Opportunity Information: Apply for STI400 23 PDS AW 0002
The grant opportunity, titled Implementation and Management of the U.S. Alumni Network of Tajikistan (USANT), is an open competition from the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Tajikistan, Public Diplomacy Section in Dushanbe) seeking one organization to run the day-to-day logistical management of a nationwide network of U.S. government (USG) exchange program alumni in Tajikistan and to administer the Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program. The project is focused specifically on Tajikistan and is designed to keep alumni connected to each other and to the U.S. Embassy, while helping alumni translate their exchange experience into practical community impact. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Embassy will remain actively involved in planning and oversight as the implementer carries out activities.
USANT began in 2019 and is described as a platform that strengthens the USG alumni community around shared intellectual, social, cultural, and democratic values. One of the program's major achievements has been building a cross-country alumni community spanning all four regions of Tajikistan, with strong alumni interest and participation. Over its first four years, USANT established a national organization with an elected eight-member board, built an active online platform, launched four regional chapters, held annual regional conferences, and delivered community initiatives and professional development activities such as trainings, webinars, and mentorship programs. It has also already supported alumni-led work through past grantmaking, including 44 mini-grants and 16 Democracy Outreach Alumni Grants. The Embassy indicates it will create a handover protocol with the current and any new implementer to ensure an orderly, transparent transition.
The overarching goal of the program is to implement and manage a USG alumni network that empowers alumni to use the knowledge, skills, and perspectives gained during exchange programs to educate others and drive positive change in their communities. The program objectives are framed around engagement, capacity-building, and sustained embassy-alumni ties: increasing engagement and communication among a community of more than 5,000 alumni; building career and leadership skills through professional development; maintaining ongoing interaction between the Embassy and alumni; increasing the number of alumni-led projects that share exchange-derived skills and knowledge; and recruiting and partnering with new and diverse alumni audiences to support democratic values and economic reforms in Tajikistan.
The intended audiences are primarily alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs across Tajikistan, spanning different ages and levels of expertise, with a strong emphasis on motivated individuals who want to contribute locally. The opportunity also identifies wider community beneficiaries who may be reached through alumni activities, including community leaders, youth, entrepreneurs, English teachers, women and girls, and educators. In practice, the implementer is expected to organize the network so that alumni can connect, collaborate, and deliver programming that extends beyond the alumni community into broader civic and professional circles.
The solicitation outlines three main activity streams and associated budget expectations. First, continued management of the Alumni Network of Tajikistan (USANT) is allocated about $64,000 and includes operating a supportive national network through trainings, educational events, networking opportunities, and professional development delivered throughout the year, presumably leveraging the established chapters and online platform. Second, regional alumni conferences and related trainings or workshops are allocated about $16,000, aimed at convening alumni for peer learning, skill-building, and collaboration to increase the effectiveness and reach of alumni initiatives. Third, the largest component is the Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program, allocated up to $120,000, through which the implementer will run a competitive small-grants process for alumni-led initiatives that promote shared values and innovative solutions to local and global challenges, while also building alumni capacity in grants management and project implementation.
The Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program is described as both a funding mechanism and a capacity-building tool. Its objectives include strengthening civil society organizations by building connections and collaboration opportunities; supporting local community development across Tajikistan; fostering positive relationships between people in the United States and Tajikistan; promoting values such as volunteerism, community activism, tolerance, advocacy for vulnerable groups, and critical thinking; helping alumni apply exchange experiences to current challenges; and deepening connections across different USG exchange program alumni cohorts. The grants are intended to be awarded in two rounds during the grant period (noted as Fall 2023 and Spring 2024), with calls for applications planned for September 2023 and March 2024. Individual awards are expected to be around $3,000 and organizational awards around $5,000 as practical caps, with the Embassy signaling these limits as guidelines and emphasizing that awards should generally stay within those thresholds.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity number is STI400 23 PDS AW 0002, listed under CFDA 19.900, categorized under community development and education. The total award ceiling is $200,000, and the Embassy anticipates making one award. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses). The opportunity was created on April 25, 2023, with an original closing date of June 30, 2023. Overall, the selected implementer is expected to keep USANT functioning as a cohesive national alumni platform while expanding alumni engagement, professional growth, and alumni-led community projects aligned with democratic values and economic reform priorities in Tajikistan.Apply for STI400 23 PDS AW 0002
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Tajikistan in the community development, education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementation and Management of the U.S. Alumni Network of Tajikistan (USANT)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 25, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2023. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Implementation and Management of the U.S. Alumni Network of Tajikistan (USANT)
1) What is the grant opportunity called?
The opportunity is titled Implementation and Management of the U.S. Alumni Network of Tajikistan (USANT).
2) Who is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of State, specifically the U.S. Mission to Tajikistan (Public Diplomacy Section) in Dushanbe.
3) What is the main purpose of this award?
