Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 16 CA 005 SCA 03242016
Apply for SCAKAB 16 CA 005 SCA 03242016
- The DOS-AFG in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "US-China Training Programs for Afghan Cooperation and Reconstruction" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 23, 2016 and posted on Mar 23, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2016. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul's Public Affairs Section announced a competitive funding opportunity to support Afghan reconstruction through two short, intensive professional training programs in the United States, delivered under a cooperative agreement. The project is designed to bring two separate cohorts of Afghan professionals (up to 15 participants per cohort) to the U.S. for two-week, skills-focused programs in two different development sectors. For proposal purposes, the embassy suggested agriculture and public health as example themes, with agriculture narrowed to improved packaging for dried fruits and nuts, and public health narrowed to women's health, while noting that final topics could change after an award is made. The central goal is practical capacity building for Afghan professionals in priority development fields, while also situating the training in a broader foreign policy and international cooperation context.
A defining feature of the grant is that the U.S.-based training is only one phase of a larger joint U.S.-China effort. A second training phase may be offered separately by the Government of China, potentially in Beijing or another location, and it could occur either before or after the U.S. portion. Applicants are asked to design and budget only for the U.S. program, but to do so with awareness that participants may also take part in a Chinese-sponsored phase. To reflect the cooperative nature of the broader initiative, the U.S. agenda is expected to include engagement with the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and organizers should plan to invite Chinese officials to opening and/or closing sessions. This is meant to reinforce trilateral cooperation aimed at strengthening Afghan human capital and institutional capability.
Both training programs are expected to be anchored in Washington, D.C., with the option to include several days in a second U.S. city if doing so adds value through specialized site visits or technical exposure. The embassy expressed a preference that the two cohorts be scheduled to overlap in time as much as feasible so that joint events can be held, such as shared opening sessions, cross-cutting lectures, networking opportunities, and any diplomacy-focused engagements that apply to both sectors. The required timeline is tight: the trainings must take place no later than November 2016, emphasizing quick implementation and a ready-to-execute plan.
In terms of content and delivery, the opportunity calls for an applied, conference-style training model that blends presentations and expert briefings with interactive discussions, site visits, and practical exercises. Proposals are expected to prioritize real-world skill development and to include opportunities for participants to observe working models and gain hands-on experience where appropriate. For the example agriculture topic, that could imply exposure to U.S. practices in food handling, quality control, packaging technology, labeling, export standards, supply chain logistics, marketing, and value addition for dried fruits and nuts. For the example women's health topic, it could imply training on program design and delivery in maternal health, reproductive health, community health outreach, prevention strategies, health systems strengthening, and approaches that improve access and quality of care for women and girls, while considering cultural and operational realities faced by Afghan professionals.
The embassy also expects a strong public diplomacy and foreign policy dimension. The schedule should incorporate visits to the U.S. Department of State and other relevant U.S. government agencies, as well as meetings with foreign policy stakeholders. Required diplomatic touchpoints include visits to the Embassies of Afghanistan and China in Washington, along with the planned Chinese Embassy engagement noted above. These elements are intended to connect technical sector learning with the way the U.S. government and international partners approach development, reconstruction support, and regional cooperation.
Beyond formal training sessions, the NOFO encourages planners to add cultural and relationship-building components that enrich the exchange experience and build professional networks. Desirable add-ons include cultural and social events on certain weekday evenings and during the weekend between the two training weeks. The embassy also encourages incorporating a volunteer-based social service activity alongside American volunteers, or a cultural activity, as a way to promote mutual understanding and expose participants to U.S. civic engagement models. Overall, the program is framed as an immersive professional exchange that mixes technical instruction, institutional exposure, and people-to-people engagement.
Administratively, this is a discretionary U.S. Department of State award managed by DOS-AFG, offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the funder in shaping or coordinating elements of implementation. The funding opportunity number is SCAKAB 16 CA 005 (SCA 03242016), the CFDA number listed is 19.501, and the competition anticipated a single award with a ceiling of $250,000. The notice was posted March 23, 2016, with an application deadline of May 25, 2016. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others" with further details referenced in the full eligibility clarification, indicating the competition may be open to a range of organizations capable of designing and delivering international training and exchange programming at this scale.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a competitive funding opportunity announced by the U.S. Embassy in Kabul's Public Affairs Section to support Afghan reconstruction through two short, intensive professional training programs delivered in the United States under a cooperative agreement.
2) What is the main goal of the project?
