Access Alumni Outreach and Engagement and English Access Scholarship Program

The U.S. Department of State's Consulate General in Almaty, Kazakhstan is soliciting applications for a cooperative agreement to design and execute the Access Alumni Outreach and Engagement and English Access Scholarship Program for the 2026-2028 cycle, with applications due August 21, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Astana time.

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society and non-governmental organizations, and U.S. Government-sponsored program alumni associations based in Kazakhstan; for-profit entities are ineligible. All organizations must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active SAM.gov registration. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement requiring substantial involvement from the U.S. Consulate General Public Diplomacy Section in participant recruitment, activity planning, and monitoring.

Awards will range from $30,000 to $50,000 per organization, with total available funding of $80,000 supporting up to 2 awards. FY26 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds (Assistance Listing 19.040) support the program. The project performance period is 20 months or less, with an anticipated start date of October 2026.

The program reaches two audiences in South Kazakhstan. The alumni component engages up to 300 Access Program graduates ages 16-30 from Shymkent, Kyzylorda, Taraz, Turkistan, and Almaty over 12 months through sustained activities strengthening English, expanding knowledge of U.S. history and culture, and building professional networks. The scholarship component provides 360 hours of intensive English instruction to 32 new students ages 13-15 from Shymkent or Taraz over the maximum 20-month period, targeting measurable proficiency gains and direct pathways to U.S. government-sponsored exchange and scholarship opportunities.

Proposals are evaluated on quality and feasibility (25 points), organizational capacity and grant history (20 points), project planning ability (20 points), budget reasonableness (20 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (10 points), and sustainability approach (5 points). Applications must include completed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms; a maximum 12-page proposal; detailed line-item budget in U.S. dollars with justification; staff resumes; partner letters of support; proof of non-profit status; and SAM.gov registration documentation. Question deadline is August 5, 2026. Applicants will receive notification of review results within 120 days of the deadline.