Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund - AEIF - 2026

The U.S. Embassy Yaounde Public Diplomacy Section is soliciting proposals for alumni-led projects that advance bilateral priorities between the United States and Cameroon while celebrating Freedom250, the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Department of State seeks projects addressing youth unemployment, transparency in critical sectors, local tensions, and commercial diplomacy through innovation, digital technology, entrepreneurship, and sports diplomacy. Eligible applicants must be alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs with at least two alumni on the project team, with at least one Cameroonian team member residing in Cameroon; U.S. citizen alumni may participate but cannot serve as primary applicants. Proposals will be evaluated based on program quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity (25 points), project planning (20 points), budget (10 points), monitoring and evaluation (10 points), and sustainability (5 points). Applicants must submit complete applications including federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B), a 10-page narrative proposal, detailed budget with justification, monitoring and evaluation plans with theory of change diagrams, personnel resumes, and partner letters of support to PDSgrantsYaounde@state.gov by May 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Africa Time.

The Embassy will fund up to two national alumni-led projects in Cameroon (minimum $5,000 to maximum $35,000 each) and one Central Africa Regional Alumni Summit (minimum $40,000 to maximum $100,000), all structured as cooperative agreements with a 12-month performance period starting within 45 days of funding notification. Projects must include robust Freedom250 digital outreach and sustainability plans and comply with Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, including quarterly reporting requirements and mandatory branding guidelines. 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 across Central Africa.