Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS SUDAN NOFO FY2026 01
Apply for PDS SUDAN NOFO FY2026 01
- The U.S. Mission to Sudan in the arts, education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SUDAN Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund - FY26" 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 2026-03-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-20. (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 SUDAN Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) FY26 is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Sudan Affairs, Public Diplomacy Section, designed specifically for alumni of U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. The program funds alumni-led, public service-oriented projects that are meant to be innovative, community facing, and clearly tied to U.S. public diplomacy goals. A central theme for FY26 is celebrating and promoting the 250th anniversary of Americas independence, and proposals are expected to connect that anniversary to practical activities that advance shared priorities such as peace, security, and mutual prosperity.
Projects must fit at least one of the primary focus areas outlined in the notice. Those areas include activities that promote and celebrate American leadership, values, and culture, which can involve fields like music, literature, sports, or other cultural programming that highlights U.S. ideas and civic traditions. Another eligible track is building media capacity, with a specific emphasis on truth and freedom of speech, suggesting support for training, professional development, ethical journalism, countering misinformation through credible practices, or initiatives that strengthen the information environment. A third track is showcasing U.S. leadership in energy, technology, science, and cybersecurity, which could include educational workshops, skills-building programs, awareness campaigns, demonstrations, or collaborative events that connect participants to U.S.-linked innovation and best practices in these sectors.
Eligibility is tightly defined around exchange alumni. Applications must be submitted by exchange program alumni or alumni associations, and every project team must include at least two eligible alumni. Alumni teams can be made up of participants from different exchange programs and even different countries, as long as the members meet the exchange-alumni requirement. U.S. citizen alumni are not allowed to submit proposals as applicants, but they may participate as team members on a project. While no other organizations may apply directly, alumni teams are allowed to partner with nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions to help carry out activities, and the grant may be issued either to individual alumni or to partner organizations depending on the implementation arrangement.
The funding level is relatively small but flexible, supporting projects from USD 5,000 up to USD 35,000. Project duration can range from 3 to 12 months, which implies the program is looking for efforts that can launch quickly, deliver measurable results within a defined period, and still demonstrate a realistic plan for sustainability after the grant ends. Strong applications will clearly explain the problem being addressed, identify a target audience, lay out specific objectives, and include measurable outcomes or indicators that show what success looks like. Reviewers will also expect a thoughtful project design that connects activities to results, along with a credible plan for maintaining impact beyond the funding period, such as follow-on programming, partnerships, alumni network structures, or resources that remain useful after the project concludes.
The application deadline is April 20, 2026. Applicants are required to use the official attached application materials, including the Sudan AEIF 2026 Announcement, the Notice of Funding Opportunity, the AEIF Proposal Form, and the AEIF Budget Form. Submissions that do not use these required forms will not be accepted, so compliance with the packaging and formatting requirements is a make-or-break step. Additional program and eligibility context for exchange alumni is available through the State Department alumni site at https://alumni.state.gov/list-exchange-programs, and questions can be directed to khartoumembassygrants@state.gov. Key administrative details include a grant funding instrument, an Arts and Education activity category classification, CFDA 19.022, an award ceiling of USD 35,000, and an expectation of about two awards under this cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - SUDAN Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) FY26
1) What is the SUDAN Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) FY26?
The SUDAN Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) FY26 is a competitive small grants program run by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Sudan Affairs, Public Diplomacy Section. It supports alumni-led, public service-oriented projects proposed and implemented by alumni of U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.
2) Who is the fund designed for?
The opportunity is designed specifically for eligible exchange program alumni and alumni associations. Projects must be alumni-led and connected to U.S. public diplomacy goals.
3) What kinds of projects does AEIF fund?
AEIF funds innovative, community-facing, public service-oriented projects that clearly connect to U.S. public diplomacy objectives. Proposals are expected to describe a real-world problem, a defined target audience, clear objectives, and measurable outcomes.
4) What is the central theme for FY26?
A central theme for FY26 is celebrating and promoting the 250th anniversary of America's independence. Proposals are expected to connect that anniversary to practical activities that advance shared priorities such as peace, security, and mutual prosperity.
5) What focus areas must a project align with?
