Higher Education for Development

U.S. Agency for International Development 

The Training, Internships, Exchanges, and Scholarships (TIES) Initiative

Request for Applications (RFA): TIES Phase III

• Competitiveness
• High Value Added Products & Advanced Manufacturing Processes for Small & Medium Enterprises
• Energy
• Education
• Public Policy
• Health

• training to build capacity in eligible focus areas (see above), as identified by the Mexican institution and local stakeholders;
• the graduate program of a Mexican institutional partner is designated as a National Programs of Excellence or Programas Nacionales de Calidad (PFPN).  Click here for a list of PFPN programs by institution.
  
• a plan that includes a minimum of five long-term graduate-level scholarships for Mexicans, funded by award or cost share funds and a strategy to incorporate additional scholarship support from CONACyT’s becas mixtas program. (Mexican partners will be eligible to apply for up to four becas mixtas per year.  Becas Mixtas may cover health insurance, travel, and living expenses—tuition costs are not covered) (link to becas mixtas description);
• a fair and transparent process for selecting appropriate trainees, including Mexican nationals primarily residing in rural, poor areas of Mexico and/or of indigenous descent, with approximately half of the training opportunities and scholarships offered to women;
• joint oversight provided by partner institutions;
• plans for the trainees to return to work in Mexico within a defined timeframe and to an established setting with follow-on support and monitoring from the partner relationship;
• private sector, NGO, and local government engagement in the partnership; and
• clear sustainability plans with possible replication and expansion details.

• Graduate-level training in the United States for Mexicans (master, doctoral, post doctoral);*
• Graduate-level training in Mexico with U.S. faculty or via distance education for Mexicans(master, doctoral, post doctoral);*
• Dual degree programs for Mexicans with training in the United States or in Mexico;*
• Specialty training and sabbaticals in the United States for Mexican faculty;*
• Short-term training (workshops, seminars, professional training) in the United States and short-term training in Mexico for Mexicans;
• Internships in the private and public sectors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or research institutions in either country for Mexicans;
• Follow-on training in either country for Mexicans;
• Student research and/or student exchanges (with USAID support for Mexican nationals only);
• Joint faculty research and/or faculty exchanges;
• Coordination, technical meetings, observation trips in the United States and Mexico;
• Innovative use of technology and distance education;
• Public and private collaboration (including foundations);
• Collaborative community level outreach and replication projects in Mexico;
• Joint publications, media events;
• English language training, as needed; and
• Workforce development training

• alliances with diverse partners, including government, NGOs, and the private sector;
• partnerships with Mexican autonomous higher education institutions; and
• applications from institutions that seek to foster partnerships with Mexican institutions that have not received a previous TIES award. Click here for a listing of the current partners.

Application Format, Submission and Review 

• Annual workplan for the funding period (use HED form).
• Budget forms (use HED form, complete all tabs).
• Résumés of the proposed U.S. institution director(s) and other expert personnel, not to exceed 2 one-sided pages per person.
• Proposed Scholarships Chart (use HED form)
• Other Partnership Activities Chart (use HED form)
• Signed letters of support from the presidents, chancellors, or other chief executive officers of the cooperating institutions in the United States, in addition to a signed letter from the proposed U.S. partnership director, and letters of support from other participating organizations.
• Signed letter from appropriate official at applicant institution verifying that all costs cited conform to established institutional policies and practices.

• Soundness of case made for addressing an identified strategic objective and development focus, as outlined in the RFA, which contributes to increased competitiveness of Mexico, institutional capacity, and investment in people.
• Coherence, appropriateness, and feasibility of the partnership;
• Appropriateness of activities implemented with new and proven approaches and techniques;
• Well-conceived implementation plan and timetable; and
• Overall likelihood of achieving significant demonstrable results.

• Demonstrated relevance of the training to address the development issue and focus area they have identified;
• Plans for trainees to return to Mexico within a defined timeframe and to an established setting;
• Number of graduate-level scholarships (five or more) for two academic semesters of training (leading to a degree, as appropriate) with award or cost share funds;
• Explanation of how additional scholarship support from CONACyT (up to four becas mixtas each year) might be utilized effectively; and
• A fair and transparent process to select scholarship and training recipients – including Mexican nationals primarily residing in rural, poor areas of Mexico and/or of indigenous descent – with approximately half of the training opportunities and scholarships offered to women.

• Strength of institutional commitment (engagement of faculty, students and administrators) within alliances among the U.S. and Mexican institutions;
• Strength of diverse partners, which may include the private sector, foundations, NGOs, community-based organizations, other higher education institutions, and the public sector, to assure enduring relationships and continued results from joint U.S.-Mexican efforts;
• Degree of collaboration among partners in oversight of and implementation of  activities; and
• Strength of detailed and substantive plans to ensure sustainability and institutionalization of partnership activities.

• Demonstrated cost-effectiveness and accuracy of budget with a clear, detailed explanation provided in the budget narrative;
• Realistic budget in relation to the breadth and scope of the proposed collaboration; and
• Level and quality of the cost sharing commitment from the U.S. and Mexican institutions and support provided by other partners.

• Monitoring plan that includes methodology for collecting baseline data;
• Appropriate benchmarks of progress toward achievable objectives;
• Clear description of how progress and results will be reported to USAID/Mexico through HED;
• Evidence of plan to track impact and partnership objectives; and
• Evidence of a report procedure for recipients to describe how they will use new skills when they return to their home institution(s).

Terms of the Solicitation

• Quarterly progress reports via e-mail;
• Financial expenditures and cost sharing reports at least quarterly; and
• A final narrative report to HED 30 days after the conclusion of program activities and final financial reports are due no later than 90 days after the closing date of the subagreement.