Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA PE C 09 01
Apply for ECA PE C 09 01
- 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 "Professional Exchange Programs in Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia and the Western Hemisphere and the Nqwang Choephel Fellowship Program for Tibet" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415 Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs Citizen Exchanges.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 8, 2008 and posted on Dec 8, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 20, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private 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) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Please see full announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, offered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges (ECA/PE/C), funds professional and cultural exchange projects designed to strengthen relationships between U.S. organizations and counterpart groups overseas. The core purpose is to build sustained, practical partnerships between key professional, civic, and cultural communities in the United States and those in regions that include Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. The competition also includes the Nqwang Choephel Fellowship Program for Tibet, which is presented as part of the same funding announcement and aligns with the broader goal of fostering professional connections and mutual understanding through exchange.
The program is structured around multi-phase exchanges that run over one to two years, emphasizing longer-term engagement rather than one-off study tours. A central requirement is that projects be two-way: they must involve participants from the United States traveling and engaging abroad and participants from the partner countries coming to the United States. Within that two-way format, the State Department is looking for proposals that do more than introduce participants to each other; projects are expected to create durable professional networks, support collaboration between institutions, and expand shared problem-solving across borders. The broader civic aim is to encourage citizen engagement with current issues and to support the growth of democratic societies and institutions, reflecting a public diplomacy approach that links person-to-person ties with longer-term stability and governance outcomes.
Funding for the competition is estimated at about $5.6 million (or more, depending on final availability of funds), with ECA anticipating roughly 10 to 15 awards during fiscal year 2009. Individual awards are expected to fall in a relatively narrow band, with an award floor of $300,000 and an award ceiling of $350,000. The funding instrument is a grant, and there is a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should plan to contribute resources alongside federal funds, whether through cash, third-party support, or eligible in-kind contributions consistent with federal assistance rules and the specifics in the full announcement.
Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofits recognized under IRS 501(c)(3), private institutions of higher education, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education, along with other eligible entities referenced in the full announcement. In practical terms, this opportunity is geared toward established organizations that can recruit and prepare professional participants, manage international exchange logistics and duty of care, and deliver program activities across multiple phases over a one- to two-year period. Because the focus is on building partnerships with civil society and cultural groups abroad, competitive proposals would typically demonstrate strong overseas relationships, credible plans for reciprocal exchanges, and clear strategies for maintaining networks and joint work after travel concludes.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding under CFDA 19.415 (Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges). The funding opportunity number is ECA-PE-C-09-01. It was posted on December 8, 2008, and the application deadline (closing date) was February 20, 2009, with an archive date of February 21, 2009. For applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically, the listed program contact was Hans Posey, Program Specialist (poseyhe@state.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State grant offered through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges (ECA/PE/C). It funds professional and cultural exchange projects intended to strengthen relationships between U.S. organizations and counterpart groups overseas through sustained, practical partnerships.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to build durable, practical partnerships between key professional, civic, and cultural communities in the United States and those in regions abroad. The program emphasizes longer-term engagement and collaboration that continues beyond travel and short-term introductions.
What kinds of activities does the program support?
The program supports multi-phase professional and cultural exchanges designed to create lasting professional networks, encourage institutional collaboration, and expand shared cross-border problem-solving. Projects are intended to support citizen engagement with current issues and contribute to the growth of democratic societies and institutions as part of a public diplomacy approach.
Which regions are included in the program focus?
The opportunity includes exchanges involving regions that include Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.
Is this a one-time study tour, or a longer program?
This competition is structured around multi-phase exchanges running over one to two years. The emphasis is on longer-term engagement rather than one-off study tours.
Does the exchange need to be two-way?
Yes. A central requirement is that projects be two-way, including both U.S. participants traveling and engaging abroad and participants from partner countries coming to the United States.
What does the program mean by “sustained, practical partnerships”?
Based on the announcement summary, it means projects should go beyond introductions and instead produce durable professional networks, support collaboration between institutions, and maintain momentum for joint work after travel concludes.
Does this funding announcement include any special fellowship program?
Yes. The competition includes the Nqwang Choephel Fellowship Program for Tibet, presented as part of the same funding announcement and aligned with the broader goal of fostering professional connections and mutual understanding through exchange.
How much funding is available under this competition?
Total estimated funding is about $5.6 million (or more depending on final availability of funds).
How many awards does ECA expect to make?
ECA anticipated making roughly 10 to 15 awards during fiscal year 2009.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to fall within a narrow range, with an award floor of $300,000 and an award ceiling of $350,000.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. There is a cost-sharing/matching requirement. Applicants should plan to contribute resources alongside federal funds, which may include cash, third-party support, or eligible in-kind contributions, consistent with federal assistance rules and the full announcement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofits recognized under IRS 501(c)(3), private institutions of higher education, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education, along with other eligible entities referenced in the full announcement.
What types of organizations is this opportunity geared toward?
In practical terms, it is geared toward established organizations that can recruit and prepare professional participants, manage international exchange logistics and duty of care, and deliver program activities across multiple phases over a one- to two-year period.
What would a competitive proposal typically demonstrate?
Competitive proposals would typically show strong overseas relationships, credible plans for reciprocal exchanges, and clear strategies for maintaining networks and joint work after travel concludes, consistent with the focus on partnerships with civil society and cultural groups abroad.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.415 (Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is ECA-PE-C-09-01.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
It was posted on December 8, 2008. The application deadline (closing date) was February 20, 2009. The archive date was February 21, 2009.
Who was the listed program contact?
For applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically, the listed contact was Hans Posey, Program Specialist, at poseyhe@state.gov.
Is this considered discretionary funding?
Yes. Administratively, it is listed as discretionary funding under the CFDA program noted in the announcement summary.
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