WASHINGTON, DC (November 20, 2008) – Higher Education for Development (HED) has launched an open competition for 20 capacity-building partnership awards of $50,000 each to be funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Applications must be received by Feb. 2, 2009. The award competition is open to all types of U.S. higher education institutions to collaborate with African institutions.
The competition grew out of a broad, collaborative effort between a number of higher education associations and other organizations involved in the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative. The Initiative supports improved instruction and problem-solving capacities of African higher education institutions, so they can address regional and national economic development priorities.
The competition draws on HED’s decade of experience in managing USAID-funded higher education partnerships as a model for international development. These awards will increase the engagement of U.S. higher education institutions in Africa and support planning for long-term partnerships to strengthen the capacity of African higher education institutions. Focus areas include (1) agriculture, environment and natural resources, (2) health, (3) science and technology, (4) engineering, (5) education and teacher training/preparation, and (6) business, management and economics.
Applications will be evaluated through a peer review process as outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA) posted at www.HEDprogram.org. Initiative partners continue to seek follow-on funding and welcome private sector support for long-term collaboration between African and U.S. institutions of higher learning.
“The Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative is a wonderful opportunity to build skills and capacity that are vital to the development of Africa,” said Terry Hartle, HED’s Board Chair and Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for the American Council on Education. “I recently met with rectors and vice chancellors of African higher education institutions and discovered firsthand the educational needs of these countries. These higher education leaders and their governments expressed excitement about partnering with U.S. institutions."
Hartle recently gave a presentation at the Regional Higher Education Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, held October 21-24. More than 200 participants, representing 30 countries, gathered to discuss the role of higher education in strengthening Africa’s economic growth and global competitiveness. This event built on earlier discussions and work that began during the Higher Education Summit for Global Development held at the U.S. Department of State in April 2008 when USAID announced that it would allocate $1 million for the program.
Peter McPherson, president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), also attended this Summit. He said, “Africa urgently needs help with developing and nurturing the human skills and research capacity required for broad-based economic growth and sustainable development. All sectors of U.S. higher education can play an important role in working with African institutions and stand to benefit substantially from collaboration with Africa.”
Interest in this award competition has been high. A five-week online consultation or e-consultation drew more than 700 individuals including 205 participants from 31 African nations. The e-consultation recorded nearly 60,000 page views, 310 posts and 90 private messages. E-consultation feedback ranged from discussions of the importance of faculty training to students’ needs to integrate theory and practical skills, to characteristics of successful partnerships.
NASULGC spearheaded the development of this Initiative and will continue to provide resources and leadership. The American Council on Education is providing important administrative and financial support. Also engaged in the undertaking are the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of American Universities, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Higher Education for Development. The Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa have also provided leadership and support from the beginning. The Association of African Universities is also giving this effort extensive support and advice. To date, financial support has been provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
HED was founded by the six major U.S. higher education associations to engage U.S. colleges and universities in international development. For more information about HED and to view details about the planning grant competition, visit www.HEDprogram.org. More information on USAID and its role in economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide over the past 40 years is available online at www.USAID.gov. Additional details about the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative and the e-consultation can be found at www.africa-initiative.org.
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