Federal Education Grants

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, is pleased to announce an open competition for a University Capacity Building Program (UCBP). U.S. non-profit, non-governmental organizations and accredited American higher education institutions may submit proposals to manage a 12-to-18-month professional development program for Georgian university administrators, development and grant officers, as well as higher education decision-makers/government officials responsible for higher education management and administration. The proposed University Capacity Building Project, UCBP, will take a comprehensive approach to assist Georgian universities in building a functioning research administration and development infrastructure. UBCP will help higher education institutions (HEIs) build or expand the foundations of research administration and development at their institution and support their diffusion throughout Georgia. Further, the activities will provide participants with best practices on how to leverage and integrate the contributions from universities in this area to promote innovation and collaboration with various stakeholders, ranging from industry to government entities, to improve the economy of Georgia. The activities will be divided into four phases that will include a mixture of online classes/presentations/webinars, a two-week study tour, follow-up online consultations with a grantee and/or selected US host universities aimed at identifying common area/s of interest for development of a joint research proposal/project and a reciprocal visit of US instructors to Georgia. The program phases include: 1. Needs assessment of the capacities of research administration and development offices of UCBP participant universities in Georgia; 2. Increase Georgian HEIs research capacity and deepen US-Georgian university partnership through online mentoring sessions and practical workshops on effective grant writing/ proposal development, strategic communication with donors, alumni engagement, and fundraising); 3. U.S. Study Tour (14 days including travel) including Washington, DC and non-coastal cities for developing joint research initiatives, alumni engagement strategies and effective donor communication plans; and 4. US experts reciprocal visit (10 days including travel) to Georgia aimed at establishing and enhancing the community of US-Georgian researchers and university administrators. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES The UCBP seeks to better leverage and integrate the various missions education, research, and engagement in order to increase the contribution of higher education and public research institutions to innovation and economic growth and develop the commercial and entrepreneurial aspects of Georgian academia by presenting successful American models. University administrators responsible for research, sponsored programs, and external affairs will learn how to enhance the university organizational environment. This can be accomplished by sharing successful and collaborative grant office and faculty department structures and training and supporting university grant teams to improve their grant funding efforts. The proposed study tour will assist university leaders in learning how to optimize best practices and organizational structures to cope with the pressures of external forces like limited funding and increased demand for research in the competitive higher education marketplace. Cooperation with universities in non-coastal cities in the United States is encouraged. The project will: help participants understand the foundational infrastructure necessary for success, including university support offices, effective research development activities, successful grant writing, effective alumni engagement strategies, strategic communication with donors and fundamentals of fundraising. These objectives will be realized through intensive online webinars and practical workshops; a study tour of U.S. universities; and reciprocal visits by experts to Georgia to support the project implementation. Help to institutionalize research development/grant offices in universities to liaise with local private sector entities, through various means, including online platforms. Such linkages would provide platforms for exchange of ideas, imagining of opportunities, and establishing networks; Establish a network of professionals from various universities, government agencies, and professional associations that work together on enhancing the university-private sector-innovation triangle; Help to create a common agenda for regular discussions between academics and entrepreneurs by nurturing entrepreneurial ecosystems at universities. Following topics/activities (the list can be further expanded) may be supported: a. Research Administration in a United States University: Organization and Function b. Identifying Requests from Sponsors (Private vs Government; Domestic vs International, US vs Non-US models) c. Responding to requests for proposals d. Effective grant writing e. Budgeting effectively (direct and indirect costs) f. Administrative support i. Pre-award support ii. Proposal development g. Partnering with other universities on elaboration of joint research proposals/projects h. Developing and executing effective alumni engagement strategies i. Effective strategic communication with donors j. Fundraising principals and fundamentals of successful fundraising campaigns Applicants may propose other activities not specifically mentioned in this solicitation if the activities reinforce the impact of the project. A detailed program timeline for the entire grant period that outlines how components unfold and complement each other must be included in the proposal. The names of proposed Georgian participants must be reviewed and approved in advance of U.S. travel by the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi. PDS anticipates that the majority of Georgian participants will not have working-level competency in English and high-quality (preferably simultaneous) translation will need to be budgeted in the grant, as should airfare, hotel, international travel insurance, the B1/B2 visa fee, and meals and incidental expenses for study tour participants. For monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) purposes, the PDS Grant Officer Representative (GOR) will serve as a facilitator for the study tour. GOR expenses will be covered by the U.S. Embassy. EXPECTED RESULTS The projects aim is to provide a foundation of knowledge and capacity to grow and sustain a modern research administration and development office. This may be occurring the following ways: 1. Provide partner institutions with the understanding of the importance of developing a successful Research Administrative and Development Office. 2. Provide the knowledge base necessary for participants to set up their Research Administrative and Development Office that can become a highly functioning part of their institution. a. Develop understanding of the functions and importance of research administration and development. b. Teach participants how to respond effectively to funding opportunities US and non-US, as well as EU funding sources. c. Teach participants how to identify appropriate funding opportunities. d. Train participants to become a trainer (TOT model) who can effectively pass this knowledge base on to their peers in grant writing and fundraising. 3. Develop greater research capacity for each partner university, collaborate on producing joint research proposals/projects/programs. 4. Allow Georgian and US universities to establish strong international partnerships that could lead to multi-directional programming and collaborative research. 5. Collaborate with US partner universities on elaboration and adoption of an Alumni Engagement Strategy and mutually acceptable action plan. 6. Introduce best working models of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and establish institutionalized ties between the universities and business associations, thus contributing to Georgian universities more effective collaboration with potential employers in private sector and government. Participants and Audiences: Audiences for the proposed project would include university research administrators and development officers, higher education administrators, researchers and relevant policy makers.

