Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026 | PDS GUINEA FY26 01

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026 (U.S. Embassy Conakry, Guinea)

1) What is the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026?

AEIF 2026 is a competitive U.S. Department of State grant opportunity managed by the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea. It funds projects that are designed and led by alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs, with the goal of turning U.S. government exchange investments into real local impact in Guinea.

2) Which agency is running this opportunity and what are the reference numbers?

The opportunity is run by the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea (U.S. Department of State). Funding Opportunity Number: PDS GUINEA FY26 01. CFDA/Assistance Listing: 19.022.

3) Who is the target audience for this grant?

The target audience is Guinean alumni of U.S. government exchange programs. The Embassy positions the fund as a way to strengthen alumni networks and advance shared interests between the United States and Guinea.

4) What must every proposed project include in terms of theme or messaging?

Every proposed project must explicitly celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (Freedom 250). Projects must also align with administration policy goals, including themes tied to making the U.S. safer, stronger, and more prosperous, or defending freedom of speech.

5) What types of activities is AEIF 2026 looking to fund?

The Embassy is looking for measurable, community-facing projects that connect alumni to each other, to the Embassy, and to their communities. The overall emphasis is on visible impact and practical engagement rather than general development programming.

6) What are the required core elements a proposal must include?

Each proposal must include at least one of the following core elements:

• Convening alumni from different exchange programs to build or expand a network that can collaborate on shared priorities (including regional or global alumni collaboration).
• Strengthening the relationship between alumni and the U.S. government by working together on activities that address common goals and challenges.
• Supporting alumni leadership development through community projects designed for visible impact.

7) Is there a specific priority objective applicants can choose to address?

Yes. Proposals may choose to address a priority objective of partnering with the Embassy Conakry alumni team to deliver Freedom 250-related programs that also create networking and personal or professional development opportunities for Guinean alumni.

8) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount is USD 30,000.

9) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?

The Embassy expects to make about two awards.

10) Does submitting a proposal guarantee funding?

No. Submitting a proposal does not guarantee funding. The solicitation states the U.S. Mission may choose not to fund any proposal.

11) Can the Embassy change the proposed budget amount?

Yes. The U.S. Mission may reduce, revise, or increase a proposed budget based on program needs and available funds.

12) When is an award considered final?

No final award exists until a grants officer signs an award agreement.

13) Who is eligible to apply as a prime applicant?

Eligible applicants include:

• Not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs, civil society groups, and think tanks)
• Public and private educational institutions
• Individuals
• Public international organizations
• Governmental institutions

14) Are for-profit entities eligible to apply?

For-profit entities are not eligible to be prime recipients, even if they otherwise resemble eligible categories. However, a prime recipient may subcontract certain work where appropriate.

15) What is the basic alumni participation rule for eligibility?

Every proposal must involve at least two exchange alumni or include the involvement of an alumni association. This is intended to ensure projects are truly alumni-driven rather than led mainly by an institution with minimal alumni participation.

16) Do funded projects have to be led by exchange alumni?

Yes. Funded projects must be led by alumni who participated in U.S. government-sponsored exchanges.

17) If three or more alumni apply together, can U.S. citizen alumni participate?

Yes, U.S. citizen alumni can be part of the team if three or more alumni apply together, but the team must include at least two non-U.S. citizen exchange alumni.

18) Can a U.S. citizen alumnus/alumna be the team lead?

No. If applying as a team with three or more alumni, U.S. citizen alumni cannot serve as team leads.

19) Are there rules about prime recipients when subcontracting is involved?

Yes. The notice emphasizes that only one non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient when subcontracting is involved, and that roles and responsibilities must be clearly spelled out in the proposal.

20) What language must the application documents be submitted in?

All documents must be in English.

21) What currency should the budget use?

All budgets must be in U.S. dollars (USD).

22) Where and how do applicants submit the standard forms?

Applicants must submit standard federal forms through grants.gov, including SF-424 (or SF-424I for individuals), SF-424A, and SF-424B when required (notably for individuals and certain organizations depending on registration status).

23) What is the page limit for the narrative proposal?

The narrative proposal is capped at 10 pages.

24) Must applicants use a specific narrative template?

Yes. The narrative must be completed using the Embassy-provided Microsoft Word template called the AEIF 2026 Proposal Form.

25) Can the narrative proposal be submitted as a PDF?

No. The instructions explicitly say applicants must not submit the proposal as a PDF.

26) Is there a required file naming convention for the narrative?

Yes. The narrative file must be renamed using the required convention: AEIF26GuineaProject Title.docx.

27) What should the narrative include so reviewers can understand the project?

