Funding Opportunities

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The U.S. Mission in Botswana offers a variety of grant and contract funding opportunities available to the public. Please note that each funding opportunity has unique terms and conditions that are outlined in each Request for Quotations (RFQ) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). If questions arise for any individual RFQ or NOFO follow up directly with the listed POC. The Embassy’s current funding opportunities are listed below.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Academic Exchange Programs, the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone is pleased to announce that the Fulbright-NARA Heritage Science Fellowship is accepting project applications for the 2024-2025 academic year.  Information for prospective candidates, including eligibility and application details, can be found here.

The Fulbright National Archives award is made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Fulbright Program and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).  Through the MOU, NARA and Fulbright support international scholarly exchange in archival science education, conservation, and research.  NARA is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving U.S. government records.  NARA carries out this mission through a nationwide network of physical archives, records centers, presidential libraries, and online sources.

Applications for the 2024-25 academic year are due on October 15, 2023, This award will be fully funded by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in support of one fellow worldwide.

IIE has added this award to the Slate application system for all countries globally that currently have an active Visiting Scholar Program.  The award will appear as an option within the Visiting Scholar Program application, in addition to each country’s other awards.  The initial selection process for all applications of this specialized program will be managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE), ECA, and NARA.  Finalists will be shared with their home country Fulbright offices for final vetting and approval in late 2023.

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

  • Be citizens of Botswana with no or less than five years of total presence in the U.S.
  • Be researchers or professionals in heritage science or related technical fields in Botswana.
  • Possess a Master’s degree at minimum, but Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience is preferred.

Past experience with heritage science or archival research is preferred, but not required. Disciplines: Heritage/Conservation Science, Preventative Preservation, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Microbiology, Statistics). Areas of Interest; Archival cultural heritage preservation and conservation, Applications of technology to complex issues in heritage preservation and risk management, Data analysis and visualization.

For more information:

Interested applicants should contact IIE’s Multi-Regional Team for program specific questions at fulbrightnationalarchives@iie.org.  For assistance with any technical difficulties with the application, applicants may contact fsponline@iie.org and copy to FulbrightBotswana@state.gov.

Join a webinar on July 26, 2023 at 2:00pm EDT for an overview of the program and tips on how to apply. Register for 2024-2025 Fulbright -National Archives Fellowship Overview Webinar.

Call for Applications: 2024 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) on Civic Engagement for Student Leaders

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to invite third, fourth and fifth -year undergraduate students with civic engagement acumen to apply for the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) on Civic Engagement for Student Leaders. The deadline for applications is September 29, 2023. Email complete applications to FulbrightBotswana@state.gov

SUSI for Student Leaders is U.S. Department of State-funded exchange program that started in 2003 targeting students in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.   The five-week program will take place at the University of Washington in Seattle, via an award to Meridian International Center (Meridian) and the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) from January 12 through February 14, 2024.  Depending on health, safety, and travel conditions, the program may pivot to a virtual format.  The U.S. Embassy in Gaborone has been granted four places for Batswana.

SUSI for Student Leaders program purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills.  The SUSI on Civic Engagement will enhance participants’ knowledge of U.S. history, government, institutions, society, and culture within the context of the theme.  Participants may also explore the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy; civil rights movements; social justice; gender equity; community-building; grassroots and youth activism; strengthening democracy while defending against authoritarianism; addressing and fighting corruption; promoting respect for human rights; media literacy and countering disinformation; and the role of volunteerism in society.  The Institute will incorporate a focus on U.S. historical events as well as contemporary American life, including current political, social, and economic debates in a pluralistic society, participants with an overview of how citizens have shaped U.S. history, government, and society both as individuals and groups.  The academic program will define civic engagement, examine its development in the United States; and explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism.  Academic sessions will be complemented with hands-on sessions or workshops designed to build skills in the topics mentioned above.  The Institute will encourage participants to develop innovative and practical plans to become engaged citizens in their own communities.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Participants are expected to be highly motivated first through third year undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education, who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.  Their fields of study will be varied and may include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, business, and other professional fields.  Participants from historically underserved and disadvantaged groups, including women, minority communities, and individuals with disabilities, and who have little or no international experience are encouraged to apply.
Applicants of this program must: 

  • demonstrate English language proficiency (speaking, reading, writing, listening).
  • demonstrate interest in the topic of Civic Engagement.
  • be between 18 and 25 years of age.
  • have at least one semester left of their undergraduate studies and be committed to returning to their home universities following completion of the program.
  • demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university and community activities.
  • indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States.
  • have a sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and teacher recommendations.
  • demonstrate commitment to community service and extracurricular university activities.
  • have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country.
  • be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive.
  • be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel.
  • be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations, and able to adjust to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.

OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Program Funding:  The program covers all participants’ costs, including program administration; international and visa travel, travel allowances, domestic travel and ground transportation; book, cultural, mailing and incidental allowances; and housing and subsistence as well as arrange and pay for participants’ international and visa travel costs and travel allowances within set limits and in coordination with posts.  Participants will also receive a technology stipend to offset costs associated with participation in the virtual program component.

Program Requirements and Restrictions:  Participants must attend all lectures, participate in all required organized activities, and complete all assignments.  Family members and/or friends may not accompany or join participants for any part of the program.

Housing and Meal Arrangements for the In-Person Component:  During the in-person component, housing will be in shared university dorms on campus with common bathrooms or a full-service hotel on or near campus.  Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though participants may have access to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own.  It is important that participants are comfortable with such accommodations.  Care will be taken to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, and medical care are satisfied.

Health Benefits: All participants will receive the Department of State’s Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) health benefit during the U.S.-based in-person component, which provides coverage of up to $100,000 with a $25 co-pay per medical visit and a $75 co-pay per emergency room visit, for the duration of the program.  Pre-existing conditions may be covered up to $100,000, subject to policy exclusions and limitations.  Information on the health benefit program may be found online at https://www.sevencorners.com/gov/usdos

Interested applicants must submit a motivation letter with the attached form, a CV, a recent academic transcript, and two references as well as a provisional leave of absence approval from your university to: FulbrightBotswana@state.gov .  Deadline for applications is September 29, 2023.

Your motivation letter must include the following:

  • a personal statement of not more than 500 words detailing your community engagement profile,
  • the subjects and year you are currently studying at the university,
  • why you believe you should be considered for this program, and what you will contribute to your community upon your return to Botswana.

NB: Please indicate where you learnt about this announcement: Facebook, Website, Referral, Educational institution. Selected applicants are required to submit an action plan prior and post the exchange program.

 

The U.S. Embassy in Gaborone is pleased to announce the competition for the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for the 2024-25 academic year. The Embassy encourages interested candidates to submit proposals relating to rural development, media, entrepreneurship, political science, population development, economics, arts, public health, environmental science, computer science, cybersecurity, and STEM related subjects. The deadline for submitting application materials online is Wednesday, September 20, 2023.

Purpose and Institutional Focus: The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program facilitates research projects at U.S. universities or research facilities.

Grant categories offered:  a) Research grants; b) Program and Curriculum Development grants. In both categories, grants must begin between August 2024 and March 2025.  The length of the grant is determined by the research requirements indicated in the proposal and agreed with the host institution.

A. Research Grants: Awards of 3 to 9 months are offered for African university faculty or research institute professionals to conduct research in any academic discipline at a U.S. academic or research institution beginning no earlier than August 2024 and no later than March 2025.  Applicants must hold a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in their fields at the time of application.  Preference will be given to individuals who have at least three years of university teaching experience and a productive scholarly record.

B. Program and Curriculum Development Grants:  Awards of 3 to 5 months are offered for African university faculty or administrators to conduct research in any academic discipline at a U.S. academic or research institution beginning no earlier than August 2024 and no later than March 2025.  Proposals should be linked to professional duties and demonstrate how the scholar will use the knowledge gained to develop new courses, curricula, or other academic programs at the home institution.  These grants are designed for university faculty or administrators with less experience and who may not have had recent access to research or instructional developments in their disciplines.  A doctorate degree is not required, but applicants must hold a minimum of a master’s or equivalent graduate degree at the time of application.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Candidates must be citizens of Botswana and qualified to hold a valid Botswana passport.
  2. Candidates must be affiliated with a university, research institute, museum, or other institution with educational and/or research objectives.
  3. Proposals should not involve doctoral dissertation research, postdoctoral research immediately following completion of a doctoral degree, or professional travel.
  4. Candidates cannot have received a Fulbright grant for study, teaching, or research in the U.S. within the last five years.
  5. The selection committee will give preference to candidates who have had no, or limited experience in the United States.
  6. Candidates cannot be directly related to an employee of the U.S. Embassy.

Grant Benefits: Round-trip air travel for the grantee only; excess baggage allowance, health insurance for grantee only; monthly stipend; professional allowance for books, conferences, and seminar; laboratory fees are not part of the standard benefits package but are paid on a case-by-case basis if funding is available.

Application Conditions:

  1. Online applications must be completed at the following link https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024. Candidates must upload supporting documents online for their application to be considered complete.
  2. On the application, candidates must indicate one type of grant requested amongst the two above.
  3. Candidates must provide a detailed statement describing the research proposal and methodology to be used, a detailed curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference.
  4. Letters of invitation or relevant correspondence with U.S. university faculty, if any, should be included in the application.
  5. Candidates unfamiliar with potential U.S. colleges or institutions should contact FulbrightBotswana@state.gov for recommendations.
  6. Candidates should not request affiliation with a U.S. university where they have previously studied.

Questions and further information:  Specific questions about the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program and the application process can be e-mailed to FulbrightBotswana@state.gov or answered by telephone at 373-2437.

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