The Public Diplomacy (PD) Section of the U.S. Mission to Burundi is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program or project with funding through the Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding.Please carefully follow all instructions below.Purpose of Grants: PD Bujumbura invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the United States and Burundi through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include a U.S. element, priority, or goal, or a connection with U.S. expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s), in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with English Clubs, American Spaces, or U.S. exchange program alumni to conduct activities.Priority Program Areas:The Mission is particularly interested in projects that address one of our following Priority Program Objectives: Skills for Success: o Programs promoting education, a lecture series, or an academic exchangeo Programs promoting learning Englisho Programs promoting job training skills, such as resume writing, financial literacy, income generating skill building, and digital literacy Entrepreneurship: o Programs providing entrepreneurship opportunities for Burundian youtho Programs supporting increased economic opportunities for women and marginalized communities o Programs promoting sustainable economic prosperity Civil Society/Journalism: o Programs that help Burundian journalists produce high-quality reporting on topics of shared U.S.-Burundi interest o Programs that strengthen institutions to promote the rule of law, transparency, and accountability o Programs that promote universal freedoms and democratic principles and practices Environmental sustainability: o Programs that support initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change o Programs that promote minimizing waste and regenerating our resourceso Programs that support protecting the natural environment and sustainable agriculture Participants and Audiences:All proposals should clearly indicate their intended participants and audiences.The following types of programs are not eligible for funding: Activities that do not contain a distinctly U.S. component; Programs relating to partisan political activity; Development projects/programs; Infrastructure/construction programs; Individual scholarships; Personal development; Programs that support specific religious activities; Fund-raising campaigns; Lobbying for specific legislation or programs; Scientific research; Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization Programs that duplicate existing programs; Social travel/visits; Venture capital; Gifts and Prizes; Alcohol; Food and drink not directly related to the program outcome; and For-profit endeavors

This funding opportunity is designed for U.S. non-profit organizations and educational institutions to manage a prestigious fellowship program that brings mid-career professionals from over 100 countries to the U.S. for academic and professional exchange, fostering international collaboration and understanding of American institutions.

This funding opportunity supports early-stage researchers in cancer control and population sciences to explore innovative ideas that can significantly advance cancer research and improve healthcare delivery.

This grant provides funding for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to create innovative projects that promote civic engagement and strengthen ties between the United States and South Korea.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist low-income, first-generation adults and other priority groups in accessing postsecondary education and career pathways, including apprenticeships and short-term programs.

This funding opportunity supports researchers conducting basic science studies to explore how sleep and circadian rhythms are connected to substance use disorders, aiming to improve understanding and treatment of these issues.

This funding opportunity supports U.S.-based small businesses in developing innovative, non-addictive therapies and technologies for improved pain management, addressing the opioid crisis through preclinical research and technological advancements.

