Opportunity Information: Apply for TASHKENT PDS FY26 001
Apply for TASHKENT PDS FY26 001
- The U.S. Mission to Uzbekistan in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-06. (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 $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent to support alumni-led projects that strengthen economic ties between the United States and Uzbekistan. The program is framed as a public diplomacy and foreign policy initiative that highlights the United States as a global leader in innovation and technological advancement while also encouraging practical business-to-business and people-to-people connections that can lead to deeper commercial engagement. In simple terms, the Embassy is looking to fund small, high-impact projects designed and led by alumni of U.S. government exchange programs that can build new economic linkages, spotlight U.S. innovation, and help expand U.S.-Uzbek cooperation in forward-looking sectors.
A core expectation is that proposed projects directly contribute to building economic connections and showcasing the benefits of partnership with the United States. The Embassy emphasizes outcomes such as attracting foreign investment into the United States and increasing tourism to the United States, while simultaneously strengthening U.S.-Uzbek business connections. Projects are expected to be practical and visible, using events and activities that bring together entrepreneurs, students, professionals, cultural and sports communities, or industry stakeholders in ways that encourage collaboration with U.S. counterparts. Illustrative activities mentioned in the opportunity include STEM-focused workshops, innovation hackathons, cultural festivals, and promotional efforts tied to major events hosted in the United States. The overall intent is to translate alumni experience and networks into concrete initiatives that create momentum for trade, investment, and long-term cooperation.
All proposals must incorporate "Freedom 250" themes connected to the United States' 250th Anniversary, meaning applicants should intentionally weave in messaging or programming that aligns with this commemorative focus. While the notice does not spell out a single required format for how Freedom 250 must appear, it clearly signals that anniversary-related themes are not optional add-ons; they should be integrated into the project design, narrative, and public-facing elements. Applicants should be prepared to show how their activities will reflect those themes while still delivering tangible economic engagement outcomes.
The Embassy identifies several priority theme areas that proposals should align with. These include Business, Energy and Trade; STEM, AI and Innovation; and also Education, Culture, Sports and Tourism. This structure gives applicants flexibility to propose projects that are highly technical and industry-driven (for example, AI entrepreneurship or clean energy collaboration) or projects that rely on education and cultural diplomacy as the pathway to economic impact (for example, tourism promotion or cultural programming that supports travel to the United States). Regardless of the theme, the project should make a clear case for how it will strengthen U.S.-Uzbek economic ties and highlight U.S. innovation leadership.
Eligibility is narrowly defined and centered on exchange alumni. Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange program, such as those associated with the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. Proposals must be submitted by teams that include at least two exchange alumni, and teams can include alumni from different exchange programs and even different countries. A key restriction is that U.S. citizen alumni cannot submit proposals as applicants, although U.S. citizen alumni are allowed to participate as team members. Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or associations of U.S. government exchange alumni; no other organizations are eligible to apply on their own. However, alumni teams are allowed to partner with nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions to carry out project activities, and the award itself can be issued either to the individual alumni or to the partner organization, depending on what makes sense for implementation.
On the funding side, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: TASHKENT PDS FY26 001) under CFDA 19.022. The award ceiling is $35,000, and the Embassy anticipates making about two awards. The original application closing date listed is May 6, 2026. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a competitive, small-grants program meant to mobilize U.S. exchange alumni networks in Uzbekistan (and beyond, if on a multi-country team) to create innovative, public-facing projects that support U.S.-Uzbek economic engagement, elevate U.S. innovation and technology leadership, and incorporate Freedom 250 anniversary themes in a meaningful way.
AEIF 2026 (Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)?
AEIF 2026 is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent. It supports small, alumni-led projects that strengthen economic ties between the United States and Uzbekistan through practical, visible activities that promote collaboration and highlight U.S. innovation and technological leadership.
Who is administering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent under the U.S. Department of State.
What is the main goal of AEIF 2026?
