Program Overview:

Community Development Initiatives (CDI) provide small grant opportunities for Global UGRAD-Pakistan alumni to utilize the leadership skills they developed during their program in the United States to create and implement projects that address a need in their local communities. This small grant provides an opportunity for alumni to make a positive difference by strengthening civic participation, education, and other development initiatives. Global UGRAD-Pakistan is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX.

Program Timeline:

• Application Deadline:                                     February 7, 2018
• Grant Award Recipients Announced:           March 2018
• Grant Period:                                                  April – June, 2018
• Final Report Due:                                           June 15, 2018

Technical Eligibility Requirements:

Candidates will be considered without respect to race, color, religion, national origin, or gender. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Alumni Small Grants Community Development Initiatives is a merit-based competition open to:

• Alumni of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan in good standing;
• Individuals who have successfully fulfilled all requirements of previously awarded alumni grants; and
• Individuals who submit a complete application.

Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Alumni Small Grants Community Development Initiatives:

• Individuals currently residing or working outside of Pakistan;
• Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment; or
• Current IREX employees and consultants and their immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, and siblings).

Selection Criteria:

Eligible applications will be reviewed competitively against the following Selection Criteria:

• Potential impact of the project on and benefit to the applicant’s community;
• Creativity of the project;
• Strength and feasibility of the project design;
• Soundness and practicality of budget;
• Overall quality and appropriateness of the project idea; and
• Potential for sustainable impact beyond the CDI grant.

Examples of Eligible Community Development Initiatives (other project ideas that address a community development need are also welcome):

Civic Participation

• An advocacy training to teach college students how to create awareness for students with disabilities.
• An interfaith dialogue and discussion that aims to bridge diverse faith based groups in Pakistan by promoting a message of peace and tolerance.
• A disaster-preparedness event for residents in your village/city.

Education

• A leadership training for local area youth to focus on building their capacity in an area of education (e.g. literacy, technology, math).
• A digital literacy training for out-of-school youth in the community.
• A career counseling session for local youth.

Development

• A neighborhood clean-up drive and/or tree planting campaign.
• A clothing drive for the needy in your community.
• Increasing access to community buildings or public transportation for children with disabilities.

Application Evaluation:

All completed applications received by 11:59 pm EST, Wednesday, February 7, 2018, will be evaluated competitively against the technical eligibility and selection criteria by IREX staff.

IREX reserves the right to verify all of the information included in the application. In the event that there is a discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Reporting Requirements:

All CDI grantees will be required to submit a Final Report by 11:59 pm EST Friday, June 15, 2018 to IREX following the completion of the project. More information about reporting requirements will be included in the Terms and Conditions document signed by grantees.

Financial Provisions:           Maximum Grant Award: $350             Minimum Grant Award: $100

Submission Guidelines and Application form:

• Applications must be received on or before the due date. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
• Applications must be emailed to alumniugradpk@irex.org. When emailing applications, please send all attachments in one email message and include the following in the subject line: Last Name, First Name – Date of Completion of Program (Month/Year)  : Smith, John – June 2011
• Please be sure to keep a copy of your completed application. 

To download the application form, please click here.

International Exchange Alumni – U.S. Department of State

All ECA alumni are encouraged to register and use the International Exchange Alumni Web site, at https://alumni.state.gov. This site allows alumni to stay in contact with one another, and with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), through networking and the sharing of useful information about professional opportunities. International Exchange Alumni may assist applicants for the Alumni Small Grants Community Development Initiatives by helping to formulate a project idea or disseminating information about a project to other alumni.