Alumni Innovation Fund Grant: $5,000–$35,000 for Zambia Projects

Zambia Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026

Agency: U.S. Mission to Zambia

Assistance Listings: 19.022 -- Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs Appropriation Overseas Grants

Last Updated: April 13, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov

Description

AEIF provides funding for U.S.-sponsored and facilitated exchange program alumni to design and implement innovative solutions to challenges facing their communities. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global process.

The U.S. Embassy in Zambia welcomes AEIF proposals which aim to strengthen alumni networks, support collaboration at the regional and global level, and continue building strong relationships between alumni and the U.S. government. AEIF 2026 priority areas include: promoting freedom of expression and digital freedom; highlighting American excellence; contributing to a safer, stronger, and more prosperous United States. Continued alignment with U.S. government priorities is essential. All AEIF projects must celebrate and promote “Freedom 250” and align with U.S. policy goals.

Additionally, the U.S. Embassy welcomes AEIF proposals to support an alumni summit. Proposals for an alumni summit must meet all of the aforementioned AEIF objectives, and proposals can include funds for follow-on activities such as small grants opportunities. Successful proposals will demonstrate strong engagement with and among exchange alumni, target audiences strategic to U.S. policy goals, and outline a plan for continuing engagement with alumni. Proposals can request up to $100,000 for bilateral, regional, or sub-regional projects, and up to $40,000 for single country projects.

Applicants must carefully review eligibility requirements, program goals, and objectives before submitting a proposal. Proposals that do not address Freedom 250 and at least one priority area will be deemed ineligible. All activities must take place outside the United States and its territories.

Project Audience(s):

All target audiences should be in Zambia. Proposals should specify target audiences for planned activities, including demographic information (such as age and profession) as well as approximate number of beneficiaries to be directly and indirectly impacted.

Project Objectives: **

AEIF aims to increase the impact of the U.S. government’s investment in exchange programs by helping alumni develop and implement projects to support U.S. policy objectives. Additionally, all AEIF projects must celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (“Freedom 250”) and align with administration priorities in Zambia.

Furthermore, AEIF projects must include at least one of the following:

·        Convene alumni from different exchange programs to further expand the alumni network with the goal of increasing capacity and supporting U.S. policy objectives.

·        Strengthen the relationship between alumni and the U.S. government to work together on activities addressing shared goals and challenges.

·        Support alumni as they develop their leadership capacity and implement projects in their communities for maximum impact.

Please see more information by accessing the link to the NOFO.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Miscellaneous

• Other

Additional information

Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations represented by U.S. Department of State exchange alumni. Individuals in teams of two who have successfully completed a Department of State exchange program.Alumni teams comprised of alumni from different exchange programs.Zambia-U.S. Exchange Alumni Association.

Grantor contact information

Description

Austin G Ngoma
Grantor
Phone 2601357407

Email

Public Diplomacy Section

ZambiaAlumni@state.gov

Documents

Download all
| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZambiaAEIF2026NOFOFinal.docx | NOFO | Apr 13, 2026 08:06 AM UTC |
| 2.AEIF2026BudgetForm.xlsx | Budget Template | Apr 13, 2026 08:06 AM UTC |
| 3.ApplicantOrganizationInformationAOISurveyForm.docx | Application Organization Survey | Apr 13, 2026 08:06 AM UTC |
| 1.AEIF2026ProposalForm.docx | Proposal Form | Apr 13, 2026 08:06 AM UTC |

Link to additional information

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Closing: May 1, 2026

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov

Award

$170,000

Program Funding

3

Expected awards

$5,000

Award Minimum

$35,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

ZAMBIA-PDS-AEIF-FY26

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

No Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

-- Category of Funding Activity:

Agriculture

Business and commerce

Education

Energy infrastructure and critical mineral and materials

Energy

Science technology and other research and development

Transportation

Category Explanation:

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History

Version:

7

Posted date:

April 13, 2026

Archive date:

May 31, 2026