INDO-PACIFIC SCHOLAR CONNECT | C NOFO 21 101

Opportunity Information: Apply for C NOFO 21 101

The Indo-Pacific Scholar Connect grant is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to India) discretionary funding opportunity designed to build a sustained network of scholars studying the Indo-Pacific region and to turn that network into an active pipeline for collaboration, mentoring, and policy-relevant research. The project is structured as a one-year program that blends virtual convenings, an in-person residency, and a U.S.-focused exchange component, with clear performance targets and required evidence of outcomes. At its core, the initiative aims to connect 60 scholars (40 from India and 20 from the broader region) and provide them with repeated, organized chances to share research findings, exchange local and regional expertise, and develop durable professional ties that continue beyond the grant period.

In the first phase, the awardee is expected to convene these scholars within five months of the project start date through a series of virtual speaker events and focused small-group meetings spread across a five-month window. These sessions are meant to be more than one-off webinars; they are designed to facilitate peer-to-peer learning, discussion of ongoing studies, and cross-border understanding of Indo-Pacific issues. Progress is not measured only by attendance, but by tangible knowledge-sharing outputs, specifically materials and content that participants post or share on a dedicated digital platform created for the program.

The second phase centers on moving from discussion to collaboration. Within six months of the start date, the project must produce at least 15 concrete ideas for collaborative research, mentoring arrangements, or partnership opportunities. This milestone is tied to a five-day, in-person residency program that brings the 60 scholars together with U.S. and Indian experts. The residency is framed both as a professional accelerator (helping teams identify joint projects and mentorship pathways) and as a relationship-building experience that strengthens cultural and scholarly bonds across countries. Evidence of success is expected through post-event reporting and customized participant surveys administered before and after the residency to document changes in knowledge, attitudes, networks, and collaboration intentions.

A third major component is a targeted exchange opportunity focused on U.S. foreign policy making. Within 11 months of the project start date, a selected subgroup of 10 participants (five Indian and five regional) should gain a deeper understanding of U.S. foreign policy objectives and strategies in the Indo-Pacific. The exchange is intended to expose participants to the realities of U.S. policy decision-making, including how different institutions interact and how public and private actors contribute to foreign policy development. This portion is also outcomes-driven and must be documented through post-program reports and customized pre- and post-exchange surveys that capture learning gains and the practical value of firsthand engagement with key U.S. institutions and agencies.

By the end of the 12-month project period, the grantee must demonstrate that the program did not end with the residency or exchange. The grant specifically requires monitoring and reporting on the joint research, mentoring, and partnership plans that emerged from the residency. This ongoing support is expected to occur through direct messaging, follow-on focused group meetings, and structured check-ins both before and after key program moments, with reporting that shows which plans advanced, what barriers arose, and what additional support or connections were needed.

Also by month 12, the digital networking platform must mature into a lasting knowledge repository for Indo-Pacific scholarship and a gateway for expanding the network. The platform is expected to attract additional scholars beyond the original cohort and provide opportunities to publish or showcase Indo-Pacific-focused studies. Success is measured in practical terms: growth in membership and the volume of curated content populated on the site, showing that the platform is functioning as an active hub rather than a static webpage.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered as a grant with an award ceiling of $150,000 and an expected number of awards of one, making it a single-implementer project with a defined scope and deliverables. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The funding opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing/CFDA 19.040 and was originally posted March 19, 2021, with an original closing date of May 18, 2021. Overall, the program is built around measurable outputs (platform content, documented collaboration ideas, and structured surveys and reports) and a clear timeline that moves from initial virtual engagement to in-person collaboration building, then to deeper policy exposure for a subset of participants, and finally to sustained network activity and an expandable repository of Indo-Pacific research.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "INDO-PACIFIC SCHOLAR CONNECT" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 19, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2021. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for C NOFO 21 101

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