Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 19 AW 008 SCA 04012019
The Afghan Young Leaders Exchange Program (AYLEP) is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity administered through the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. It is set up as an open, competitive grant/cooperative agreement for an organization to design and run a recurring exchange program in the United States for young Afghans. The central purpose is to strengthen leadership, advocacy, and professional capacity among emerging Afghan leaders so they can return home better prepared to contribute to positive change in Afghanistan.
At its core, AYLEP aims to develop the next generation of Afghan leaders by exposing them to U.S. expertise and real-world examples in key areas such as governance, civil society, economic growth, and security. The program is meant to go beyond classroom-style training by combining leadership development with direct engagement in U.S. civic, political, social, and economic systems. A major emphasis is placed on connecting participants with practitioners and institutions, including subject matter experts, innovators, activists, civic organizations, and government entities, so that participants can see how leadership and public problem-solving function in practice and then adapt relevant lessons to Afghan contexts.
The exchange structure described in the announcement is fairly specific. Each year, the implementing organization would host one U.S.-based exchange for a cohort of about 50 young Afghans. Each exchange should be approximately three weeks long and organized around a theme determined by PAS. The program design is expected to include substantial interaction not only between participants and external speakers or host organizations, but also among the participants themselves, encouraging peer learning, collaboration, and network-building across regions and professional interests. Proposals are expected to lay out how the exchange series will be implemented annually and how each cycle contributes to longer-term leadership development rather than being a one-off visit.
A key expectation in the proposal is a clear explanation of how the program will translate into real capacity gains once participants return to Afghanistan. The announcement highlights outcomes such as improving Afghan governance, professionalizing and building capacity within the education sector, promoting social change, and supporting economic growth. In practical terms, applicants would typically need to demonstrate how program content, mentoring, professional connections, and any follow-on activities or alumni engagement would help participants apply what they learned through initiatives, institutional reforms, community projects, or leadership roles at home.
From the funding and administrative details provided, this opportunity is a discretionary award from the Department of State (Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs), listed under CFDA 19.501. The funding instrument may be a grant or a cooperative agreement, meaning the government may anticipate active involvement in shaping or overseeing certain elements during implementation. The opportunity number is SCAKAB 19 AW 008 SCA 04012019, it was created April 1, 2019, and originally closed May 30, 2019. The award ceiling is up to $3,000,000, with an expectation of one award, indicating the Department intended to fund a single lead implementer to run the full program model described. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the full eligibility section of the notice, which generally signals that nontraditional entities may be able to apply depending on the specific eligibility language in the full announcement.
Overall, AYLEP is designed as a high-impact leadership exchange that blends thematic training, professional exposure, and civic engagement in the United States, with the explicit goal of building a pipeline of young Afghan leaders who return with stronger skills, expanded networks, and practical models they can use to advance governance, education, social development, and economic opportunity in Afghanistan.Apply for SCAKAB 19 AW 008 SCA 04012019
- The Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Afghan Young Leaders Exchange Program (AYLEP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 01, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Afghan Young Leaders Exchange Program (AYLEP) - FAQs
1) What is the Afghan Young Leaders Exchange Program (AYLEP) grant opportunity?
AYLEP is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity administered through the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. It is structured as an open, competitive grant/cooperative agreement for an organization to design and implement a recurring U.S.-based exchange program for young Afghans.
2) What is the main purpose of AYLEP?
The central purpose is to strengthen leadership, advocacy, and professional capacity among emerging Afghan leaders so they can return to Afghanistan better prepared to contribute to positive change.
3) What outcomes is AYLEP intended to support in Afghanistan?
The announcement highlights outcomes such as improving Afghan governance, professionalizing and building capacity within the education sector, promoting social change, and supporting economic growth. A key expectation is that participants will return home able to apply lessons learned through initiatives, reforms, community projects, or leadership roles.
4) Who is expected to apply for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity seeks an implementing organization to design and run the exchange program. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility section of the notice, which may allow nontraditional entities depending on the specific eligibility language in the full announcement.
5) Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The funding instrument may be a grant or a cooperative agreement. Because a cooperative agreement can involve active government involvement, the Department of State may anticipate participating in shaping or overseeing certain elements during implementation.
6) Which U.S. government entity is funding this opportunity?
This is a discretionary award from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, administered via PAS at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
7) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.501.
8) What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is SCAKAB 19 AW 008 SCA 04012019.
9) When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was created on April 1, 2019, and originally closed on May 30, 2019.
10) How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is up to $3,000,000.
11) How many awards does the Department of State expect to make?
The announcement indicates an expectation of one award, meaning the Department intended to fund a single lead implementer for the program model described.
12) What does the implementing organization need to do?
The implementing organization is expected to design and run a recurring exchange program in the United States for young Afghans, following the structure described in the announcement and aligning programming with PAS priorities.
13) How often will exchanges occur and how many participants are expected each year?
Each year, the implementing organization would host one U.S.-based exchange for a cohort of about 50 young Afghans.
14) How long is each exchange program cycle expected to last?
Each exchange should be approximately three weeks long.
15) Who determines the theme for each exchange?
Each exchange is organized around a theme determined by PAS.
16) What subject areas does AYLEP emphasize?
The program aims to expose participants to U.S. expertise and real-world examples in key areas such as governance, civil society, economic growth, and security.
17) What makes the AYLEP exchange different from classroom-style training?
The program is intended to go beyond classroom-style training by combining leadership development with direct engagement in U.S. civic, political, social, and economic systems, with an emphasis on practical exposure and real-world examples.
18) What types of engagement and connections are expected during the exchange?
A major emphasis is placed on connecting participants with practitioners and institutions, including subject matter experts, innovators, activists, civic organizations, and government entities, so participants can see how leadership and public problem-solving function in practice.
19) Is participant-to-participant interaction part of the program design?
Yes. The design is expected to include substantial interaction not only with external speakers or host organizations, but also among the participants themselves to encourage peer learning, collaboration, and network-building across regions and professional interests.
20) Is AYLEP meant to be a one-time exchange visit?
No. Proposals are expected to explain how the exchange series will be implemented annually and how each cycle contributes to longer-term leadership development rather than being a one-off visit.
21) What is expected regarding impact after participants return to Afghanistan?
The proposal is expected to clearly explain how the program translates into real capacity gains once participants return, including how program content, mentoring, professional connections, and any follow-on activities or alumni engagement help participants apply what they learned in Afghanistan.
22) What kinds of post-exchange activities are mentioned in the announcement?
The announcement references follow-on activities and alumni engagement as mechanisms applicants would typically use to help participants apply learning at home, although specific formats are not detailed in the provided summary.
23) What is the overall program model described in the announcement?
AYLEP is designed as a high-impact leadership exchange that blends thematic training, professional exposure, and civic engagement in the United States, with the explicit goal of building a pipeline of young Afghan leaders who return with stronger skills, expanded networks, and practical models they can adapt for Afghan contexts.
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