Funding-Limited Submission - U.S. Department of State – Open Competition for Professional Fellows Program; March 5, 2012

 

The Professional Fellows Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Office of Citizen Exchanges announces an open competition for grants to conduct the Professional Fellows Program (PFP) in Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East and North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.

 

The PFP is a global exchange program designed to strengthen leadership capacity and professional skills for mid-level professionals (approximately 25-40 years of age). The PFP provides mid-level professionals opportunities to participate in substantive professional development activities in the United States working closely with U.S. counterparts in exchanges which focus on one of the following three themes:  1) Economic Empowerment; 2) Media; and 3) Legislative Process and Governance. Each exchange must involve both U.S. and foreign participants in roughly equivalent numbers and should take place over a two-year period.

 

The sponsor anticipates awards will be in the $350,000 to $500,000 range. Organizations with less than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. The anticipated award date for the project is July 1, 2012, and the anticipated project completion date is June 30, 2014.

 

The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

 

Further information can be found at:

http://exchanges.state.gov/media/pdfs/rfgps/3rfgp-professional-fellows-open-competition-1-31-12-final.pdf

 

An organization may submit only one (1) proposal under this competition.

 

Because the Department of State only allows an organization to submit one proposal, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process.  Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to submit the following materials electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Monday, March 5, 2012:

·         Names and departments of UK Project Director and key personnel

·         Theme of the project – Economic Empowerment, Media, or Legislative Process and Governance

·         The specific country(ies) from one of the 6 target regions for the project (listed in opening paragraph above)

·         The program activities and objectives (1 -2 pages)

·         If cost sharing is offered, a budget with match and potential sources of funding for that match. Note:  Because of ongoing commitments, the Office of the Vice President for Research is unable to provide matching funds.

 

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make a recommendation. The Dept. of State deadline is March 27, 2012. Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).