Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 18 AW 009 SCA 04112018
The South Asia Higher Education Symposium grant opportunity is a U.S. Department of State-funded cooperative agreement issued by the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan (Public Affairs Section). It was released as an open, discretionary competition under Funding Opportunity Number SCAKAB 18 AW 009 SCA 04112018, created on April 11, 2018, with an original application deadline of June 12, 2018. The program is listed under CFDA 19.501 and anticipates making a single award, with a maximum (ceiling) amount of up to $300,000.
The purpose of the award is to support the organization and delivery of a four-day regional higher education symposium focused on strengthening Afghan higher education systems while also deepening cooperation across South Asia. A central goal is practical capacity-building for Afghan education officials, specifically in monitoring and evaluation (how programs are tracked, measured, and improved), accreditation (standards and quality assurance processes for institutions and programs), and curriculum development (updating and designing academic content to meet evolving needs). Alongside these policy and academic priorities, the symposium is also meant to improve the financial literacy and accountability of Afghan universities, emphasizing better understanding of budgeting, financial management, and transparent institutional practices.
A major regional integration component is built into the design of the symposium. The event is intended to convene higher education stakeholders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. By bringing together ministries of education and other higher education actors from across these countries, the symposium aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices, create professional networks, and strengthen working relationships between education ministries. Another expected outcome is the formation of concrete university-to-university partnerships, with particular emphasis on building linkages that include and benefit Afghan universities through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and potential future joint initiatives.
Because the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, applicants should expect substantial involvement from the U.S. government during implementation. In practice, this usually means closer coordination on program design, participant engagement, agenda development, deliverables, and reporting, ensuring the symposium aligns with the stated objectives of capacity development for Afghan institutions and stronger regional higher education connections. The eligibility category is broadly listed as "Others" (with further clarification referenced in the original notice), indicating that the competition may be open to a range of non-federal entities that can credibly plan and run a multi-country symposium and deliver the technical content areas described.Apply for SCAKAB 18 AW 009 SCA 04112018
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Afghanistan in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "South Asia Higher Education Symposium" 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 Apr 11, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 12, 2018. (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 $300,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - South Asia Higher Education Symposium (SCAKAB 18 AW 009 SCA 04112018)
1) What is the South Asia Higher Education Symposium grant opportunity?
This opportunity is a U.S. Department of State-funded cooperative agreement issued by the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan (Public Affairs Section). It supports the organization and delivery of a four-day regional higher education symposium focused on strengthening Afghan higher education systems and deepening cooperation across South Asia.
2) Which U.S. government entity is funding and issuing this opportunity?
The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of State, and the cooperative agreement is issued through the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan (Public Affairs Section).
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SCAKAB 18 AW 009 SCA 04112018.
4) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 19.501.
5) What type of funding instrument is being used: grant or cooperative agreement?
This is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. That distinction matters because it indicates substantial involvement by the U.S. government during implementation.
6) What does "substantial involvement" mean in this cooperative agreement?
Based on the notice description, substantial involvement typically means closer coordination with the U.S. government on areas such as program design, participant engagement, agenda development, deliverables, and reporting. The purpose of this involvement is to help ensure the symposium aligns with the stated objectives, including capacity development for Afghan institutions and stronger regional higher education connections.
7) Is this an open competition?
Yes. The opportunity was released as an open, discretionary competition.
8) When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 11, 2018.
9) What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was June 12, 2018.
10) How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The notice anticipates making a single award.
11) What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) amount is up to $300,000.
12) What is the core purpose of the funded project?
The funded project is intended to support the organization and delivery of a four-day regional higher education symposium. The symposium is designed to strengthen Afghan higher education systems while also deepening cooperation across South Asia.
13) How long is the symposium expected to be?
The symposium is described as a four-day event.
14) What capacity-building topics are central to the symposium?
The symposium centers on practical capacity-building for Afghan education officials in three main areas: monitoring and evaluation, accreditation, and curriculum development.
15) What does "monitoring and evaluation" refer to in this context?
In this opportunity, monitoring and evaluation is described as how programs are tracked, measured, and improved.
16) What does "accreditation" refer to in this context?
In this opportunity, accreditation is described as standards and quality assurance processes for institutions and programs.
17) What does "curriculum development" refer to in this context?
In this opportunity, curriculum development is described as updating and designing academic content to meet evolving needs.
18) Is financial management included as a priority area?
Yes. The symposium is also meant to improve the financial literacy and accountability of Afghan universities, with emphasis on budgeting, financial management, and transparent institutional practices.
19) What is the regional integration component of the symposium?
A major regional integration component is built into the symposium design. The event is intended to convene higher education stakeholders from multiple South Asian countries in order to facilitate the exchange of best practices, create professional networks, and strengthen working relationships between education ministries.
20) Which countries are expected to be represented?
The symposium is intended to convene stakeholders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
21) What types of participants or stakeholders are expected to attend?
The notice references higher education stakeholders, including ministries of education and other higher education actors from the listed countries.
22) What outcomes does the symposium aim to achieve besides training content?
Beyond capacity-building, the symposium aims to facilitate best-practice exchange, build professional networks, strengthen working relationships between education ministries, and encourage the formation of concrete university-to-university partnerships.
23) Are university-to-university partnerships an explicit expected outcome?
Yes. An expected outcome is the formation of concrete university-to-university partnerships, with particular emphasis on linkages that include and benefit Afghan universities through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and potential future joint initiatives.
24) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligibility category is broadly listed as "Others" (with additional clarification referenced in the original notice). Based on the description provided, this indicates the competition may be open to a range of non-federal entities that can credibly plan and run a multi-country symposium and deliver the technical content areas described.
25) What kind of organizational capability does an applicant need to demonstrate?
Based on the opportunity description, applicants should be able to plan and run a multi-country, four-day symposium and deliver technical programming related to monitoring and evaluation, accreditation, curriculum development, and university financial literacy and accountability. They should also be prepared to coordinate closely with the U.S. government due to the cooperative agreement structure.
26) Does the opportunity specify that Afghan institutions should be central to the symposium objectives?
Yes. A central goal is practical capacity-building for Afghan education officials, and the partnership outcomes are described with an emphasis on linkages that include and benefit Afghan universities.
27) What does the opportunity emphasize about accountability in Afghan universities?
The opportunity emphasizes improving financial literacy and accountability, specifically better understanding of budgeting, financial management, and transparent institutional practices.
28) Is this opportunity focused only on Afghanistan, or is it regional?
It is regional in design, convening stakeholders across South Asia, while keeping a strong focus on strengthening Afghan higher education systems and benefiting Afghan universities.
29) What is the overall thematic focus area?
The overall focus is higher education capacity-building and regional cooperation in South Asia, with targeted technical themes in monitoring and evaluation, accreditation, curriculum development, and financial literacy/accountability for Afghan universities.
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