Deadline- January 17, 2013
The United States Agency for International Development(USAID) is accepting applications for “Centers of Advance Studies (CAS)” project in Pakistan. The estimated overall amount of this activity is USD$100 million over a five year life of project.
The project will create a cadre of effective graduates for employment in the private and public sectors in agriculture, water and energy. The project will also improve the working relationship between universities and industry to support applied research and to increase the quality of faculty without relying entirely on public or donor financing. In an effort to systemically change teaching, research, and institutional relationships, the CAS project will provide an approach and a model to strengthen higher education that can be replicated in other sectors and at other universities.
The goal of this project is to substantially improve higher education’s ability to find innovative solutions to some of Pakistan’s greatest development challenges through applied research; graduates who are better prepared to meet the needs of industry, government and their communities; and leadership in policy dialogue.
USAID expects to have three principal centers and one satellite center fully operational that have productive working relationships with their “clients.” During the course of the project these links will be strengthened, a robust scholarship program will be put in place, the approach will be solidified and the CAS will be on their way towards institutionalization through appropriate governance structures as well as industry and foundation financial support. An independent baseline assessment will be conducted prior to project implementation and an independent evaluation will be conducted at the start of the fourth year e to measure the effectiveness of the project’s activities and progress on expected results.
Eligibility & Creiteria-
- This RFA is issued to ensure that all interested and qualified organizations have a fair opportunity to submit applications for funding.
- All Applicants must be registered in CCR and have a DUNS number unless exempt under 22 CFR 25.100 to be eligible to apply under this RFA.
- Qualified U.S. and non-U.S. colleges and universities (including minority serving institutions, community colleges, and women’s colleges) may apply for USAID funding under this RFA. USG and USAID regulations generally treat colleges and universities as NGOs, rather than governmental organizations; hence, both public and private colleges and universities are eligible. Consortia of colleges and universities or university associations are encouraged to apply. Non-U.S. colleges and universities in countries that are ineligible for assistance under the FAA or related appropriations acts are ineligible.
- Qualified U.S. and non-U.S. private non-profit organizations may apply for USAID funding under this RFA. Foreign government-owned parastatal organizations from countries that are ineligible for assistance under the FAA or related appropriations acts are ineligible.
- Qualified U.S. and non-U.S. private for-profit organizations may apply for USAID funding under this RFA.
How to apply?
- Applicants are required to submit an electronic version and hard copies of the technical proposal and a separate electronic version of the cost proposal to given email address in website.Technical portions of the application are to be submitted in an original and three copies, and cost portions of the application in an original and two copies.
- Applications shall be submitted in two separate parts: (a) Technical and (b) Cost or Business Application.
- Technical applications must be written in English language.
- The cost/business application must be written in the English language and there is no limit on the number of pages for the cost/business application.
For more information, visit grants.gov and search by funding opportunity number.RFA-391-13-000005
