Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS DKR NOFO FY22 02
The University Partnerships Initiative is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Senegal, Public Affairs Section at Embassy Dakar) grant opportunity designed to deepen and expand collaboration between U.S. universities and universities in Africa, with a specific emphasis on Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. The program funds projects that strengthen existing institutional relationships or create new ones, with activities occurring in both the United States and either Senegal or Guinea-Bissau. Proposed programs should be clearly oriented toward Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean participants and should explain how the partnerships and outcomes will continue after U.S. government funding ends, since sustainability is a central expectation.
The Embassy is looking for proposals that build practical, ongoing academic connections. Priority activities include forming or expanding partnerships with U.S. higher education institutions; creating student and faculty exchanges for Senegalese or Bissau-Guinean participants, including both in-person and virtual formats; and supporting joint research collaborations, particularly in fields such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, creative industries, food security, and STEM. The opportunity also supports projects that focus on training and skills transfer across many aspects of university education through exchanges of subject matter experts. Another key area is developing public-private partnerships that connect universities with industry and employers, especially where projects can lead to commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation.
At the same time, the notice is clear about what it will not fund. Ineligible costs and activities include organizational start-up expenses, ongoing salaries, major capital improvements, construction, vehicles, and efforts that merely continue or complete activities already started with other funding. The program also excludes projects that are commercial or profit-making in nature, inherently political or partisan activities, and projects focused on specific religious activities. It will not support fundraising campaigns, representational expenses such as receptions (with limited exceptions for modest coffee breaks and working lunches, and no alcohol), fees for news coverage, or standalone academic/analytical research unless it is part of a broader, action-oriented project. Scholarships to individuals are also not allowed, and proposals that mainly aim to develop the applicant organization itself rather than build university-to-university collaboration are not a fit.
In terms of competitive preferences, proposals are favored when they include clear "American content," meaning a substantive U.S. connection such as American university partners, U.S.-based expertise, or American themes and materials integrated into the programming. The Embassy also prefers projects that meaningfully involve alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs, such as Fulbright, YALI (including Mandela Washington Fellows and the YALI Regional Leadership Center), the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs, and the International Visitor Leadership Program, among others. This signals that proposals can be stronger when they leverage established alumni networks and demonstrated ties to U.S. public diplomacy programs.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant (Funding Opportunity Number PAS DKR NOFO FY22 02) under CFDA 19.040. The award ceiling is $150,000, with an anticipated total of 12 awards. The opportunity was originally posted on March 14, 2022, with an original closing date of June 17, 2022. Overall, the initiative is structured to fund collaborative, implementable university partnership projects with clear bilateral activity, measurable engagement of Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean participants, and a realistic plan for maintaining the institutional relationship beyond the grant period.Apply for PAS DKR NOFO FY22 02
- 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 Mar 14, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 17, 2022. (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 12 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 (Embassy Dakar)
1) What is the University Partnerships Initiative?
The University Partnerships Initiative is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity managed by the U.S. Mission to Senegal, Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar. It is designed to deepen and expand collaboration between U.S. universities and universities in Africa, with a specific emphasis on Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.
2) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The main goal is to build practical, ongoing academic connections between U.S. higher education institutions and universities in Senegal or Guinea-Bissau. Projects should strengthen existing institutional relationships or create new ones, with activities occurring in both the United States and either Senegal or Guinea-Bissau.
3) Which countries are specifically emphasized?
The opportunity specifically emphasizes Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. Proposed programs should be clearly oriented toward Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean participants.
4) Where must project activities take place?
Activities are expected to occur in both the United States and either Senegal or Guinea-Bissau. The initiative is structured around bilateral activity, not work happening in only one location.
5) What kinds of partnerships does the program support?
The program supports projects that either strengthen existing institutional relationships or create new university-to-university partnerships between U.S. universities and universities in Senegal or Guinea-Bissau.
6) What are the priority activities for funding?
Priority activities include:
- Forming or expanding partnerships with U.S. higher education institutions
- Creating student and faculty exchanges for Senegalese or Bissau-Guinean participants, including in-person and virtual formats
- Supporting joint research collaborations, especially in agriculture, entrepreneurship, creative industries, food security, and STEM
- Training and skills transfer across many aspects of university education through exchanges of subject matter experts
- Developing public-private partnerships that connect universities with industry and employers, particularly where projects can lead to commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation
7) Does the program fund exchanges, and can they be virtual?
