U.S. University Partnership Initiative in South Africa
Agency: U.S. Mission to South Africa
- 19.040 -- Public Diplomacy Programs
Archived opportunityLast Updated: May 13, 2026
View version history on Grants.gov
Description
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy South Africa of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program focused on strengthening existing ties and fostering new collaboration between U.S. and African universities.
Priority Region: Project activities must take place in South Africa and the United States, and be directed at South African audiences/participants.
Program Objectives:
The goal of the University Partnerships Initiative (UPI) is to strengthen existing ties and foster new collaboration between U.S. and South African universities. Focus areas include promoting faculty and student exchanges, facilitating joint research, building administrative capacity, and creating public-private partnerships. Program proposals should address how relationships between institutions will be sustained after U.S. government funded efforts are concluded.
...Specific Program Objectives:
- Promote U.S.-South Africa faculty and student exchanges, particularly the development of dual degree programs that have South Africans complete their studies in their home country and address South Africa’s shortage of qualified academic staff.
- Facilitate joint research, especially in agriculture, food security, and STEM.
- Provide training and transfer skills in all aspects of university administration through subject-matter exchange programs.
- Explore public-private partnerships, with an emphasis on commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation.
Participants and Audiences:
The intended audience is community college and university students, university administrators, corporations, the NGO sector, and USG alumni. Proposals that address linkages between South African technical universities and their American counterparts are strongly encouraged. Programs that create or grow linkages between academia and commerce are also encouraged.
Applications should be emailed to PretoriaGrants@state.gov.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Education
- Public and state institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
Nonprofit
- Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
- Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
Additional information
Grantor contact information
Description
U.S. Embassy South Africa Grants Administrator
Documents
| File name | Description | Last updated |
|---|---|---|
| SF424.pdf | SF424 | Feb 24, 2020 08:50 AM UTC |
| Suggested_budget_template.xlsx | Suggested budget template | Dec 5, 2019 06:17 AM UTC |
| SF424A.pdf | SF424A | Dec 5, 2019 06:16 AM UTC |
| SF424B.pdf | SF424B | Dec 5, 2019 06:17 AM UTC |
| DOS-PTA-202005_UPI_v2.pdf | Full NOFO | Dec 18, 2019 06:39 AM UTC |
Link to additional information
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Archived: March 29, 2020
Award
$600,000
Program Funding
2
Expected awards
$150,000
Award Minimum
$500,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
DOS-PTA-202005
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
Funding instrument type:
Cooperative agreement
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Category of Funding Activity:
Education
Category Explanation:
History
Version:
2
Posted date:
December 5, 2019
Archive date:
March 29, 2020