This grant provides funding for researchers to explore the complex interactions between the brain and immune system in the context of HIV and substance use disorders, aiming to identify new therapeutic targets and improve understanding of related neurological issues.

Reissue of RFA-MH-20-128 This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits applications to develop standards that describe experimental protocols that are being conducted as part of the BRAIN Initiative. It is expected that applications will solicit community input at all stages of the process. It is recommended that the first step of standard development will involve sharing data between different key groups in the experimental community in order to ensure that the developing standard will cover the way that all of those groups are collecting data. The developed standard is expected to be made widely available.

This grant provides funding to local Tanzanian organizations to improve foundational literacy and numeracy for students in grades 1 to 5 through a targeted instruction approach that focuses on individual learning levels.

This funding opportunity supports higher education institutions in training researchers with advanced degrees to improve community living and participation for individuals with disabilities.

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of States Embassy Ashgabat announces an open competition to implement a program focused on building the capacity of higher educational institutions in Turkmenistan to carry out short- and long-term bilateral exchanges, offer dual-degree programs, conduct and commercialize research, obtain international accreditation, and other activities directed at supporting ongoing educational reform in Turkmenistan. The ultimate goal of the projects is to enable Turkmenistan to become an active member of the global education community, and a viable partner in international exchanges, with an eventual opening of a U.S. branch university in Turkmenistan. The initial timeline for these activities is one year, with the possibility of extension. Please follow all instructions below. Background: Turkmenistan is a post-Soviet state of roughly 5 million people (official statistic) that gained its independence in 1991. The Ministry of Education oversees all educational institutions from kindergarten to university. Turkmenistan has implemented several educational reforms within the last 10-15 years, mostly introducing new subjects to schools and universities (such as those from the STEM field), increasing the use of technology in teaching (such as smartboards and laptops) and adapting textbooks and materials to make them fit better within Turkmenistans context. However, the centralized structure of the education system has not changed significantly, with universities continuing to offer highly structured five-year specialist degrees that fall somewhere between bachelors and masters degrees on the western scale. Under the current system, students play a limited role in crafting their own educational process and/or degree. When students matriculate to university, they do so by declaring their chosen specialization. In fact, they dont apply to the university as a whole; they apply to a specific department. Once accepted, they have no option to drop classes or switch majors. Students also do not choose which classes to take a specific major has a set list of classes. These rules severely limit students academic opportunities and affect future professional opportunities. In the last few years, the Ministry of Education has stated its intention modernize Turkmenistans education system, which include several stated priorities: a) Launching a dual degree program together with a U.S. university (bachelors or masters); b) Obtaining international accreditation; c) Establishing a branch of a U.S. university in its capital, Ashgabat; d) Gradually moving all universities to the Western, credit-based system. Turkmenistans government is very eager to begin work on these goals and is interested in assistance from U.S. universities in providing expertise and guidance on conducting these large-scale overhauls. The Public Diplomacy Section has worked closely with the Ministry of Education to develop a road map to bring Turkmenistans education system closer to the U.S. model, as well as signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of Turkmenistan on cooperation in the education sector. The MOU and the road map lay out concrete steps, including inviting U.S. experts on internationalization and education reform, and are some of the first actions that Embassy has taken, together with the Ministry of Education, to help Turkmenistan reach its stated goals. Through the projects described in this NOFO, the Embassy would like to develop a realistic road map to overhaul the education system, bringing it closer to Western standards and accreditation, and eventual establishment of a U.S. university branch campus in the capital city of Ashgabat. The initial project duration is one year, but will most likely be extended, as the envisioned task is multi-pronged and will likely require more than 12 months. Project Audience(s): Turkmenistans higher education institutions (HEIs), including universities and institutes, as well as the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan Project Goal: Improve access to quality higher education opportunities in Turkmenistan through adoption of best practices by Turkmen higher education institutions Project Objectives: Objective 1: Increase understanding of internationalization requirements for universities, the U.S. education system, and best practices among Ministry of Education officials and higher education representatives through training, workshops, and/or short-term exchanges to the United States. o Topics may include: how to establish dual degree and joint degree programs, accreditation requirements, opening branch campuses, etc. Objective 2: Conduct a general analysis of Turkmenistans education system and create a road map that provides clear recommendations to the Ministry of Education on the practical steps needed to advance educational reforms. Objective 3: Establish a working group of Turkmen Ministry of Education officials and higher education representatives to facilitate collaboration and implementation of recommendations aimed at modernizing and internationalizing the higher education system in Turkmenistan.

