Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0002599
Apply for OFOP0002599
- The U.S. Mission to Ethiopia in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026- Ethiopia" 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 2026-04-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-15. (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 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026 - Ethiopia is a competitive annual grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State and implemented through the U.S. Mission to Ethiopia. Its main purpose is to fund projects designed and led by alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs, with the idea that alumni are well positioned to turn what they learned in the United States into practical community impact. The program is meant to strengthen long-term ties with the United States, expand and connect alumni networks, and support initiatives that align with U.S. foreign policy priorities while reinforcing shared values such as fundamental freedoms and civic leadership.
For the 2026 cycle in Ethiopia, the embassy is requiring that every proposed project directly complements and supports "Freedom 250" programming, a yearlong initiative tied to the United States' celebration of its 250th birthday. In practical terms, proposals should be framed in a way that clearly connects planned activities to that theme, while also demonstrating how the project advances broader goals such as stronger communities, collaborative problem-solving, and sustained engagement between Ethiopian alumni and the U.S. government. The embassy highlights past Ethiopia-based AEIF projects to show the kind of work that fits the fund: economic empowerment for survivors of violence against women and girls (2021), arts-based efforts to promote regional security and counter violent extremism (2022), and initiatives focused on strengthening alumni networks for continued collaboration (2023). These examples signal that the fund welcomes creative approaches, community participation, and projects that build durable partnerships rather than one-off events.
The program emphasizes three outcomes. First, it aims to strengthen the capacity of alumni networks so they can collaborate not only locally but also regionally and globally around shared interests. Second, it seeks to deepen relationships between exchange alumni and the U.S. government by creating ongoing opportunities to cooperate on mutual priorities. Third, it supports alumni leadership development by resourcing them to plan and deliver projects that have visible community-level impact. Overall, the fund is positioned as an investment in alumni as credible community leaders who can expand the reach and long-term value of U.S. exchange programs in Ethiopia.
Eligibility is tightly focused on exchange alumni. Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange program, which includes Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funded exchanges, BridgeUSA participants, and other qualifying U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. Proposals must be submitted by exchange alumni or by alumni associations; other organizations cannot apply as the primary applicant. Project teams must include at least two alumni, and while U.S. citizen alumni are allowed to participate as team members, they cannot submit proposals or serve as team leads. In addition, the team must include at least two exchange alumni who are Ethiopian citizens. Teams can be mixed across different exchange programs and may also include alumni from different countries, and alumni-led teams are allowed to partner with non-profit or non-governmental organizations to help implement activities, as long as the alumni remain the official applicants and leaders.
From the funding and administrative details provided, this opportunity is a discretionary grant in the Education funding activity category (CFDA 19.022) offered by the U.S. Mission to Ethiopia. The opportunity number is OFOP0002599. The application deadline is May 15, 2026. Awards are capped at USD 35,000 per project, and the mission expects to fund about two awards under this competition.
Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026 - Ethiopia: FAQs
1) What is the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026 - Ethiopia?
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026 - Ethiopia is a competitive annual grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State and implemented through the U.S. Mission to Ethiopia. It funds projects that are designed and led by alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs, with a focus on turning exchange experience into practical community impact in Ethiopia.
2) Who runs and implements this grant opportunity?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of State and implemented through the U.S. Mission to Ethiopia (the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia).
3) What is the main purpose of AEIF?
AEIF exists to support alumni-led projects that translate what alumni learned during U.S. government-sponsored exchanges into real community-level impact. It also aims to strengthen long-term ties with the United States, expand and connect alumni networks, and support initiatives aligned with U.S. foreign policy priorities while reinforcing shared values such as fundamental freedoms and civic leadership.
4) What theme must 2026 Ethiopia proposals support?
For the 2026 cycle in Ethiopia, every proposed project must directly complement and support "Freedom 250" programming. Freedom 250 is described as a yearlong initiative tied to the United States' celebration of its 250th birthday.
5) What does it mean to "complement and support Freedom 250" in a proposal?
Proposals should be framed so that planned activities clearly connect to the Freedom 250 theme. In addition to that direct connection, the proposal should show how the project advances broader goals mentioned by the embassy, such as stronger communities, collaborative problem-solving, and sustained engagement between Ethiopian alumni and the U.S. government.
6) What kinds of projects has AEIF supported in Ethiopia in the past?
The embassy highlights examples of past Ethiopia-based AEIF projects to illustrate fit, including: economic empowerment for survivors of violence against women and girls (2021); arts-based efforts to promote regional security and counter violent extremism (2022); and initiatives focused on strengthening alumni networks for continued collaboration (2023).
7) Are one-off events likely to be competitive?
The information provided suggests the fund welcomes projects that build durable partnerships rather than one-off events. The examples and framing emphasize community participation, creative approaches, and sustained collaboration.
8) What outcomes is the program emphasizing?
The opportunity emphasizes three outcomes: (1) strengthening the capacity of alumni networks so they can collaborate locally, regionally, and globally around shared interests; (2) deepening relationships between exchange alumni and the U.S. government through ongoing opportunities to cooperate on mutual priorities; and (3) supporting alumni leadership development by resourcing them to plan and deliver projects with visible community-level impact.
9) Who is eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
Eligibility is focused on exchange alumni. Proposals must be submitted by exchange alumni or by alumni associations. Other organizations cannot apply as the primary applicant.
10) What exchange programs qualify an applicant as an eligible alumnus/alumna?
Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange program. The description explicitly includes Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funded exchanges, BridgeUSA participants, and other qualifying U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.
11) Can an alumni association apply?
Yes. Proposals may be submitted by alumni associations, according to the eligibility information provided.
12) Can a non-profit or NGO apply as the lead applicant?
No. Other organizations cannot apply as the primary applicant. Alumni-led teams may partner with non-profit or non-governmental organizations to help implement activities, but the alumni must remain the official applicants and leaders.
13) How many alumni are required on a project team?
Project teams must include at least two alumni.
14) Are Ethiopian citizens required on the team?
Yes. The team must include at least two exchange alumni who are Ethiopian citizens.
15) Can U.S. citizen alumni participate?
Yes, U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members. However, they cannot submit proposals or serve as team leads.
16) Can the team include alumni from different exchange programs?
Yes. Teams can be mixed across different exchange programs.
17) Can the team include alumni from different countries?
Yes. The information provided states that alumni-led teams may include alumni from different countries, as long as the team meets the other stated requirements (including the Ethiopian citizen alumni requirement and alumni leadership/primary applicant rules).
18) What is the maximum award amount per project?
Awards are capped at USD 35,000 per project.
19) About how many awards are expected to be funded?
The U.S. Mission to Ethiopia expects to fund about two awards under this competition.
20) What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is May 15, 2026.
21) What type of grant is this and what is the funding category?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant in the Education funding activity category. It references CFDA 19.022.
22) What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is OFOP0002599.
23) What does AEIF aim to strengthen beyond individual projects?
Beyond the immediate project deliverables, AEIF is positioned as an investment in alumni as credible community leaders. It aims to expand the reach and long-term value of U.S. exchange programs in Ethiopia by strengthening alumni networks and supporting sustained engagement and partnerships.
24) What values and priorities should a project align with, based on the description?
The description indicates the fund supports initiatives that align with U.S. foreign policy priorities and reinforce shared values such as fundamental freedoms and civic leadership, while also encouraging stronger communities, collaborative problem-solving, and ongoing U.S.-Ethiopia alumni engagement.
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