2021 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2021)

Description

The U.S. Embassy in Cameroon announces an open competition for past participants (“alumni”) of U.S. government-funded exchange programs to submit applications to the 2021 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2021). We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below. Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2021 must submit proposals to pasgrantsyaounde@state.gov by midnight, Cameroon local time (WAT), on Wednesday, Mach 31, 2021. The U.S. Embassy will evaluate all proposals and recommend one proposal for funding by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Projects will be evaluated by ECA against proposals received from alumni around the world. Given the current health situation, projects that can be easily adapted to virtual or hybrid virtual/in-person activities will be given priority. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Program Objectives: AEIF provides alumni of U.S. sponsored and facilitated exchange programs with funding to expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition. The U.S. Embassy in Yaounde, will accept proposals for projects managed by teams of at least two (2) alumni that support youth mentoring. Mentoring is widely acknowledged as an effective method for professional and academic development. It is a process of developing relations between more experienced individuals and the less experienced ones for transfer of knowledge and skills. During a period of six months and using electronic tools (WhatsApp calls/messages, phone calls, video conferences, emails, etc.), the program will establish links between skilled mentors recruited in the community of alumni of the U.S. Government exchange programs and eager to learn mentees for a mutually beneficial collaboration and learning experience. Using YALI Network themes and resources, the program will focus on providing to mentees concrete strategies, tips, action plans, and skills to grow as professionals, community members, and business owners. Specifically, the project should: · Recruit and match at least 400 youth with 200 skilled professional U.S.G alumni · Engage 600 youth ages 20-35 in individual or group virtual mentoring sessions or interactions for six months · Provide a mentoring manual that provides guidelines to mentors and mentees · Provide opportunities and access to knowledge transfer using YALI Network resources · Conduct pre- and post-evaluation to measure the impact of the program on both mentors and mentees · Produce social media content including short videos to share publicly the impact of the program · Hold a virtual closing summit The mentoring sessions/interactions as well as the closing summit will be virtual, involving all mentees and mentors. Mentor pairing could be done to include consideration of geographical proximity, in which case proposals may include a small pool of funds for which mentor-mentee pairs/groups could apply to subsidize an in-person meeting if travel is required. Proposals should include follow-up activities after the mentorship to measure the impact of the program. Proposal budgets should include costs to subsidize participants’ internet data use and reasonable cost for translation to ensure that all content is available in both English and French. Budgets should include administrative and staff costs to the grantee to ensure quality administration of the high number of participants and proper support to them during the mentoring period. The Embassy will assist in providing contact information for potential alumni mentors or distributing grantee recruiting materials to them directly. Participants and Audiences: The target audience is young Cameroonians, ages 20-35, with clear professional goals and motivation to build their capacity and skills for success in the workplace, and skilled professionals alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs. Participants should be drawn from all regions of the country. Selection of participants will be made jointly with the Embassy in the respect of inclusiveness, diversity and gender equity. Please submit your proposal using the application form and the budget form found on the "Related Documents" section. For more information, eligibility, and deadline, please read the Notice of Funding Opportunity PAS-CMR-FY21-08.

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