The purpose is to select one organization to manage the day-to-day logistical operations of a nationwide network of U.S. government (USG) exchange program alumni in Tajikistan and to administer the Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program.
4) What country is this project focused on?
This project is focused specifically on Tajikistan, with activities intended to support alumni across the country.
5) What type of award is this?
This award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. Embassy will remain actively involved in planning and oversight while the selected organization implements the activities.
6) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipates making one award.
7) What is the total funding available?
The total award ceiling is $200,000.
8) What are the main goals of USANT under this opportunity?
The overarching goal is to implement and manage a USG alumni network that helps alumni use knowledge, skills, and perspectives gained during exchange programs to educate others and drive positive change in their communities.
9) What objectives does the program emphasize?
Objectives described in the solicitation include:
- Increasing engagement and communication among a community of more than 5,000 alumni
- Building career and leadership skills through professional development
- Maintaining ongoing interaction between the Embassy and alumni
- Increasing the number of alumni-led projects that share exchange-derived skills and knowledge
- Recruiting and partnering with new and diverse alumni audiences to support democratic values and economic reforms in Tajikistan
10) What is USANT and how long has it existed?
USANT began in 2019 and is described as a platform that strengthens the USG alumni community around shared intellectual, social, cultural, and democratic values.
11) What has USANT already accomplished (as described in the opportunity)?
Over its first four years, USANT is described as having:
- Built a cross-country alumni community spanning all four regions of Tajikistan
- Established a national organization with an elected eight-member board
- Built an active online platform
- Launched four regional chapters
- Held annual regional conferences
- Delivered community initiatives and professional development (trainings, webinars, mentorship programs)
- Supported alumni-led work through 44 mini-grants and 16 Democracy Outreach Alumni Grants
12) Will there be a transition process from the current implementer?
Yes. The Embassy indicates it will create a handover protocol with the current and any new implementer to support an orderly and transparent transition.
13) Who are the intended primary audiences for the program?
The primary audience is alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs across Tajikistan, spanning different ages and levels of expertise, with emphasis on motivated individuals who want to contribute locally.
14) Who else may benefit from activities carried out through USANT?
Wider community beneficiaries identified in the opportunity include:
- Community leaders
- Youth
- Entrepreneurs
- English teachers
- Women and girls
- Educators
15) What is the selected organization expected to do?
The selected organization is expected to keep USANT functioning as a cohesive national platform by organizing alumni engagement and connectivity, supporting professional development and events, convening regional conferences, and administering a competitive small-grants program for alumni-led initiatives.
16) What are the main activity streams described in the solicitation?
The solicitation outlines three main activity streams:
- Continued management of the Alumni Network of Tajikistan (USANT)
- Regional alumni conferences and related trainings/workshops
- The Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program
17) How much funding is associated with continued management of USANT?
About $64,000 is allocated for continued management of USANT, including delivering trainings, educational events, networking opportunities, and professional development throughout the year.
18) How much funding is associated with regional alumni conferences?
About $16,000 is allocated for regional alumni conferences and related trainings or workshops.
19) How much funding is associated with the Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program?
Up to $120,000 is allocated for the Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program.
20) What is the Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program?
It is a competitive small-grants program for alumni-led initiatives that promote shared values and innovative solutions to local and global challenges, while also building alumni capacity in grants management and project implementation.
21) What are the objectives of the Democracy Outreach Alumni Small Grants program (as described)?
Objectives described include:
- Strengthening civil society organizations by building connections and collaboration opportunities
- Supporting local community development across Tajikistan
- Fostering positive relationships between people in the United States and Tajikistan
- Promoting volunteerism, community activism, tolerance, advocacy for vulnerable groups, and critical thinking
- Helping alumni apply exchange experiences to current challenges
- Deepening connections across different USG exchange program alumni cohorts
22) How many rounds of small grants are expected during the grant period?
The opportunity indicates the grants are intended to be awarded in two rounds during the grant period (noted as Fall 2023 and Spring 2024).
23) When are calls for small-grants applications planned?
Calls for applications are planned for September 2023 and March 2024.
24) What is the expected size of small-grants awards?
Expected practical caps are:
- Individual awards: around $3,000
- Organizational awards: around $5,000
The Embassy signals these limits as guidelines and emphasizes awards should generally stay within those thresholds.
25) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is STI400 23 PDS AW 0002.
26) What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.900.
27) How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under community development and education.
28) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education)
- Private institutions of higher education
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
29) When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 25, 2023.
30) What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was June 30, 2023.
31) What is the role of the U.S. Embassy during implementation?
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the Embassy is expected to remain actively involved in planning and oversight as the implementer carries out activities.
32) What does success look like for this project based on the solicitation language?
Based on the description provided, success involves keeping USANT functioning as a cohesive national alumni platform, expanding alumni engagement and professional growth opportunities, maintaining strong Embassy-alumni ties, and increasing alumni-led community projects aligned with democratic values and economic reform priorities in Tajikistan.
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