Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA A E NEA 13 03
Apply for ECA A E NEA 13 03
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Near East, South Asia, and Sub Saharan Africa Undergraduate Exchange Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.009 Academic Exchange Programs Undergraduate Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 21, 2012 and posted on Dec 21, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 15, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,485,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,485,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education.
- Please see full announcement.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Near East, South Asia, and Sub Saharan Africa Undergraduate Exchange Program (often referred to as the NESA UGRAD Program) is a U.S. Department of State exchange initiative run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Academic Exchange Programs. For FY 2013, ECA announced an open competition to select one U.S.-based organization to administer and operate the program under a cooperative agreement. The program’s core purpose is to bring undergraduate students from underrepresented sectors in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and (newly expanded in FY 2013) Sub Saharan Africa to study at accredited U.S. colleges and universities, while also participating in structured cultural, community, and leadership development experiences designed to build practical skills and deeper understanding of U.S. society and higher education.
Funding for this opportunity was expected to total up to $3,485,000, contingent on the availability of FY 2013 funds, with an award ceiling matching that amount. Only one award was anticipated. Because it is structured as a cooperative agreement, the selected recipient would not just receive funds and operate independently; it would typically work in close coordination with the U.S. government on program design, oversight, and key operational decisions. The announcement also indicated that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute or secure additional non-federal resources to support the program.
Eligible applicants included U.S. public and private institutions of higher education, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations holding 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, along with certain other eligible entities as described in the full announcement. The administrative scope is substantial: the recipient organization would be responsible for the end-to-end management of student placements and program delivery, including recruiting and placing approximately 95 international undergraduate participants at accredited U.S. institutions, coordinating participant travel to and within the United States, and providing ongoing student support services.
In practical terms, the program operator would need to arrange academic placements and ensure students can successfully integrate into U.S. campus life while meeting exchange program requirements. The planned cohort size was about 95 students total, with roughly 80 students coming from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, and about 15 students coming from Sub Saharan Africa. A key FY 2013 change highlighted in the notice was the first-time inclusion of approximately 15 emerging student leaders from underrepresented sectors in Sub Saharan Africa, with those participants attending for either one semester or a full academic year. Overall, the scholarship distribution described in the notice anticipated approximately 88 students receiving full academic-year placements and seven students receiving one-semester scholarships.
Beyond academic enrollment, the selected organization would also have to deliver enrichment programming that complements classroom learning. That includes cultural and community engagement activities that help participants better understand U.S. culture and civic life, as well as programming intended to build globally transferable skills and expertise through exposure to U.S. communities. The grant also places heavy emphasis on student advising, monitoring, and welfare support throughout the exchange, along with required orientation and re-entry activities to prepare students before arrival and support their transition home after the program.
The administrative responsibilities extend through the full program lifecycle, including evaluation and reporting, as well as follow-on alumni activities. That means the grantee is expected not only to run the exchange experience itself, but also to track outcomes, assess program effectiveness, and maintain engagement with participants after completion in ways that support longer-term impact and sustained networks.
The opportunity was posted December 21, 2012, with an application deadline of February 15, 2013, and it was later archived on February 16, 2013. The funding opportunity number was ECA A E NEA 13 03, and the CFDA listing referenced was 19.009 (Academic Exchange Programs, Undergraduate Programs). For applicants who could not access the full announcement, the notice provided a program contact: Hans Posey, Program Specialist (poseyhe@state.gov).
FAQs: Near East, South Asia, and Sub Saharan Africa Undergraduate Exchange Program (NESA UGRAD) - FY 2013
1) What is the NESA UGRAD Program?
The Near East, South Asia, and Sub Saharan Africa Undergraduate Exchange Program (NESA UGRAD) is a U.S. Department of State exchange initiative. Its core purpose is to bring undergraduate students from underrepresented sectors in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and (as of FY 2013) Sub Saharan Africa to study at accredited U.S. colleges and universities, while also participating in structured cultural, community, and leadership development activities.
2) Which U.S. government office sponsors this opportunity?
The program is run through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Academic Exchange Programs.
3) What type of funding instrument is being used?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That generally means the selected recipient is expected to coordinate closely with the U.S. government on program design, oversight, and key operational decisions, rather than operating entirely independently.
4) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The funding opportunity number is ECA A E NEA 13 03. The CFDA listing referenced is 19.009 (Academic Exchange Programs, Undergraduate Programs).
5) How much funding was expected to be available?
Total funding was expected to be up to $3,485,000, contingent on the availability of FY 2013 funds. The award ceiling matched that amount.
6) How many awards were anticipated?
Only one award was anticipated for this competition.
7) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement indicated that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute or secure additional non-federal resources to support the program.
8) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included U.S. public and private institutions of higher education, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, along with certain other eligible entities as described in the full announcement.
9) What is the main purpose of the grant-funded project?
The selected U.S.-based organization would administer and operate the NESA UGRAD Program, managing student placements and delivering programming that combines academic study at U.S. institutions with cultural, community, and leadership development experiences.
10) Approximately how many participants would the program place in the United States?
The administrative plan described recruiting and placing approximately 95 international undergraduate participants at accredited U.S. colleges and universities.
11) How were participants expected to be distributed by region?
The notice described a cohort of roughly 80 students from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, and about 15 students from Sub Saharan Africa.
12) What was new or expanded in FY 2013?
A key FY 2013 change was the first-time inclusion of approximately 15 emerging student leaders from underrepresented sectors in Sub Saharan Africa.
13) How long were participants expected to study in the United States?
The notice anticipated that participants would attend for either one semester or a full academic year, with an overall distribution of approximately 88 full academic-year placements and seven one-semester scholarships.
