Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026

Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026

2. Executive Summary The U.S. Embassy Yaoundé Public Diplomacy Section announces an open competition for the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 (AEIF 2026) in Cameroon. This opportunity invites alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to propose projects that advance bilateral priorities and strengthen people-to-people ties. All projects must visibly celebrate Freedom250, the 250th anniversary of the United States, by honoring American values of freedom, democracy, and innovation. Embassy Yaoundé seeks proposals for up to two national alumni-led projects in Cameroon and one Central Africa Regional Alumni Summit. National projects should address youth unemployment, transparency in critical sectors, or local tensions, leveraging innovation, digital technology—including AI—entrepreneurship, or sports diplomacy. The Regional Summit will convene alumni from Cameroon and six neighboring countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo to foster commercial diplomacy, peace, and innovation. Projects must convene alumni networks, strengthen U.S.-alumni relationships, and support alumni leadership. Initiatives should align with U.S. policy goals—strengthening mutual prosperity, security, and opportunity—while inspiring collaboration, showcasing American achievements, and building lasting partnerships for the future. All proposals must include robust Freedom250 digital outreach and sustainability plans. Submit to PDSgrantsYaoundé@state.gov by May 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m., Central Africa Time. Please follow all instructions below.

Details

• Agency: U.S. Mission to Cameroon
• Department: Department of State
• Opportunity #: EMB-YAOUNDÉ-AEIF-FY26-01
• Expected Awards: 2
• Instrument: cooperative_agreement

Eligibility

1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply:● Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program.● Projects teams must include at least two (2) alumni.● Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.● Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries, but at least one of the team members must be a Cameroonian residing in Cameroon.● Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni. No other organizations are eligible to apply but can serve as partners for implementing project activities.● Exchange alumni can partner with not-for-profit or non-governmental organizations, think tanks and academic institutions to implement project activities.• The grant can be issued to individual alumni or the partner organization