Cameroon Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2024

The Embassy of the United States in Cameroon announces an open competition for past participants ("alumni") of exchange programs sponsored through the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the State Department and offered through the Public Diplomacy Section of U.S. Embassy Yaounde to submit applications to the 2024 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2024).

AEIF provides alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and facilitated exchange programs with funding to expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition.

This year, the AEIF call for applications in Cameroon seeks proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements and specifically address one of the two themes described below. Exchange alumni interested in competing for the AEIF 2024 should submit proposals to PASGrantsYaounde@state.gov by January 19, 2024, at 5:00 pm (WAT).

Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Program Objectives:

Proposals must specifically address one of the two following themes:

Theme 1. Promote citizenship and civic participation

Improve civic participation of youth, women, and underrepresented groups, including but not limited to people with disabilities and indigenous communities, by providing them with tools to facilitate civic leadership activities.

The project could include but is not limited to the following activities:

i. Develop a curriculum to train Youth Civic Engagement Fellows prepared to design and implement civic engagement initiatives.

ii. Organize a Cameroon Youth Civic Engagement Impact Fellowship (CYCEIF) to prepare selected candidates to lead civic engagement initiatives.

iii. Conduct a virtual mentorship program between experienced USG alumni and CYCEI Fellows and empower fellows to implement impact initiatives across the country on specific civic engagement topics such as citizens' rights and responsibilities, democratic processes, community engagement activities, discussions on how to effectively contribute to society, etc.

OR

Theme 2: Promote nonviolent conflict resolution and peacebuilding through entrepreneurship and innovation

Encourage a peacebuilding mindset in Cameroonian youth, by linking them with positive role models for constructive self-development and providing them with rewarding economic opportunities.

The project could include but is not limited to the following activities:

i. Organize Alumni Ted Talks and pitch competitions at one university in each of Cameroon's 10 regions.

ii. Host a pitch competition final during the University Games, where finalists from each region will pitch their projects and receive tailored advice from alumni and seasoned experts.

iii. Provide a virtual mentoring program by USG alumni for university students.

Proposals must serve beneficiaries, free of charge. Proposals must provide a detailed program of activities, timeline, beneficiaries' selection process, and impact evaluation system.