The narrative should be written so that a reader unfamiliar with the project can understand exactly what will be done, why it matters, and how success will be measured.

28) What core sections are applicants expected to cover in the narrative?

The narrative is expected to include:

• A proposal summary with objectives and anticipated impact
• An introduction describing the applicant (organization or individual), capacity, any prior State Department or U.S. government grants, and relevant expertise
• A clear problem statement
• Detailed program methods and design including goals, measurable objectives, activities, and deliverables
• A schedule/timeline including dates, times, and locations for events
• Key personnel details (names, titles, roles, qualifications, estimated level of effort)
• Partners and sub-awardees (if any)
• Sustainability (how work could continue beyond the grant)

29) What Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) materials are required?

Applicants must include a Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Monitoring Plan showing how performance will be tracked and progress toward goals will be measured. This must include If-Then logic statements connecting activities to intended results, plus a datasheet listing indicators to measure success.

30) What budget document is required and what format must it be in?

Applicants must submit a detailed line-item budget using the provided Excel template (AEIF 2026 Budget Form.xlsx). The budget file should not be submitted as a PDF.

31) Is there a required file naming convention for the budget?

Yes. The budget file must use the required convention: AEIF26GuineaProject Title.xlsx.

32) What cost categories should the budget break out?

The budget should break costs out by standard categories such as personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, consultants or contracts, other direct costs, and indirect costs, with line items described in as much detail as possible.

33) What level of detail is required for personnel costs?

Personnel costs must show level of effort and pay rate tied to grant activities.

34) How does the opportunity address indirect costs and NICRA?

If an organization does not have a NICRA, indirect costs must be applied consistent with the modified total direct cost approach referenced in 2 CFR 200.1. If the applicant will charge indirect costs under a NICRA, the latest NICRA must be attached.

35) Is a budget justification required?

Yes. A separate budget justification narrative is required to explain why each cost is necessary to deliver the project objectives. It should align tightly with the activities described in the proposal and with SF-424A to form a complete financial story.

36) Are there special budget rules for awards to individuals?

Yes. For awards to individuals, only the award recipient may receive salary or honoraria, and that recipient must be the primary point of contact managing program activities. Additional personnel are generally only allowable as contracted services and cannot be tied to the core programmatic activities, though support functions like accounting, legal support, social media management, and web design are cited as allowable examples.

37) What are examples of other direct costs mentioned as allowable?

The notice describes other direct costs such as venues, logistics, and catering as allowable.

38) What audit rules apply, and can audit costs be included?

Audit requirements follow the Department of State standard terms and 2 CFR 200 Subpart F. Audit costs may be charged either directly or through indirect costs depending on the organization’s approach.

39) If the project includes visa-related expenses, should those be budgeted?

Yes. If the project includes visa-related expenses, those fees should be included in the budget.

40) What does the NOFO say about DS-2019 handling and J-1 sponsorship?

DS-2019s for post-funded programs must be submitted directly by the award recipient. If the applicant expects to process DS-2019s, the organization must be a registered J-1 sponsor.

41) What resumes are required as attachments?

Applicants must include one-page resumes for key personnel (for example, a Project Director and Finance Officer) and for proposed speakers or trainers when relevant. If a person is not yet identified, a one-page position description can be provided instead.

42) What letters of support are required?

Applicants must submit one-page letters of support from partners or sub-recipients explaining the relationship, roles, responsibilities, and expected results.

43) What proof of registration is required?

Proof of registration is required. For U.S. organizations, this is an IRS determination letter. For Guinean organizations, an official certificate of registration is required.

44) Can the Embassy request additional documentation after submission?

Yes. The Embassy may request additional documentation later in the review process, such as recent audits, HR and procurement policies, documentation of financial controls, and plans to protect personally identifiable information (PII).

45) Who is responsible for safeguarding personally identifiable information (PII)?

The notice explicitly reminds applicants that safeguarding PII is the recipient’s responsibility.

46) When is the deadline to submit questions?

The deadline for questions is May 7, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. GMT.

47) When is the application submission deadline?

The submission deadline is May 7, 2026.

48) Where should questions be sent?

Questions and inquiries should be directed to PASConakry@state.gov.

49) What happens if an application misses required components or formatting rules?

The application package is described as compliance-heavy, and proposals that miss requirements can be ruled ineligible.

50) What is the overall intent of this NOFO in plain terms?

This is a focused alumni-led public diplomacy grant opportunity. It is meant to mobilize U.S. exchange alumni in Guinea to deliver concrete projects that commemorate Freedom 250, build alumni networks, strengthen engagement with the U.S. Embassy, and produce measurable community benefits tied to U.S. policy priorities.