Projects must fit at least one of the primary focus areas listed in the notice. The focus areas include:
- Promoting and celebrating American leadership, values, and culture (including fields such as music, literature, sports, or other cultural programming that highlights U.S. ideas and civic traditions).
- Building media capacity, with emphasis on truth and freedom of speech (such as training, professional development, ethical journalism, and strengthening the information environment through credible practices, including countering misinformation).
- Showcasing U.S. leadership in energy, technology, science, and cybersecurity (such as educational workshops, skills-building programs, awareness campaigns, demonstrations, or collaborative events tied to U.S.-linked innovation and best practices).
6) Who can submit an application?
Applications must be submitted by exchange program alumni or alumni associations. The applicant must meet the exchange-alumni requirement described in the program materials.
7) How many alumni are required on a project team?
Every project team must include at least two eligible alumni.
8) Can alumni from different exchange programs work together?
Yes. Alumni teams can include participants from different exchange programs as long as the members meet the exchange-alumni requirement.
9) Can alumni from different countries be on the same team?
Yes. Alumni teams may include members from different countries, provided the team meets the exchange-alumni eligibility requirement (including having at least two eligible alumni).
10) Are U.S. citizen alumni allowed to apply?
No. U.S. citizen alumni are not allowed to submit proposals as applicants under this opportunity.
11) Can U.S. citizen alumni participate in a project in any capacity?
Yes. While U.S. citizen alumni cannot be the applicants, they may participate as team members on a project.
12) Can organizations apply directly for this grant?
No. Organizations other than eligible alumni or alumni associations may not apply directly. However, alumni teams are allowed to partner with nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions to help carry out project activities.
13) Can the grant be awarded to an organization instead of an individual alumnus/alumna?
Yes. The grant may be issued either to individual alumni or to partner organizations, depending on the implementation arrangement described in the proposal.
14) What is the funding range for this opportunity?
AEIF FY26 supports project budgets from USD 5,000 up to USD 35,000.
15) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling for this cycle is USD 35,000.
16) How long can a funded project last?
Projects may have a duration of 3 to 12 months.
17) What does the program expect regarding sustainability after the grant ends?
Applicants are expected to include a realistic plan for sustaining impact beyond the funding period. Examples referenced in the opportunity include follow-on programming, partnerships, alumni network structures, or resources that remain useful after the project concludes.
18) What makes an application strong according to the opportunity description?
Strong applications are expected to:
- Clearly explain the problem being addressed.
- Identify a target audience.
- Lay out specific objectives.
- Include measurable outcomes or indicators that define success.
- Show a thoughtful design that connects activities to results.
- Include a credible sustainability plan beyond the grant period.
19) What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is April 20, 2026.
20) Are there required application forms?
Yes. Applicants are required to use the official attached application materials, including the Sudan AEIF 2026 Announcement, the Notice of Funding Opportunity, the AEIF Proposal Form, and the AEIF Budget Form.
21) What happens if an applicant does not use the required forms?
Submissions that do not use the required forms will not be accepted. Following the packaging and formatting requirements is described as a make-or-break step.
22) Where can applicants find information about eligible exchange programs?
Additional context on exchange alumni eligibility is available through the U.S. Department of State alumni site, including the list of exchange programs: https://alumni.state.gov/list-exchange-programs
23) Who can applicants contact with questions about the opportunity?
Questions can be directed to khartoumembassygrants@state.gov.
24) What type of funding instrument is used?
The opportunity uses a grant funding instrument.
25) Is there an activity category classification listed for this opportunity?
Yes. The activity category classification is listed as Arts and Education.
26) What is the CFDA number for this grant opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 19.022.
27) How many awards are expected under this cycle?
The notice indicates an expectation of about two awards under this cycle.
28) Does the opportunity require projects to be community-facing?
Yes. The projects are described as community-facing and public service-oriented, and they should clearly align with U.S. public diplomacy goals.
29) Does the opportunity emphasize innovation?
Yes. The fund is explicitly described as supporting innovative projects led by alumni.
30) Do proposals need to connect to U.S. public diplomacy goals?
Yes. Projects are expected to be clearly tied to U.S. public diplomacy goals, including through the FY26 theme and the listed focus areas.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Arts, Education
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