14) What kinds of U.S. institutions would host the students?
Participants were to study at accredited U.S. colleges and universities.
15) What major responsibilities would the selected organization have?
The recipient organization would be responsible for end-to-end management of student placements and program delivery. Responsibilities described included recruiting and placing participants, coordinating participant travel to and within the United States, and providing ongoing student support services.
16) Does the scope include helping students integrate into U.S. campus life?
Yes. The operator would need to arrange academic placements and help ensure students can successfully integrate into U.S. campus life while meeting exchange program requirements.
17) What enrichment programming was expected beyond academic study?
The selected organization would deliver enrichment programming that complements classroom learning, including cultural and community engagement activities to help participants understand U.S. culture and civic life, as well as programming intended to build globally transferable skills through exposure to U.S. communities.
18) What student support services were emphasized?
The notice placed heavy emphasis on student advising, monitoring, and welfare support throughout the exchange.
19) Were orientations and re-entry activities required?
Yes. The program description included required orientation activities to prepare students before arrival and re-entry activities to support participants as they transition home after the program.
20) Are evaluation and reporting part of the grant requirements?
Yes. The administrative responsibilities described extend through the full program lifecycle, including evaluation and reporting to track outcomes and assess program effectiveness.
21) Does the program include alumni or follow-on activities?
Yes. The grantee was expected to conduct follow-on alumni activities, maintaining engagement with participants after completion to support longer-term impact and sustained networks.
22) When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was posted on December 21, 2012, and the application deadline was February 15, 2013.
23) What is the archived status of this opportunity?
The notice indicated the opportunity was archived on February 16, 2013.
24) Who was the program contact listed in the notice?
For applicants who could not access the full announcement, the notice provided a program contact: Hans Posey, Program Specialist, at poseyhe@state.gov.
25) What does it mean that the award was contingent on FY 2013 funds?
It means the expected total funding amount (up to $3,485,000) depended on the availability of FY 2013 appropriated funds, as stated in the notice.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Next opportunity: National Outreach and Communication Program Request for Proposals
Previous opportunity: Limited Competition of the MAPP Research Network Data Coordinating Core (U01)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for ECA A E NEA 13 03
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ECA A E NEA 13 03) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| SportsUnited International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) Apply for ECA PE C SU 13 15 Funding Number: ECA PE C SU 13 15 Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| J/TIP FY 2013 International Programs to Combat Trafficking in Persons Request for SOIs Apply for AT ATC 13 002 Funding Number: AT ATC 13 002 Agency: Office to Monitor/Combat Trafficking in Persons Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Request for Applications for Title II Development Food Assistance Programs in Haiti Apply for FFP FY 13 0002 Funding Number: FFP FY 13 0002 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) and the Secretarys Office on Global Womens Issues (S/GWI) joint call for proposals for the Gender Based Violence Emergency Response and Prevention Initiative Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 13 009 Funding Number: DRLA DRLAQM 13 009 Agency: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Balkh Media Information Center Apply for SCAKAB 13 GR 006 SCA 12272012 Funding Number: SCAKAB 13 GR 006 SCA 12272012 Agency: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Inclusion of People with Disabilities Apply for APS 526 13 000001 Funding Number: APS 526 13 000001 Agency: Paraguay USAID Asuncion Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| PMWRA.FY13.BurmaRSOI.MRE Apply for PM PMWRA 13 013 Funding Number: PM PMWRA 13 013 Agency: PM Weapons Removal and Abatement Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| NIJ Applied Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes Apply for NIJ 2013 3361 Funding Number: NIJ 2013 3361 Agency: National Institute of Justice Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Basic Scientific Research to Support Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes Apply for NIJ 2013 3362 Funding Number: NIJ 2013 3362 Agency: National Institute of Justice Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2013 Broad Agency Announcement Apply for W912HZ 13 BAA 01 Funding Number: W912HZ 13 BAA 01 Agency: Engineer Research and Development Center Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Materials Specific to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Offenders in Corrections Apply for 13CS06 Funding Number: 13CS06 Agency: National Institute of Corrections Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program Apply for USDA NIFA CBGP 004108 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CBGP 004108 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Nangarhar Media Information Center Apply for SCAKAB 13 GR 007 SCA 01092013 Funding Number: SCAKAB 13 GR 007 SCA 01092013 Agency: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Overseas Components for the 2014 15 Academic Year Apply for ECA PE C PY 13 20 Funding Number: ECA PE C PY 13 20 Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $17,250,000 |
| Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) Placement Components Apply for ECA PE C PY 13 21 OY OB Funding Number: ECA PE C PY 13 21 OY OB Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $27,000,000 |
| Public Diplomacy Proposals Guatemala Apply for USEMBGUA 13 GR 001 WHA 011013 Funding Number: USEMBGUA 13 GR 001 WHA 011013 Agency: Guatemala Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Cultural Programming in the Peoples Republic of China Apply for EAPBJ 13 GR 001 EAP 011513 Funding Number: EAPBJ 13 GR 001 EAP 011513 Agency: U.S. Mission to China Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Democracy, Human Rights, and Rule of Law in the Near East Region Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 13 013 Funding Number: DRLA DRLAQM 13 013 Agency: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Evaluating the Effectiveness of State, Local and Tribal Responses to Violence Committed Against Indian Women Living in Tribal Communities Apply for NIJ 2013 3461 Funding Number: NIJ 2013 3461 Agency: National Institute of Justice Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Maldives Election Support Activity (MESA) Apply for RFA 383 13 000001 Funding Number: RFA 383 13 000001 Agency: Sri Lanka USAID Colombo Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "ECA A E NEA 13 03", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.