply for ND NOFO 20 106
Access 2020: Training for Access Administrators from India and Afghanistan (ND NOFO 20 106) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Mission to India to support a targeted, in-person capacity-building program for organizations that run the English Access Microscholarship Program (Access). The effort is led through the Regional English Language Office (RELO), housed within the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy and based at the American Center in New Delhi. RELOs broader role is to provide expertise and practical support for English language teaching and learning, including training resources, consultation, and online professional development such as E-Teacher courses, American English webinars, and free MOOCs.
The opportunity is grounded in the continued demand for English skills in India, where English is an official language and commonly linked to economic mobility, but fluent proficiency is still limited across the population. Against that backdrop, Access has been operating in India since 2005 and has grown into one of the largest Access footprints globally, serving roughly 1,000 students across multiple locations through a network of local implementing partners. Because Access is a U.S. government-funded program, it comes with clear requirements around program content, performance reporting, and financial oversight, and those requirements guide the entire lifecycle of each project.
This specific grant was created because Access procedures and guidelines were significantly updated to strengthen accountability, reporting, and demonstrated impact. The newer application and proposal process is described as more complex, with a stronger emphasis on assessing whether a partner organization is suitable and whether its budget is well justified. Many existing and prospective partners were not yet comfortable with the new formats and expectations, creating a need for structured training and a space for implementers to compare practices and build a stronger community of practice. The announcement also points to a precedent: a U.S. State Department-funded regional Access administrators training held in India in 2016 for participants from several South Asian countries, which reinforced the value of administrator training not only to introduce new tools but also to ensure consistent compliance with global program expectations.
The proposed project funded under this notice is a three-and-a-half-day training program hosted in India for approximately 45 Access administrators from India and Afghanistan, along with representatives from potential new partner organizations. The training is meant to walk participants through the updated procedures, the details of the new application process, and strict financial and compliance requirements. Beyond implementation mechanics, the program places explicit emphasis on improving monitoring and evaluation practices and strengthening alumni engagement strategies, so that implementers can better measure outcomes and demonstrate program impact over time.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant in the education category (CFDA 19.040). Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that nonprofit category). The notice anticipated a single award, with a maximum funding level of $50,000. The opportunity was posted on April 2, 2020, with an original closing date of May 26, 2020.Apply for ND NOFO 20 106
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Access 2020: Training for Access Administrators from India and Afghanistan" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 02, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 26, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: Access 2020 - Training for Access Administrators from India and Afghanistan (ND NOFO 20 106)
What is this grant opportunity?
Access 2020: Training for Access Administrators from India and Afghanistan (ND NOFO 20 106) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Mission to India. It supports a targeted, in-person capacity-building training program for organizations that run (or may run) the English Access Microscholarship Program (Access).
Who is issuing and leading this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Mission to India. The effort is led through the Regional English Language Office (RELO), which is housed within the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy and is based at the American Center in New Delhi.
What is the purpose of the funded project?
The funded project is intended to deliver a three-and-a-half-day training program that helps Access administrators and potential partners understand and apply updated Access procedures, including the newer and more complex application and proposal process, and strict requirements for reporting, financial oversight, and compliance.
Why was this grant created?
This grant was created because Access procedures and guidelines were significantly updated to strengthen accountability, reporting, and demonstrated impact. The updated application and proposal process is described as more complex and more focused on assessing partner suitability and budget justification. Many existing and prospective partners were not yet comfortable with the new formats and expectations, creating a need for structured training and shared learning among implementers.
What program does this training relate to?
The training focuses on the English Access Microscholarship Program (Access), a U.S. government-funded program that comes with defined requirements around program content, performance reporting, and financial oversight.
Where will the training take place?
The training is planned to be hosted in India.
How long is the training program?
The program is designed as a three-and-a-half-day training.
Who is expected to participate in the training?
The training is intended for approximately 45 Access administrators from India and Afghanistan, along with representatives from potential new partner organizations.
What topics will the training cover?
Based on the notice description, the training is meant to cover updated Access procedures, details of the new application process, and strict financial and compliance requirements. It also emphasizes improving monitoring and evaluation practices and strengthening alumni engagement strategies to better measure outcomes and demonstrate impact over time.
Does the training include monitoring and evaluation (M&E)?
Yes. The notice places explicit emphasis on improving monitoring and evaluation practices so implementers can better measure outcomes and demonstrate program impact over time.
Does the training address alumni engagement?
Yes. Strengthening alumni engagement strategies is specifically highlighted as a focus area of the training.
Why is financial oversight and compliance emphasized?
Access is a U.S. government-funded program and therefore has clear requirements for program content, performance reporting, and financial oversight. The training is intended to help implementers understand and comply with strict financial and compliance requirements under the updated guidelines.
What is RELO and what does it do beyond this project?
The Regional English Language Office (RELO) provides expertise and practical support for English language teaching and learning. The notice references support such as training resources, consultation, and online professional development including E-Teacher courses, American English webinars, and free MOOCs.
What is the funding type and category?
This is described as a discretionary grant in the education category, under CFDA 19.040.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions within that nonprofit category).
How many awards were anticipated?
The notice anticipated a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount?
The maximum funding level stated in the notice is $50,000.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 2, 2020.
What was the application deadline?
The original closing date listed in the notice was May 26, 2020.
What does ND NOFO 20 106 refer to?
ND NOFO 20 106 is the identifier included in the opportunity title, used to reference this specific Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Why is there a focus on India in the background description?
The notice is grounded in continued demand for English skills in India, where English is an official language and often linked to economic mobility, while fluent proficiency remains limited across the broader population.
How established is the Access program in India?
According to the notice, Access has operated in India since 2005 and has grown into one of the largest Access footprints globally, serving roughly 1,000 students across multiple locations through a network of local implementing partners.
Is there precedent for administrator training like this?
Yes. The notice references a U.S. State Department-funded regional Access administrators training held in India in 2016 with participants from several South Asian countries, highlighting the value of administrator training to introduce tools and ensure consistent compliance with global program expectations.
What problem is the training trying to solve for implementers?
The notice describes that the updated procedures introduced more complex formats and expectations, including stronger scrutiny of partner suitability and budget justification. The training is designed to build comfort and competence with these requirements and provide a space to compare practices and strengthen a community of practice among implementers.
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