Request for Statement of Interest (SOI) for Zimbabwean University Partnership Development Catalyst Projects | AF HAR FY22 06

Opportunity Information: Apply for AF HAR FY22 06

The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe, is offering a grant opportunity aimed at strengthening and jumpstarting partnerships between accredited universities in Zimbabwe and accredited U.S. universities. The program is framed as a set of "catalyst projects," meaning the funding is meant to help existing partnerships move from agreement to action, or to help newer collaborations gain enough momentum to become sustainable, longer-term institutional relationships. The overall focus is on practical, partnership-building activities that deepen academic ties and produce clear pathways for continued collaboration.

This opportunity uses a two-step application process that begins with a short Statement of Interest (SOI). Applicants must submit a concise 1 to 2 page SOI that clearly explains the project idea, goals, and what the partnership intends to accomplish. The SOI is not a full proposal and is intentionally lightweight, serving as a screening stage so universities can share their concept without investing the time required for a complete grant application. After an initial merit review of SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. Those full proposals will then go through a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.

The funded projects are intended to support U.S.-Zimbabwe university collaboration in several priority areas. These include joint academic research and research capacity-building, student and faculty mobility or exchange programs, dual degree or twinning initiatives (where institutions align curricula or credentialing arrangements), broader campus internationalization efforts, and initiatives related to commercialization, innovation, and technology transfer. In short, the Embassy is looking for proposals that create tangible academic and institutional linkages, rather than one-off events with limited follow-through.

The grant allows funding for targeted enabling costs that help partnerships operate and deliver results. Allowable costs mentioned include international travel (typically essential for exchange planning, joint workshops, or partnership launches), minimal personnel costs, office equipment, and administrative support. The design suggests relatively small, practical awards intended to remove barriers to collaboration and help partners take concrete next steps, rather than funding large research programs or major infrastructure.

A strong SOI and eventual full proposal are expected to show that the partnership is legitimate, supported by leadership, and ready to move forward with a clear plan. The ideal application includes an accredited Zimbabwean university that already has an established partnership agreement with an accredited U.S. university. Applicants should provide formal letters of support from the leadership of both the Zimbabwean and U.S. institutions, along with resumes or CVs for key contacts on both sides to demonstrate capacity and accountability. Applicants must also include a clear, well-organized plan for future collaboration and attach a copy of a valid Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or partnership agreement. These requirements signal that the program prioritizes institution-to-institution commitment, not informal or purely individual faculty relationships.

The main participants and intended audiences are accredited universities in Zimbabwe and the United States. The funding opportunity is listed as a mandatory grant under the education activity category (CFDA 19.040) and is administered by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe. The opportunity number is AF HAR FY22 06, it was posted on February 10, 2022, and the original closing date was April 15, 2022. The award ceiling is USD 10,000, and the Embassy expected to make about two awards, indicating a small, competitive program where proposals must be focused, realistic, and clearly tied to measurable partnership outcomes.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Statement of Interest (SOI) for Zimbabwean University Partnership Development Catalyst Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 10, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2022. (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 $10,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for AF HAR FY22 06

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