Alumni Small Grants (ASG) | PDS ASHGABAT AW FY24 009

Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS ASHGABAT AW FY24 009

The Alumni Small Grants (ASG) opportunity is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat's Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), part of the U.S. Department of State. It is designed specifically for Turkmenistan citizens who are alumni of U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs, with the core purpose of turning alumni experience into practical, community-facing projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Turkmenistan. The program supports innovative cultural and professional initiatives that highlight shared values, encourage bilateral cooperation, and help local audiences better understand U.S. policy and perspectives.

Projects must be implemented in Turkmenistan and are encouraged to use existing U.S. Embassy-supported public spaces and resources, especially the American Center in Ashgabat and American Corners in Dashoguz, Mary, and Turkmenabat. A strong proposal is expected to clearly connect the project to the applicant's U.S. exchange experience (for example, by applying skills learned during an exchange, building on a professional network, or transferring best practices observed in the United States). Proposals should respond to a real community need and include measurable outcomes, meaning applicants should define indicators of success and provide a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan.

The overall goal is to strengthen the capacity of U.S. government exchange alumni, with an emphasis on youth from underserved communities, so they can more actively contribute to economic, educational, and community service activities in Turkmenistan. The program is open to projects serving a broad range of audiences, including secondary and university students, women and girls, journalists and media professionals, entrepreneurs, artists and musicians, and other underserved or vulnerable groups. Partnerships are encouraged, including collaboration with local organizations and, where relevant, public or private sector entities.

Applicants can propose projects aligned with one or more of several priority objectives. These include: building alumni engagement and leadership through training that supports the U.S.-Turkmenistan Alumni Association (USTAA); expanding STEAM knowledge and skills for youth in rural and underserved communities; improving English language proficiency for youth and young adults across the Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, Mary, and Lebap regions and for young professionals in sectors such as tourism, sports, medicine, and STEM (including a sub-focus on professional development for English teachers). Additional priorities include strengthening civil society organizations through improved accountability and transparency; boosting media literacy so young adults can recognize and counter misinformation and disinformation; promoting climate and environmental sustainability through workshops and community dialogue; developing entrepreneurship skills for women, youth, and residents of remote regions through hands-on training, mentoring, and internships; advancing disability rights and inclusive policies through advocacy and stakeholder engagement; and expanding economic empowerment and civic engagement opportunities for marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities. While these are highlighted as example objectives, PDS indicates it will also consider other objectives as long as they fit the program's expectations and policy priorities.

In practical terms, the ASG program funds smaller, community-based initiatives such as English language clubs or seasonal camps, coding and technology programs for girls and women, youth innovation programs, alumni networking events, disability inclusion and skills initiatives, and professional lectures, seminars, trainings, or speaker series. The opportunity anticipates making around 10 awards, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $15,000 per project. The funding opportunity number is PDS ASHGABAT AW FY24 009, listed under CFDA 19.900, and it was originally posted on 2024-07-15 with an original closing date of 2024-08-20.

Eligibility is limited to alumni or teams that include at least one eligible alumnus (defined as a citizen of Turkmenistan who participated in a U.S. government-funded/sponsored program). However, there is an important administrative requirement specific to Turkmenistan: grants can only be issued to registered individual entrepreneurs, registered profit or non-profit organizations, registered NGOs, and/or registered Economic Societies. This means applicants must be able to receive funds through an eligible registered entity, even if the project concept is driven by an individual alum or an informal team.

• The U.S. Mission to Turkmenistan in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Small Grants (ASG)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-20. (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 $15,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PDS ASHGABAT AW FY24 009

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