This funding opportunity supports alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs in Namibia to implement innovative projects that promote social change in their communities.

Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022. Purpose of Program: In awarding research grants, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) intends to provide national leadership in expanding knowledge and understanding of (1) education outcomes for all learners from early childhood education through postsecondary and adult education, and (2) employment and wage outcomes when relevant (such as for those engaged in career and technical, postsecondary, or adult education). The IES research grant programs are designed to provide interested individuals and the general public with reliable and valid information about education practices that support learning and improve academic achievement and access to education opportunities for all learners. These interested individuals include parents, educators, learners, researchers, and policymakers. In carrying out its grant programs, IES provides support for programs of research in areas of demonstrated national need. Competitions in This Notice: The IES National Center for Education Research (NCER) is announcing two competitions--one competition in each of the following areas: using longitudinal data to support State education policymaking and transformative research in the education sciences. Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking (ALN 84.305S). Under this competition, NCER will only consider applications that address State agencies use of their States education longitudinal data systems to identify and reduce opportunity and achievement gaps for learners from prekindergarten through adult education. Transformative Research in the Education Sciences (ALN 84.305T). Through this program, IES seeks to support innovative research that has the potential to make dramatic advances towards solving seemingly intractable problems and challenges in the education field and/or to accelerate the pace of conducting education research to facilitate major breakthroughs. For the FY 2025 competition, the Transformative Research in the Education Sciences grant program will focus on accelerating learning and reducing persistent education inequities by leveraging evidence-based principles from the learning sciences, coupled with advanced technology to create high-reward, scalable technology solutions. Multiple Submissions: You may submit applications to more than one of the FY 2025 research grant programs offered through the Department, including those offered through IES as well as those offered through other offices and programs within the Department. You may submit multiple applications to each IES grant program announced here as long as they address different key issues, programs, or policies. However, you may submit a given application only once for the IES FY 2025 grant competitions, meaning you may not submit the same application or similar applications to multiple grant programs within IES, to multiple topics within a grant competition, or multiple times within the same topic. If you submit multiple similar applications, IES will determine whether and which applications will be accepted for review and/or will be eligible for funding. In addition, if you submit the same or similar application to IES and to another funding entity within or external to the Department and receive funding for the non-IES application prior to IES scientific peer review of applications, you must withdraw the same or similar application submitted to IES, or IES may otherwise determine you are ineligible to receive an award. If reviews are happening concurrently, IES staff will consult with the other potential funder to determine the degree of overlap and which entity will provide funding if both applications are being considered for funding. Exemption from Proposed Rulemaking: Under section 191 of the Education Sciences Reform Act, 20 U.S.C. 9581, IES is not subject to section 437(d) of the General Education Provisions Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d), and is therefore not required to offer interested parties the opportunity to comment on matters relating to grants. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq. Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305T.

This funding opportunity supports researchers exploring the use of microorganisms, like bacteria and viruses, to develop innovative methods for cancer imaging, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network for Biologics (BPN-Biologics) provides support for biologic-based therapeutic discovery and development, from lead optimization through phase I clinical testing. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) supports preclinical discovery and development of potential therapeutic Biotechnology Products and Biologics including, but not limited to, large biologic macromolecules, (e.g., proteins, antibodies, and peptides), gene-based therapies (i.e., oligonucleotide- and viral-based), cell therapies, and novel emerging therapies (e.g., microbial and microbiome therapies). Applicants will collaborate with NIH-funded consultants and can augment their project with NIH contract research organizations (CROs) that specialize in manufacturing, scaling, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and Phase I clinical testing. BPN-Biologics awardee institutions retain their assignment of IP rights and gain assignment of IP rights from the BPN-Biologics contractors (and thereby control the patent prosecution and licensing negotiations) for biotherapeutic candidates developed in this program.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Tribal Colleges and Universities for planning initiatives that transition their campuses to clean energy solutions.

This funding opportunity supports creative projects that promote engagement, education, and collaboration between the United States and the communities of Mauritius and Seychelles.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. universities for advanced nuclear energy research projects that build on existing work, with an emphasis on collaboration and undergraduate involvement.