The main goal is to fund alumni-designed and alumni-led projects that build new or stronger U.S.-Uzbek economic linkages, encourage business-to-business and people-to-people connections, and spotlight the benefits of partnership with the United States, especially in forward-looking sectors.
What outcomes is the Embassy emphasizing?
The Embassy emphasizes tangible, real-world outcomes tied to economic engagement, including strengthening U.S.-Uzbek business connections and outcomes such as attracting foreign investment into the United States and increasing tourism to the United States.
What kinds of activities or project formats are encouraged?
The opportunity highlights practical, visible events and activities that bring together relevant communities and stakeholders. Illustrative examples include STEM-focused workshops, innovation hackathons, cultural festivals, and promotional efforts connected to major events hosted in the United States.
Do projects need to be public-facing?
Yes. Projects are expected to be practical and visible, using public-facing events or activities that convene entrepreneurs, students, professionals, cultural and sports communities, or industry stakeholders to encourage collaboration with U.S. counterparts.
What are the priority theme areas for proposals?
Proposals are expected to align with one or more of these priority theme areas: Business, Energy and Trade; STEM, AI and Innovation; and Education, Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Can a project focus on culture, sports, or education and still fit the grant?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes Education, Culture, Sports and Tourism as a priority theme area, with the expectation that the project still makes a clear case for how it strengthens U.S.-Uzbek economic ties and highlights U.S. innovation leadership.
What does it mean to "strengthen economic ties" in this program?
Within this opportunity, strengthening economic ties means creating momentum for trade, investment, tourism, and long-term commercial cooperation by connecting people and institutions in Uzbekistan with U.S. counterparts and by showcasing the benefits of U.S. partnership and innovation.
What are the "Freedom 250" requirements?
All proposals must incorporate "Freedom 250" themes connected to the United States' 250th Anniversary. The notice indicates these themes should be intentionally integrated into the project design, narrative, and public-facing elements, rather than treated as optional add-ons.
Is there a specific required format for including Freedom 250 themes?
The information provided does not specify a single required format. However, it clearly states that Freedom 250 themes are not optional and should be meaningfully woven into the project.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is centered on exchange alumni. Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange program (for example, programs associated with the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program). Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or associations of U.S. government exchange alumni.
How many alumni are required on an application team?
Proposals must be submitted by teams that include at least two exchange alumni.
Can team members come from different exchange programs?
Yes. Teams can include alumni from different exchange programs.
Can the team include alumni from different countries?
Yes. Teams can include alumni from different countries.
Can U.S. citizen alumni apply as the applicant?
No. A stated restriction is that U.S. citizen alumni cannot submit proposals as applicants.
Can U.S. citizen alumni still be involved in a project?
Yes. U.S. citizen alumni are allowed to participate as team members.
Can non-alumni organizations apply on their own?
No. The information provided states that applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or associations of U.S. government exchange alumni, and that no other organizations are eligible to apply on their own.
Are partnerships allowed with other organizations?
Yes. Alumni teams may partner with nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions to carry out project activities.
Who can receive the award if a partner organization is involved?
The award can be issued either to the individual alumni or to the partner organization, depending on what makes sense for implementation.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is TASHKENT PDS FY26 001.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.022.
What is the maximum grant amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $35,000.
How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipates making about two awards.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date listed is May 6, 2026.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a competitive small-grants program and is also characterized as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the program trying to do with alumni networks?
The intent is to translate alumni experience and networks into concrete initiatives that create momentum for trade, investment, tourism, and long-term cooperation, while elevating U.S. innovation and technology leadership and incorporating Freedom 250 themes.
Do projects need to involve U.S. counterparts?
The opportunity emphasizes bringing people and stakeholders together in ways that encourage collaboration with U.S. counterparts and that expand U.S.-Uzbek cooperation, so projects should be designed with that connective element in mind.
Does the opportunity focus only on Uzbekistan-based teams?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent and focuses on strengthening U.S.-Uzbek economic ties, but it also states that teams can be multi-country (with alumni from different countries). The information provided does not further limit participation beyond the alumni eligibility rules described.
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