The central goal is practical capacity building for Afghan professionals in priority development fields, while also placing the training within a broader foreign policy and international cooperation context.
3) How many training programs are expected?
Two separate U.S.-based professional training programs are expected.
4) How long is each training program?
Each program is expected to last two weeks and be skills-focused and intensive.
5) How many participants are expected per cohort?
Up to 15 Afghan professionals per cohort.
6) Are the two cohorts in the same sector or different sectors?
The project is designed for two different development sectors (one sector per cohort).
7) What development sectors/topics are expected?
For proposal purposes, the embassy suggested agriculture and public health as example themes. Agriculture was narrowed as an example to improved packaging for dried fruits and nuts, and public health was narrowed as an example to women's health.
8) Are the training topics fixed?
No. The embassy noted that final topics could change after an award is made.
9) Where will the trainings take place?
Both trainings are expected to be anchored in Washington, D.C.
10) Can the program include travel to another U.S. city?
Yes. The opportunity allows for several days in a second U.S. city if that adds value through specialized site visits or technical exposure.
11) Does the embassy prefer the two cohorts to be scheduled at the same time?
Yes. The embassy expressed a preference that the two cohorts overlap as much as feasible so joint events can be held, such as shared openings, cross-cutting lectures, networking opportunities, and diplomacy-focused engagements relevant to both sectors.
12) What is the deadline for when the trainings must occur?
The trainings must take place no later than November 2016.
13) What training format is expected?
An applied, conference-style model blending presentations and expert briefings with interactive discussions, site visits, and practical exercises, with an emphasis on real-world skill development and hands-on exposure where appropriate.
14) What kinds of skills might be included under the example agriculture topic?
For the example theme of improved packaging for dried fruits and nuts, the NOFO implies exposure to U.S. practices such as food handling, quality control, packaging technology, labeling, export standards, supply chain logistics, marketing, and value addition.
15) What kinds of content might be included under the example women's health topic?
For the example theme of women's health, the NOFO implies training that could include program design and delivery in maternal health and reproductive health, community health outreach, prevention strategies, health systems strengthening, and approaches to improve access and quality of care for women and girls, while considering Afghan cultural and operational realities.
16) Is there a foreign policy/public diplomacy component?
Yes. The embassy expects a strong public diplomacy and foreign policy dimension alongside the technical training.
17) What U.S. government and diplomatic visits are expected?
The schedule should incorporate visits to the U.S. Department of State and other relevant U.S. government agencies, plus meetings with foreign policy stakeholders. Required diplomatic touchpoints include visits to the Embassies of Afghanistan and China in Washington, D.C.
18) How does China factor into the overall initiative?
The U.S.-based training is described as one phase of a larger joint U.S.-China effort. A second training phase may be offered separately by the Government of China, potentially in Beijing or another location, and it could occur either before or after the U.S. portion.
19) Should applicants design and budget for the China-based phase?
No. Applicants are asked to design and budget only for the U.S. program, but to do so with awareness that participants may also take part in a Chinese-sponsored phase.
20) What China-related engagement is expected during the U.S. program?
To reflect the cooperative nature of the broader initiative, the U.S. agenda is expected to include engagement with the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and organizers should plan to invite Chinese officials to opening and/or closing sessions.
21) Are cultural and networking activities encouraged?
Yes. The NOFO encourages cultural and relationship-building components that enrich the exchange experience and build professional networks, including cultural and social events on certain weekday evenings and during the weekend between the two training weeks.
22) Is a volunteer or social service activity included in the expectations?
It is encouraged. The embassy suggests incorporating a volunteer-based social service activity alongside American volunteers, or a cultural activity, to promote mutual understanding and exposure to U.S. civic engagement models.
23) What type of award is this?
This is a discretionary U.S. Department of State award managed by DOS-AFG, offered as a cooperative agreement.
24) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
The notice indicates it is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the funder in shaping or coordinating elements of implementation.
25) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is SCAKAB 16 CA 005 (SCA 03242016). The CFDA number listed is 19.501.
26) How many awards are anticipated and what is the maximum funding?
The competition anticipated a single award, with a funding ceiling of $250,000.
27) When was the notice posted and when were applications due?
The notice was posted March 23, 2016, and the application deadline was May 25, 2016.
28) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others," with additional details referenced in the full eligibility clarification. This suggests the competition may be open to a range of organizations capable of designing and delivering international training and exchange programming at this scale.
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