U.S. Embassy & Consulate
in Spain and Andorra

Overview

Funding Opportunity Title:  Selection of Potential Spanish Nominees for the 2023 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) on Civic Engagement
Funding Opportunity Number:  NOFO SUSI CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 2023 
Application Deadline:  November 22, 2022  

Please refer to detailed review schedules in section IV. 
Award Ceiling: $3,000 USD 

* NOTE: Cost-share is not required, however, if provided, please detail whether the cost-share is through in-cash or in-kind contribution and approximate dollar amount. Cost-share will not be included in the criteria for evaluation.   

CFDA Number:  19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs  

References:  Standard Department Terms & Conditions (English PDF)   

Eligibility Category: Spain-based non-governmental organizations, foundations, business organizations, academic institutions, think tanks, government agencies, public institutions with a non-profit status, or similar U.S.-based organizations with a partner organization based in Spain.  

Electronic Requirement:  Proposals must be submitted by email to SpainPDGrants@state.gov.  

Funding Opportunity Description  

The Public Diplomacy Sections of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid and the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona (referred to collectively as “PD Spain”) announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out the process to select 5 rank-ordered candidates from Spain to participate in the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders for Civic Engagement.   

The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has established Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders as intensive short-term academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills.  Each Institute has 20 participants.  The Institutes consist of a four-week academic residency with a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures.  Site visits, leadership development, cultural activities, and community service complement the coursework and academic sessions.  If conditions allow, the Institutes will include a one-week integrated regional study tour in the United States.  Note that if the program must take place virtually, participants will engage in similar activities, but online from their home countries. 

The Study of the U.S. Institute on Civic Engagement, hosted by Michigan State University, will provide participants with an overview of how citizens have shaped U.S. history, government, and society both as individuals and groups.  The academic program will define civic engagement; examine its development in the United States; and explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism.  In order to enhance the academic experience, the Institute will focus on specific themes such as civil rights and protections; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); citizen journalism, social movements, education, governance, minority communities, leadership, and media.  Academic sessions will be complemented with hands-on sessions or workshops designed to build skills in the topics mentioned above.  The Institute will encourage participants to develop innovative and practical plans to become engaged citizens in their own communities.      

The chosen organization will manage the initial application process to identify a rank-ordered list of 5 Spanish students as potential participants in the summer 2023 SUSI program for Civic Engagement.  From that rank ordered list, the Public Diplomacy office of the U.S. diplomatic mission to Spain (“PD Spain”) will then select up to two primary and two alternate nominees for the program to submit to the U.S. State Department for final decision.    

Applications must follow the instructions outlined below.    

Program Objectives:   

The ideal organization will have contacts from all over Spain, with the capability to reach a wide and diverse pool of qualified youth, with special attention paid to reaching audiences of excellent potential candidates from outside Madrid and Barcelona.  

The organization should have an extensive, demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) values that it will embody throughout the campaign and selection process.  

Responsibilities of the Awardee:  

The awardee will be responsible for the following:    

1. The design, publication, and promotion of the call for applications through traditional and/or social media platforms and organizational networks that will maximize the number of qualified applicants 
2. Collect and review all applications (in English) keeping in mind DEIA values 
3. Carry out preliminary interviews (in English) 
4. Provide a rank-ordered top 5 candidates and video recordings of their interviews to PD Spain  
5. Collect necessary biodata indicated by PD Spain from the final selected nominees.  
6. Prepare a final report including data and demographics on all applicants and a justification of the selection of the top 5 candidates. 

Participants:    

SUSI participants are expected to be highly motivated first through third year undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education, who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.  Their fields of study will be varied and may include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, business, and other professional fields.  Emphasis should be made on recruiting participants from historically underserved groups, including women, minority communities, and individuals with disabilities, and who have little or no international experience.  When possible, the SUSI team requests that posts/Fulbright commissions nominate candidates from a diverse group of universities and higher education institutions.  These students are considered by PD Spain to be “Emerging Voices” leaders who can use experiences such as the SUSIs to bring awareness to salient, pressing, world-wide issues.  

Candidates nominated for this program should:    

• demonstrate English language proficiency (speaking, reading, writing, listening);  
• have an interest in the Institute topic;  
• be between 18 and 25 years of age;  
• have at least one semester left of their undergraduate studies, and be committed to returning to their home universities following completion of the program;  
• demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university and community activities;  
• indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;  
• have sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and teacher recommendations;  
• demonstrate commitment to community service and extracurricular university activities;  
• have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of Europe;  
• be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive;  
• be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel; and 
• be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations, and able to adjust to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.  

OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION THAT GRANTEE MUST RELAY TO SUSI APPLICANTS 

Program Funding: The Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) bureau will cover all student participant costs, including program administration; international and visa travel, travel allowances, domestic travel and ground transportation; book, cultural, mailing, and incidental allowances; and housing and subsistence.  If the program is conducted virtually, ECA will work to provide a technology stipend to all participants.    

Program Requirements and Restrictions: Student candidates should be made aware that they are applying for an intensive and rigorous academic institute and are expected to fully participate in all aspects of the program.  Participants must attend all lectures, participate in all required organized activities, and complete all assignments.  Due to the intensive nature of the program, participants should not expect to fulfill professional or academic obligations, including remote work for jobs or internships, classwork, or examinations for their home university, while in the United States.  Doing so will count as an unexcused absence from program activities.  Family members and/or friends may not accompany or join participants for any part of the program.  Please make these requirements clear to all nominees.    

English Language Ability: English Language proficiency is required to participate in this program.  All candidates must be proficient in English so that they can actively participate in the academic program.  Therefore, candidate interviews must be conducted in English.  Host institutions will consider the varying levels of participants’ comprehension and speaking ability and will prepare lectures and discussions that meet the highest academic standards while using language appropriate for students where English is their second or third language.    

Housing and Meal Arrangements: Housing will be shared or single university dorms on campus or full-service hotels within walking distance of most classroom activities.  Male and female participants will be housed in separate quarters.  In addition to regular group meals and a university meal plan, participants may have access to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own.  It is important that nominees are aware of these arrangements and that they are comfortable with such accommodations.    

Special Accommodations:  Care will be taken to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, and medical care are satisfied.  Special accommodations will be made available to the greatest extent possible.  Should a participant need to quarantine due to positive COVID-19 test results, accommodations will follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.    

Health Benefits: All participants will receive the Department of State’s Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) health benefit during the U.S.-based in-person component, which provides coverage of up to $100,000 with a $25 co-pay per medical visit and a $75 co-pay per emergency room visit, for the duration of the program.  Pre-existing conditions may be covered up to $100,000, subject to policy exclusions and limitations.  ASPE also covers up to $500 for routine COVID-19 testing requirements in the United States.  COVID-19 is treated like any other illness under the ASPE health benefits plan.  Information on the health benefit program may be found online at http://www.sevencorners.com/gov/usdos.     

Travel Policy: Participants are not allowed to arrive in the United States prior to the start date of the SUSI or remain in the United States after the end date.  Similarly, participants will not be permitted to leave the SUSI to visit relatives or friends while in the United States.  If a relative or friend wishes to visit a participant, it will be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the ECA program officer and the host institution.  Participants are required to return to their home countries immediately following the end of the Institute.    

Grounds for Program Dismissal: Violations of program rules, host institution rules, or local, state, or federal laws can be grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.  It is important that these requirements and restrictions be made clear to all candidates before nominations are submitted.    

Virtual Program Contingency: Should health, safety, and travel conditions continue to pose significant challenges, the SUSI will pivot to a virtual format.  The virtual program would consist of a minimum of 36 hours of required programming with a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning.  To the extent possible, the virtual programming will include lectures, small group discussions, videos, readings, panels, site visits, leadership development, assignments, and individual and group activities.  Participants will be required to fully participate in the entire virtual program from their locations.    

Connectivity: Should the program need to pivot to a virtual format, participants would need access to a computer and stable internet connection.  If a participant does not have access to these two items, ECA will work with the participant and post to facilitate access.  Participants would be expected to actively engage in all program activities, and therefore, they should immediately notify the host institution and post of any issues with their online access during the duration of the program as well as any difficulties affecting their participation. 

Application Review Information

Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below:     

• Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea –The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.   
• Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants –The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project. The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address. The organization demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.  Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations. Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate. Organizations with extensive experience in business or entrepreneurship and with established network, all preferably in Spain or Andorra, will have priority among applicants. 
• Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – Goals and objectives are clearly stated, and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.  
• Budget –The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.   
• Monitoring and evaluation plan – Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.  
• Media/Communications Plan – Applicant explains how traditional and social media will be used to raise awareness about this project and its results.  

A Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. Successful applicants will receive official written notification by email and detailed information on finalizing grant awards.  Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified via email.    

Grant awards are contingent upon availability of U.S. Government funding and signing of official grant documents.  Verbal or other informal communications cannot be considered official notification of an award, and applicants may not incur expenses for a proposed project until all required administrative procedures have been completed.