FY2022 EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program | DOS NBO PDS FY22 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS NBO PDS FY22 004

The FY2022 EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Kenya) cooperative agreement opportunity run through the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. Its central purpose is to expand access to U.S. higher education for high-achieving Kenyan students who are financially disadvantaged, particularly students who are strong enough applicants to win full financial aid from U.S. colleges and universities but who cannot afford the upfront expenses required to apply and ultimately travel. Program activities are expected to take place in both Kenya and the United States, with the target audience being Kenyan high school students participating in the EducationUSA scholars pipeline.

The selected grantee is expected to work closely with the U.S. Embassy Education Outreach Coordinator and the EducationUSA advising team in Nairobi, with the Embassy selecting the EducationUSA adviser who will guide the students academically and through the application process. The grant is designed to remove practical financial barriers that often prevent talented students from completing the U.S. admissions journey, including standardized testing fees, application-related costs, visa and SEVIS fees, airfare, required immunizations, and modest settling-in support. The broader public diplomacy intent is to support inclusive, market-driven and environmentally sustainable growth, strengthen health and human capacity, and encourage legitimate travel and educational exchange between Kenya and the United States.

Operationally, the opportunity is asking organizations to propose how they will administer three main areas: (1) management of the Opportunity Funds financial assistance across two phases, (2) disbursement of stipends for student assistants supporting EducationUSA operations, and (3) end-to-end logistics for a College Application Boot Camp and a Graduation/Pre-Departure Orientation scheduled for July 2022. The Embassy emphasizes the need for strong financial controls and the ability to coordinate logistics and make payments quickly and accurately. A specific capacity requirement is that the grantee must have an international credit card that can be used to pay SAT registration fees, reflecting the hands-on role the grantee will play in executing time-sensitive transactions.

Phase I of the Opportunity Funds program focuses on admissions testing support. In this phase, funding is intended to cover roughly 40 students taking the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and/or the ACT. The grantee is responsible for arranging and paying for test registrations and managing the associated logistics, including ensuring students test on appropriate dates and at various testing centers within Kenya. The estimated Phase I scholarship amount is about USD 110 per student, and testing is expected to occur between August and October 2022.

Phase II shifts from application readiness to actual departure for study in the United States. This phase is intended to support at least 12 students who have secured admission and will matriculate at U.S. higher education institutions. The funding in Phase II covers key pre-departure and travel costs such as visa and SEVIS fees, required immunizations, international airfare, and domestic U.S. airfare when necessary, plus a settling-in allowance if required. The estimated Phase II scholarship amount is approximately USD 2,200 per student. The grantee’s role includes close coordination with the students and the EducationUSA adviser, scheduling and coordinating visa appointments, booking domestic and international travel, and distributing settling-in and other approved allowances. The timeline is tight: students are expected to receive admissions decisions between December 2021 and April 2022 and must be ready to start programs in the U.S. with start dates generally ranging from July through September 2022.

In addition to direct student costs, the grant includes support for program administration through student assistants. The EducationUSA adviser will identify two qualified students, typically alumni of prior EducationUSA scholars programming, to help deliver training and assist with implementation tasks. The grantee manages monthly stipend disbursements of USD 200 per month per student, intended primarily to offset travel and participation expenses tied to their support roles.

The grant also requires event logistics for two structured, in-person trainings in July 2022, with contingency plans for virtual delivery if needed. The first is a College Application Boot Camp lasting five consecutive days for at least 60 students preparing U.S. college applications. The grantee must handle participant travel within Kenya and provide a venue, meals and refreshments, lodging as needed, printing and reproduction of materials, and general supplies and stationery. The second is a Pre-Departure Orientation in Nairobi lasting three consecutive days for at least 12 students (and likely more), covering similar logistical responsibilities: travel coordination, venue, meals, lodging, and materials. Both events are positioned as critical touchpoints in the pipeline, ensuring students are prepared both to apply competitively and to transition smoothly once admitted.

From an applicant and funding perspective, this opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number DOS-NBO-PDS-FY22-004, offered as a cooperative agreement (meaning there will be substantial involvement and coordination with the U.S. government partners). It falls under the education activity category and references CFDA numbers 19.022 and 19.040. The award ceiling is USD 60,000, with an expectation of up to two awards. The original posting date is April 28, 2022, with an original closing date of May 31, 2022. Eligible applicants are described broadly as “Others” with further clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the notice, indicating that a range of organizations may apply if they can demonstrate the required financial, operational, and logistical capacity.

Overall, the grant is less about creating new advising content and more about executing a high-trust, detail-heavy operational program that enables top Kenyan students with limited financial means to complete the U.S. admissions and departure process. The strongest proposals would therefore be expected to show reliable funds management, clear logistics planning across multiple locations and timelines, rapid payment processing, and practical risk planning (including virtual event contingencies), all while coordinating closely with the Embassy and the EducationUSA advising team.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kenya in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2022 EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022, 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 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 $60,000.00 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 DOS NBO PDS FY22 004

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