The 2025 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) is designed to increase the impact of the U.S. government’s investment in exchange participants and programs by helping alumni develop and implement projects that support U.S. foreign policy objectives, promote shared interests, and benefit local communities. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition. Pending availability of funds, AEIF will consider proposals between $5,000 and $35,000.  

The U.S. Embassy Accra Public Diplomacy Section will accept SOI’s proposed and managed by teams of at least two (2) alumni that support themes such as: 

• Supporting sustainable entrepreneurship in emerging Industries 
• Creating opportunity through education 
• Promoting democratic discourse by strengthening civil society capacity 
• Protect media freedom and strengthen the journalism profession 

Proposals that do not address the theme as outlined in the program objectives will be deemed ineligible. All project activities must take place outside of the United States and its territories. 

Eligible ApplicantsThe following are eligible to apply:

• Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program.
• Projects teams must include teams of at least two (2) alumni.
• Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.
• Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs.
• Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of USG exchange alumni. No other organizations are eligible to apply. Exchange alumni can partner with not-for-profit or non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions to implement project activities.

Application requirements:

·      The proposed project identifies and supports Mission priorities through public service-oriented activities.

·      The proposed project involves at least two U.S. Government-sponsored exchange program alumni and needs to specify a team lead. (All alumni and non-alumni involved in the project will need to be included).

·      Applications from Alumni Associations will need to specify a team lead.

·      U.S. citizen alumni may be included on alumni teams; however, the team must have at least two non-U.S. citizen exchange program alumni. U.S. citizen alumni cannot be team leads on projects.

Submission Dates and TimesSOI applications are due no later than January 13, 2025; 23:59 GMT.

Other Submission RequirementsSOI’s should be submitted by email to PASAccraGrant@state.gov .The Subject Line of your email should begin with: AEIF SOI 2025 – followed by the project name.

Example: AEIF SOI 2025 – AnyProjectName

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact the Public Diplomacy Section at PASAccraGrant@state.gov

Miscellaneous

• Other