Pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the United States Government, as represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3) and supporting Bureaus, is announcing the Higher Education for Leadership, Innovation, and Exchange (HELIX) New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) Annual Program Statement (APS), hereafter known as the HELIX APS.
Through this APS, USAID aims to engage locally based new and underutilized partners to expand and amplify the Agency’s work through and with higher education. The overall Agency NPI seeks to support partner countries’ progress on the Journey to Self-Reliance, achieve sustainable and resilient results, and catalyze more effective partnering for impact. The APS disseminates information to prospective Applicants so they may develop and submit Concept Notes in response to the addenda and ultimately to be considered for USAID funding.
The HELIX APS is not a Request for Applications (RFA). Rather, the HELIX APS requests Concept Notes in response to Addenda published to this APS. Based on the submitted Concept Note(s), USAID will determine whether to request a Full Application from an eligible organization. To be competitive under an addendum to this umbrella APS, Concept Notes and Full Applications must be fully responsive to all directions under this APS except when specifically noted otherwise in the addendum.
Partnerships developed under HELIX APS are expected to support USAID’s overall Journey to Self-Reliance goals and contribute to objectives connected to building the capacity of individuals, institutions, and/or systems with, in connection to, or through higher education, as defined in each specific Addenda. M/B/IOs may solicit through Addendum posted to this APS, and Applicants may propose, under Addendum to this APS, work in sectors such as; health, education, agriculture, democracy and governance, or livelihoods that is addressing higher education capacity building and/or with, in connection to, or through higher education to improve the capacity of individuals, institutions, and/or systems. The dual goal of the HELIX APS is to 1) improve the capacity of individuals, institutions, and/or systems through higher education and 2) empower new and underutilized partners to solve problems not adequately addressed by other USAID investments by engaging through, in connection to, or with higher education.
All eligible interested organizations are restricted to submitting only one Concept Note as the Prime Applicant.
Interested applicants from within Duke should contact fundopps@duke.edu as early as possible.
Closing Date: April 2, 2025
USAID/Pakistan Inclusive Partnerships for Climate Resilience (IPCR) Activity
Concept Note Submission Closing Dates: August 9, 2024 5:00pm Pakistan Standard Time
In accordance with ADS 303.3.6.5, the eligibility for the IPRC addendum is restricted to U.S. higher education institutions as the prime applicant.
The goal of the Inclusive Partnerships for Climate Resilience Activity is to strengthen the capacity of Pakistani universities to lead gender-inclusive and climate-resilient responses in water management. American and Pakistani higher education institutions have the potential to be central actors in advancing Pakistan’s climate resilience and gender equity. Through this Activity, USAID aims to leverage the unique expertise of U.S. Higher Education Institutions to enhance the capabilities of Pakistani public universities to lead gender and socially inclusive and climate-resilient water management initiatives and strengthen networks and communities, specially for underserved groups.
USAID defines “Implementing Partners” as U.S. and non-U.S. non-governmental organizations that can design and implement assistance activities outside the United States. All Implementing Partners must be legally registered entities under applicable law and eligible under the relevant laws to receive funding from a foreign source. Individuals, unregistered, or informal organizations are not eligible to be Implementing Partners. NPI provides further details on eligibility, depending on the approach to partnership.