Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 12 AW 003 SCA 020112
Apply for SCAKAB 12 AW 003 SCA 020112
- The Bureau of South and Central Asian 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 "U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section, Local Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501 Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 31, 2012 and posted on Feb 1, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 1, 2012 Applications will be accepted until no later than September 1, 2012, but the fund may close earlier should funds be fully obligated prior to that date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $250,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 250 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals.
- This fund is available solely to Alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs who are registered on http://state.alumni.gov.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section (PAS), under the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, offered funding through its Alumni Small Grants (Local Grants) Program to support community-focused projects designed and led by alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs. The main goal of this opportunity was to help alumni turn what they learned during their exchanges into practical, local impact while also strengthening professional connections among alumni in Afghanistan.
The program focused on four core outcomes. First, it aimed to build and expand alumni networks across different professional fields, encouraging collaboration among people from different exchange cohorts and program types. Second, it supported alumni-led efforts to transfer knowledge and skills gained during U.S. exchange experiences back to local communities, such as through trainings, workshops, mentoring, or public-facing learning activities. Third, it provided small amounts of funding to back volunteer and community service projects, meaning the work should include a clear volunteer component rather than being purely paid activity. Fourth, it emphasized leadership development, particularly for younger alumni, by giving them a chance to plan, manage, and deliver a project that benefits others.
Eligibility was narrow and specific: applicants had to be individuals who are alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs and must be registered on the State Department alumni platform at http://state.alumni.gov. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, making it accessible for alumni who may not have additional funding sources. Projects were expected to be alumni-led, show a direct and visible benefit to the surrounding community, and intentionally promote networking among alumni from different years and/or programs. A key operational rule was the timeline: all funded projects had to be completed within six months or less, reinforcing that these were small, practical projects rather than long-term initiatives.
Financially, the opportunity offered relatively small awards intended for local grassroots efforts. The estimated total funding was $250,000, with individual awards ranging from a $500 minimum to a $5,000 maximum. The funding instrument was a grant, and the activity category was listed as “Other,†reflecting its focus on public diplomacy and alumni-driven community engagement rather than a single technical sector. The opportunity referenced an expected 250 awards, suggesting a preference for funding many small projects rather than a few large ones.
The announcement was posted on February 1, 2012, with applications accepted until September 1, 2012, although it noted that the program could close earlier if funds were fully obligated before the deadline. For access issues or questions about the full announcement, the contact listed was Cynthia Rafferty at the U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Alumni Small Grants (Local Grants) Program?
The Alumni Small Grants (Local Grants) Program is a funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section (PAS), under the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, to support community-focused projects designed and led by alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs in Afghanistan.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The main purpose is to help alumni turn what they learned during their U.S. Government-sponsored exchange experiences into practical, local impact in Afghanistan, while also strengthening professional connections and collaboration among alumni.
Who is offering and managing this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered through the U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section (PAS), operating under the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be individuals who are alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs and must be registered on the U.S. Department of State alumni platform at http://state.alumni.gov.
Can organizations apply, or is it only for individuals?
Based on the stated eligibility, applicants had to be individuals (alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs) registered on the State Department alumni platform.
What are the core outcomes the program is trying to achieve?
The program focused on four outcomes: (1) building and expanding alumni networks across professional fields and across different cohorts/program types; (2) transferring knowledge and skills from U.S. exchange experiences to local communities through activities like trainings, workshops, mentoring, or public learning events; (3) supporting volunteer and community service projects with a clear volunteer component; and (4) strengthening leadership development, especially for younger alumni, through hands-on project planning and delivery.
What types of activities or projects does the program support?
The program supported alumni-led, community-focused projects that create visible local benefit and incorporate knowledge-sharing activities such as trainings, workshops, mentoring, or other public-facing learning activities. It also supported volunteer and community service projects, meaning proposals were expected to include a clear volunteer component.
Does the project need to include volunteer work?
Yes. The program emphasized backing volunteer and community service projects and indicated that the work should include a clear volunteer component rather than being purely paid activity.
Does the program require projects to be led by alumni?
Yes. Projects were expected to be alumni-led, aligning with the program goal of helping exchange alumni translate their experience into local impact.
Do projects need to show a community benefit?
Yes. Projects were expected to show a direct and visible benefit to the surrounding community.
Is alumni networking a requirement or just a preference?
The program emphasized alumni networking as a core outcome. Projects were expected to intentionally promote networking among alumni from different years and/or programs, and to encourage collaboration across cohorts and program types.
How long can a funded project last?
All funded projects had to be completed within six months or less. This timeline reinforced that the grants were intended for small, practical projects rather than long-term initiatives.
Is cost-sharing or matching funding required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
How much funding is available per award?
Individual awards ranged from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000.
What is the estimated total funding available for the program?
The estimated total funding for the opportunity was $250,000.
About how many awards were expected to be made?
The opportunity referenced an expected 250 awards, indicating an intention to support many small projects.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument was a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category was listed as "Other," reflecting a public diplomacy and alumni-driven community engagement focus rather than a single technical sector.
When was the opportunity announced?
The announcement was posted on February 1, 2012.
What was the application deadline?
Applications were accepted until September 1, 2012.
Could the program close before the listed deadline?
Yes. The announcement noted the program could close earlier if funds were fully obligated before the deadline.
Where do applicants need to be registered to meet eligibility requirements?
Applicants had to be registered on the U.S. Department of State alumni platform at http://state.alumni.gov.
Who is the point of contact for access issues or questions about the full announcement?
The contact listed was Cynthia Rafferty at the U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section.
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