Yes. The program supports student and faculty exchanges for Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean participants and explicitly allows for both in-person and virtual formats.
8) Is joint research eligible for support?
Joint research collaborations can be supported, particularly in fields such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, creative industries, food security, and STEM. However, standalone academic or analytical research is not supported unless it is part of a broader, action-oriented project.
9) What does “American content” mean, and does it matter?
“American content” is a competitive preference and refers to a substantive U.S. connection in the project. Examples mentioned include American university partners, U.S.-based expertise, or American themes and materials integrated into the programming. Proposals are favored when this American content is clear and meaningful.
10) Are proposals stronger if they involve U.S. government exchange alumni?
Yes. The Embassy prefers projects that meaningfully involve alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs. Examples listed include Fulbright, YALI (including Mandela Washington Fellows and the YALI Regional Leadership Center), the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs, and the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), among others.
11) What is the sustainability expectation for projects?
Sustainability is a central expectation. Proposals should explain how the partnerships and outcomes will continue after U.S. government funding ends, and how the institutional relationship will be maintained beyond the grant period.
12) What types of activities and costs are explicitly not funded?
The notice lists several ineligible activities and costs, including:
- Organizational start-up expenses
- Ongoing salaries
- Major capital improvements
- Construction
- Vehicles
- Efforts that merely continue or complete activities already started with other funding
- Commercial or profit-making projects
- Inherently political or partisan activities
- Projects focused on specific religious activities
- Fundraising campaigns
- Representational expenses such as receptions (with limited exceptions)
- Fees for news coverage
- Standalone academic/analytical research (unless part of a broader, action-oriented project)
- Scholarships to individuals
- Projects mainly aimed at developing the applicant organization itself rather than building university-to-university collaboration
13) Are scholarships to individuals allowed?
No. Scholarships to individuals are specifically listed as not allowed under this opportunity.
14) Are construction or major infrastructure upgrades allowed?
No. The notice states that major capital improvements and construction are ineligible.
15) Can grant funds be used to buy vehicles?
No. Vehicles are listed as an ineligible cost.
16) Can the grant be used to cover ongoing staff salaries?
No. Ongoing salaries are identified as an ineligible cost category.
17) Are fundraising campaigns supported?
No. Fundraising campaigns are explicitly excluded.
18) Are receptions, meals, or alcohol allowed as part of project events?
Representational expenses such as receptions are not supported, with limited exceptions for modest coffee breaks and working lunches. Alcohol is not allowed.
19) Does the program support political, partisan, or religious programming?
No. The notice excludes inherently political or partisan activities and projects focused on specific religious activities.
20) Can the project simply continue work that has already started with other funding?
No. The program will not fund efforts that merely continue or complete activities already started with other funding.
21) Are commercial or profit-making projects eligible?
No. Projects that are commercial or profit-making in nature are listed as ineligible.
22) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $150,000 per award.
23) How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates a total of 12 awards.
24) What type of grant is this?
This is described as a discretionary grant.
25) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAS DKR NOFO FY22 02.
26) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.040.
27) When was the opportunity posted and when was the original closing date?
The opportunity was originally posted on March 14, 2022, and the original closing date was June 17, 2022.
28) What should a competitive proposal clearly demonstrate?
Based on the notice, competitive proposals should demonstrate:
- A clear university-to-university partnership between the U.S. and Senegal or Guinea-Bissau
- Implementable activities occurring in both countries
- Measurable engagement of Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean participants
- A realistic sustainability plan for continuing collaboration after U.S. government funding ends
- Strong American content (a substantive U.S. connection)
- Meaningful involvement of relevant U.S. government exchange alumni (preferred)
29) Does the program encourage partnerships beyond academia (e.g., with employers or industry)?
Yes. A key supported area is developing public-private partnerships connecting universities with industry and employers, particularly where projects can lead to commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation.
30) Is the program more focused on building the applicant organization or building institutional partnerships?
The program is focused on building university-to-university collaboration. Proposals that mainly aim to develop the applicant organization itself rather than build institutional collaboration are described as not a fit.
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