The United States Department of State has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the EducationUSA program for the fiscal year 2025-2026. This program aims to foster people-to-people connections between Albanians and Americans and support broad U.S. Embassy goals in Albania.
EducationUSA, part of the U.S. Department of State, operates a global network of over 430 educational advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. These centers provide comprehensive information about U.S. higher education opportunities. The network also aids accredited higher education institutions (HEIs) in achieving internationalization goals.
For FY2025, the program outlines several objectives in Albania, including expanding student advising outreach, exploring new partnerships, publicizing the advising center, and strengthening networking with teachers and career counselors.
Eligible organizations must possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov to apply for funding. Applications are limited to one per organization, with more than one proposal from the same organization being ineligible.
The U.S. Embassy in Tirana seeks qualified organizations to manage the daily operations of the EducationUSA advising center. This includes handling logistics such as rent, utilities, and salaries. The EducationUSA adviser, appointed by the U.S. Embassy, will handle program-related duties.
The deadline for application submissions is May 31, 2025, by 11:59 pm CET. Applications must include detailed documents such as a proposal, budget justification narrative, and mandatory application forms.
Proposals will be evaluated based on their alignment with U.S. Mission Albania’s priorities, program feasibility, monitoring and evaluation plans, budget justification, and organizational capacity. A rigorous review will be conducted by a committee.
The Department of State notes that issuing this NOFO does not constitute a funding obligation, and unsuccessful applicants will be notified via email. Successful applicants will need to comply with federal laws and guidelines.
Payments will be made in installments upon the submission of form SF-270, for advance or reimbursement. Award funds are subject to restrictions, including bans on supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) or initiatives not compliant with Executive Order 14173.
Reports on federal funding and activities must be submitted as specified in the award document, in line with the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR).
For more details, organizations are encouraged to check resources available on embassy websites, grants.gov, and MyGrants, and direct any questions to tiranayouthoutreach@state.gov.