Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS BAGHDAD PD 2019 015
The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Iraq (U.S. Embassy Baghdad), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Strengthening the U.S.-Iraq Relationship through Higher Education Partnerships" (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS BAGHDAD PD 2019 015). The program is designed to strengthen ties between the United States and Iraq by supporting practical, institution-to-institution collaboration in higher education. At its core, the opportunity seeks a single organization to create and run a one-year small grants program that will help build partnerships between U.S. institutions of higher education (including universities, colleges, and community colleges) and Iraqi public or private universities. The intent is not just to fund isolated activities, but to establish structured cooperation that transfers expertise, builds capacity, and produces tangible outcomes for participating Iraqi institutions and students.
Funding is expected to support one award, with an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000. The activity falls under the education category and is associated with CFDA 19.021. The Embassy is looking for an implementer that can operate a competitive small grants mechanism over the one-year period, meaning the recipient would likely design the application process for sub-awards, select partner projects, oversee implementation, and ensure proper reporting and accountability. Because the work involves multiple institutions and coordination across two countries, the implementer is expected to manage complex logistics, compliance requirements, and program monitoring in a challenging environment.
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education themselves as direct applicants. In practice, this means a nonprofit would apply to administer the program while facilitating partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi universities, rather than a university applying as the prime recipient. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong track record working with both Iraqi and American higher education institutions, along with proven capacity to implement complicated programs in post-conflict settings. This emphasis signals that the Embassy is prioritizing operational experience, risk management, and the ability to deliver results despite security, political, or infrastructure constraints that can affect programming in Iraq.
Substantively, priority consideration is given to proposals that clearly show how American academic expertise will be introduced to the Iraqi partner universities. This can be interpreted as a preference for programs that go beyond symbolic exchanges and instead deliver concrete academic or institutional value, such as curriculum support, faculty development, joint research or teaching initiatives, quality assurance practices, student services improvements, lab or classroom pedagogy upgrades, and other forms of targeted technical assistance. The call also places special weight on employability outcomes for Iraqi students, specifically efforts that prepare students to enter the marketplace through internships and practical skills development. Competitive proposals would therefore be expected to incorporate work-based learning, industry-linked training, professional readiness components, or partnership structures that connect academic programs to real labor market needs.
The opportunity was posted on June 21, 2019, with an original closing date of August 16, 2019. Overall, the grant reflects a public diplomacy and development-oriented approach: using higher education partnerships as a durable platform for strengthening bilateral relationships while producing practical benefits inside Iraq, especially improved student job readiness and stronger institutional capacity through exposure to U.S. academic methods and expertise.Apply for DOS BAGHDAD PD 2019 015
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Iraq in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening the U.S.-Iraq Relationship through Higher Education Partnerships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.021.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 21, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 16, 2019. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Strengthening the U.S.-Iraq Relationship through Higher Education Partnerships."
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOS BAGHDAD PD 2019 015.
3) Which U.S. government entity is offering this grant?
The U.S. Department of State is offering the grant through the U.S. Mission to Iraq (U.S. Embassy Baghdad).
4) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is intended to strengthen ties between the United States and Iraq by supporting practical, institution-to-institution collaboration in higher education that transfers expertise, builds capacity, and produces tangible outcomes for Iraqi institutions and students.
5) What kind of project is being funded (in plain terms)?
The funding is for one organization to design and run a one-year competitive small grants program that helps create and support partnerships between U.S. institutions of higher education and Iraqi universities (public or private).
6) How many awards are expected to be made?
Funding is expected to support one award.
7) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000.
8) How long is the performance period?
The program is designed as a one-year effort, including operating the competitive small grants mechanism during that one-year period.
9) What program category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity falls under the education category.
10) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 19.021.
11) Who is eligible to apply as the prime recipient?
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status.
12) Are universities or colleges eligible to apply directly as the prime applicant?
No. Institutions of higher education are excluded from applying as direct applicants. A nonprofit organization must apply as the implementer/administrator of the program.
13) If universities cannot apply as the prime, what role do they play?
U.S. institutions of higher education (including universities, colleges, and community colleges) are intended to participate as partner institutions in collaborations with Iraqi universities, facilitated through the nonprofit implementer.
14) Which Iraqi institutions can participate?
The partnerships are intended to involve Iraqi public or private universities.
15) What does "institution-to-institution collaboration" mean in this context?
It refers to structured cooperation between U.S. and Iraqi higher education institutions designed to transfer academic or institutional expertise, build capacity, and deliver concrete outcomes, rather than one-off or purely symbolic activities.
16) What is meant by a "small grants program" under this opportunity?
It means the selected recipient is expected to operate a competitive sub-award mechanism, where multiple partnership projects can be supported through smaller grants during the one-year period.
17) What is the expected role of the implementer (the single selected organization)?
The implementer is expected to create and administer the competitive process for sub-awards, select partnership projects, oversee implementation, manage coordination across institutions and countries, and ensure reporting and accountability.
18) Does the opportunity emphasize outcomes beyond individual events or exchanges?
Yes. The intent is to establish structured cooperation that transfers expertise, builds capacity, and produces tangible outcomes for Iraqi institutions and students, rather than funding isolated activities.
19) What types of partnership activities are especially encouraged?
Priority consideration is given to proposals that clearly introduce American academic expertise to Iraqi partner universities. Examples mentioned include curriculum support, faculty development, joint research or teaching initiatives, quality assurance practices, improvements to student services, upgrades to lab/classroom pedagogy, and other targeted technical assistance.
20) Is student employability a major focus?
Yes. The call places special weight on employability outcomes for Iraqi students, including efforts that prepare students to enter the marketplace through internships and practical skills development.
21) What kinds of employability-related components appear most aligned with the priority?
Competitive proposals would be expected to incorporate work-based learning, industry-linked training, professional readiness components, practical skills development, internships, or partnership structures that connect academic programs to labor market needs.
22) What kind of organizational experience is the Embassy looking for?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong track record working with both Iraqi and American higher education institutions, plus proven capacity to implement complicated programs in post-conflict settings.
23) Why does operational capacity and risk management matter for this opportunity?
Because the program involves multiple institutions and coordination across two countries, the implementer is expected to manage complex logistics, compliance requirements, and program monitoring in a challenging environment, including constraints related to security, politics, or infrastructure in Iraq.
24) What does "discretionary grant opportunity" mean here?
Based on the information provided, it is described as a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Department of State through U.S. Embassy Baghdad. (No additional procedural meaning is specified in the description.)
25) When was the opportunity posted, and what was the original closing date?
It was posted on June 21, 2019, with an original closing date of August 16, 2019.
26) What is the overarching diplomatic or development approach behind this grant?
The grant reflects a public diplomacy and development-oriented approach that uses higher education partnerships as a durable platform for strengthening bilateral relationships while producing practical benefits inside Iraq, particularly improved student job readiness and stronger institutional capacity through exposure to U.S. academic methods and expertise.
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