Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS DKR NOFO FY21 03
The University Partnerships Initiative is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Dakar. The program is designed to deepen existing relationships and spark new collaborations between U.S. universities and higher education institutions in Africa, with a clear geographic focus on Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. Projects are expected to run activities in both West Africa (Senegal or Guinea-Bissau) and the United States, and participation should primarily benefit Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean audiences, such as students, faculty, researchers, and university administrators.
At its core, the opportunity aims to build durable, institution-to-institution ties rather than one-off events. Proposals are expected to explain how partnerships will continue after U.S. government funding ends, including practical sustainability plans like long-term cooperation agreements, shared curricula, ongoing research collaboration structures, exchange pipelines, co-funded initiatives, or other mechanisms that keep the relationship active without continued grant support.
The Embassy highlights several priority areas that proposals can center on. One major focus is promoting formal partnerships with U.S. higher education institutions, which could include structured collaboration models like memoranda of understanding, joint departments or labs, co-developed programs, or coordinated academic offerings. Another key area is establishing exchanges for Senegalese or Bissau-Guinean students and faculty, with flexibility to include in-person travel, virtual exchanges, or hybrid models that maintain engagement despite logistical constraints. The program also encourages joint research initiatives, especially those aligned with agriculture, food security, and STEM fields, reflecting both regional development needs and shared research interests with U.S. partners.
In addition to partnerships and research, the initiative supports training and skills transfer across university education through subject matter exchange programs. This can include professional development for faculty, modernization of teaching methods, curriculum development, research management training, academic leadership development, or improving institutional practices that raise the quality and effectiveness of higher education. Finally, the opportunity encourages exploration of public-private partnerships, particularly those that move ideas toward real-world impact through commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation. In practice, this could involve connecting universities with industry, supporting entrepreneurship ecosystems, strengthening university tech transfer capacity, or piloting models that help research translate into products, services, or employment opportunities.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity is identified as PAS DKR NOFO FY21 03 under CFDA 19.040, with an award ceiling of $150,000 and an expectation of up to five awards. It is offered as a grant and was originally posted in June 2021 with a closing date in late July 2021. Eligible applicants are listed broadly under an "Other" category, indicating that applicants would need to consult the full eligibility guidance in the official notice for specifics, but the program’s design clearly favors organizations capable of organizing cross-border university collaboration and delivering measurable academic and institutional outcomes.Apply for PAS DKR NOFO FY21 03
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Senegal in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "University Partnerships Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 03, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2021. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): University Partnerships Initiative (PAS DKR NOFO FY21 03)
What is the University Partnerships Initiative?
The University Partnerships Initiative is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Dakar. It supports projects that build and strengthen partnerships between U.S. universities and higher education institutions in Africa, with a geographic focus on Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.
Which U.S. government office is offering this grant?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State via the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Dakar.
What countries does the program focus on?
The program has a clear focus on Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. Projects are expected to primarily benefit Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean audiences.
Do projects need to include activities in both Africa and the United States?
Yes. Projects are expected to run activities in both West Africa (Senegal or Guinea-Bissau) and the United States.
Who is expected to benefit from funded activities?
Participation should primarily benefit Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean audiences, including students, faculty, researchers, and university administrators.
What is the main goal of the initiative?
The initiative aims to build durable, institution-to-institution ties between U.S. universities and higher education institutions in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, rather than supporting one-off events.
What does the Embassy mean by “durable partnerships” rather than one-off events?
The expectation is that proposals will focus on long-term collaboration structures and ongoing institutional relationships, not isolated workshops or single events that end when funding ends.
What kind of sustainability plan is expected after the grant ends?
Proposals are expected to explain how partnerships will continue after U.S. government funding ends. Examples mentioned include long-term cooperation agreements, shared curricula, ongoing research collaboration structures, exchange pipelines, co-funded initiatives, or other mechanisms that keep the relationship active without continued grant support.
What are the priority areas for proposals?
The Embassy highlights several priority areas: (1) promoting formal partnerships with U.S. higher education institutions, (2) establishing exchanges for Senegalese or Bissau-Guinean students and faculty, (3) joint research initiatives aligned with agriculture, food security, and STEM fields, (4) training and skills transfer across university education, and (5) exploration of public-private partnerships tied to commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation.
What types of “formal partnerships” are encouraged?
The opportunity encourages structured collaboration models with U.S. higher education institutions. Examples include memoranda of understanding, joint departments or labs, co-developed programs, or coordinated academic offerings.
Are student and faculty exchanges allowed?
Yes. Establishing exchanges for Senegalese or Bissau-Guinean students and faculty is a key area of focus.
Can exchanges be virtual or hybrid, or must they be in-person?
The program allows flexibility. Exchanges may include in-person travel, virtual exchanges, or hybrid models that maintain engagement despite logistical constraints.
What research topics are particularly encouraged?
Joint research initiatives are encouraged, especially those aligned with agriculture, food security, and STEM fields.
What kinds of training or skills transfer activities are supported?
Supported activities can include subject matter exchange programs and professional development such as modernization of teaching methods, curriculum development, research management training, academic leadership development, and improvements to institutional practices that raise the quality and effectiveness of higher education.
Does the initiative support public-private partnerships?
Yes. The opportunity encourages exploration of public-private partnerships, particularly those that move ideas toward real-world impact through commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation.
What are examples of public-private partnership activities under this program?
Examples mentioned include connecting universities with industry, supporting entrepreneurship ecosystems, strengthening university technology transfer capacity, or piloting models that help research translate into products, services, or employment opportunities.
What is the funding opportunity number and program identifier?
The funding opportunity is identified as PAS DKR NOFO FY21 03 under CFDA 19.040.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $150,000.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The opportunity states an expectation of up to five awards.
What type of federal funding instrument is this?
It is offered as a grant.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The notice was originally posted in June 2021 and had a closing date in late July 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed broadly under an “Other” category. Applicants would need to consult the full eligibility guidance in the official notice for specifics. Based on the program design, the opportunity favors organizations capable of organizing cross-border university collaboration and delivering measurable academic and institutional outcomes.
What kinds of institutions or participants does the program seem designed for?
Based on the described goals and activities, the program is designed for entities able to build partnerships between U.S. universities and higher education institutions in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, and to deliver outcomes for audiences such as students, faculty, researchers, and university administrators.
What should an application emphasize to match the program’s intent?
Applications are expected to emphasize sustained, institution-to-institution partnership building; activities in both West Africa (Senegal or Guinea-Bissau) and the United States; primary benefits for Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean audiences; and a clear plan for how collaboration continues after U.S. government funding ends.
Does the program require measurable academic or institutional outcomes?
The opportunity indicates that it favors organizations capable of delivering measurable academic and institutional outcomes, especially those that strengthen higher education quality and institutional effectiveness through partnerships, exchanges, research collaboration, and skills transfer.
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