Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund - AEIF - 2026
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé, through the U.S. Mission to Cameroon, is seeking alumni-led cooperative agreement proposals under the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 to advance bilateral priorities and strengthen people-to-people ties. The competition supports up to two national projects in Cameroon and one Central Africa Regional Alumni Summit, with national efforts focused on youth unemployment, transparency in critical sectors, or local tensions through innovation, digital technology, entrepreneurship, or sports diplomacy. Proposals must visibly celebrate Freedom250, include robust digital outreach and sustainability plans, and be submitted by U.S. government exchange alumni teams with at least two alumni, including one Cameroonian residing in Cameroon. Applications are due May 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Africa Time, with funding listed at $5,000 to $35,000 for national projects and $40,000 to $100,000 for the regional summit.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible ApplicantsThe following organizations are eligible to apply: - Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program. - Projects teams must include at least two (2) alumni. - Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project. - Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries, but at least one of the team members must be a Cameroonian residing in Cameroon. - Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni. No other organizations are eligible to apply but can serve as partners for implementing project activities. - Exchange alumni can partner with not-for-profit or non-governmental organizations, think tanks and academic institutions to implement project activities. - The grant can be issued to individual alumni or the partner organization.