Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS KTM NOFO 2026 01
FY26 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026) is a competitive grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to Nepal that aims to extend the long-term value of U.S. government exchange programs by putting alumni in the lead as implementers, conveners, and problem-solvers. The core idea is to mobilize exchange alumni as strategic partners who can keep engagement with the United States active well after an exchange ends, while also building stronger alumni networks and creating practical collaborations across sectors and borders. U.S. Embassy Nepal is looking for alumni-driven projects that deliver visible, locally grounded results in Nepal and that clearly connect to current U.S. administration priorities such as strengthening U.S.-Nepal commercial ties, promoting free speech, showcasing American excellence and best practices, and advancing solutions in sectors considered strategically important. Proposals are also expected to reflect the "Freedom 250" theme, tying project goals to the United States' 250-year tradition of innovation, entrepreneurship, and global economic leadership.
The opportunity is organized around three program pillars that describe what strong projects should accomplish. The first pillar, Innovate, emphasizes applying U.S.-based learning and professional experience to Nepal-focused solutions. Projects under this pillar should show how alumni will use American-style innovation, business practices, technology, and regulatory or standards-based approaches to support commercial diplomacy goals, encourage private-sector growth, improve trade facilitation, and strengthen economic resilience. Competitive proposals are expected to connect these activities to U.S. Embassy priorities and the Strategic Partnership Strategy (SSP), showing clear pathways from alumni expertise to measurable outcomes in the Nepali context.
The second pillar, Inspire, focuses on demonstrating U.S. leadership and values in areas like entrepreneurship, education, technology, and workforce development. In practice, this means alumni-led initiatives should incorporate American models, tools, and best practices in ways that other institutions, communities, or sectors in Nepal can observe and adopt. Projects should communicate why these approaches are competitive, transparent, and durable over the long term, while reinforcing democratic and economic values that support deeper U.S.-Nepal cooperation. Strong applications will go beyond one-off events and instead show how alumni will influence broader uptake of effective methods, standards, or training approaches.
The third pillar, Ignite, is about building lasting U.S.-Nepal commercial and institutional partnerships. This includes connecting Nepali alumni with U.S. companies, entrepreneurs, universities, and technical experts to expand mentorship, facilitate technology transfer, strengthen workforce skills, and improve access to markets. The embassy is looking for projects that can spark sustainable partnerships that lead to tangible trade and investment outcomes, help develop innovation ecosystems, and create mutual economic benefits for both countries. In other words, proposals should not only deliver local impact, but also make the bilateral relationship more active and economically productive through real institutional linkages.
Beyond the three pillars, every AEIF project must include at least one required engagement element that strengthens the alumni ecosystem and the alumni-U.S. government relationship. Projects must do at least one of the following: convene alumni from different exchange programs to build or expand an alumni network that can collaborate on shared priorities (including regional or global collaboration); strengthen working relationships between alumni and the U.S. government around shared goals and challenges; or support alumni leadership development as they implement community-level projects for maximum impact. A basic structural requirement also applies: each proposal must involve at least two exchange alumni or include the involvement of an alumni association, ensuring projects are network-based rather than purely individual efforts.
Eligibility is tightly focused on exchange alumni. Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange program, and the application must be submitted by exchange alumni rather than by outside organizations. Project teams must include at least two alumni, and while teams can include alumni from different exchange programs and even different countries, at least one team member must be a Nepali citizen residing in Nepal. U.S. citizen alumni are not allowed to submit proposals as applicants, but they may participate as team members. Although non-alumni organizations cannot apply, alumni teams are encouraged to partner with implementing organizations such as nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions to carry out activities. Depending on the structure, the grant may be awarded either directly to an individual alumnus/alumna or to a partner organization supporting implementation.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAS KTM NOFO 2026 01) under the funding activity category of Business and Commerce (CFDA 19.022). The award ceiling is $35,000, and the embassy expects to make about two awards. The opportunity was created on April 15, 2026, and the application deadline is May 14, 2026. Overall, the strongest proposals will make a clear case that exchange alumni are uniquely positioned to act as catalysts for innovation and economic growth while building durable U.S.-Nepal commercial and institutional partnerships that fit the Freedom 250 spirit and embassy priorities.Apply for PAS KTM NOFO 2026 01
- The U.S. Mission to Nepal in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY26 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-14. (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 $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: FY26 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026) - U.S. Mission to Nepal
What is the FY26 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)?
AEIF 2026 is a competitive discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to Nepal that supports projects designed and led by alumni of U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. Its purpose is to extend the long-term value of exchange programs by putting alumni in the lead as implementers, conveners, and problem-solvers in Nepal.
What is the main goal of AEIF 2026?
The main goal is to keep engagement with the United States active after an exchange ends by mobilizing alumni as strategic partners. Projects are expected to strengthen alumni networks, create practical cross-sector collaborations, and deliver visible, locally grounded results in Nepal that align with U.S. Embassy Nepal priorities.
Which U.S. priorities should proposals connect to?
Proposals should clearly connect to current U.S. administration priorities referenced in the opportunity, including strengthening U.S.-Nepal commercial ties, promoting free speech, showcasing American excellence and best practices, and advancing solutions in strategically important sectors.
What is the "Freedom 250" theme and how should a project reflect it?
Applications are expected to reflect the "Freedom 250" theme by tying project goals to the United States' 250-year tradition of innovation, entrepreneurship, and global economic leadership.
What are the three AEIF program pillars?
The opportunity is organized around three pillars that describe what strong projects should accomplish: Innovate, Inspire, and Ignite.
What does the Innovate pillar focus on?
Innovate emphasizes applying U.S.-based learning and professional experience to Nepal-focused solutions. Competitive projects under this pillar show how alumni will use American-style innovation, business practices, technology, and regulatory or standards-based approaches to support commercial diplomacy goals, encourage private-sector growth, improve trade facilitation, and strengthen economic resilience, with measurable outcomes in Nepal.
What does the Inspire pillar focus on?
Inspire focuses on demonstrating U.S. leadership and values in areas such as entrepreneurship, education, technology, and workforce development. Alumni-led initiatives should incorporate American models, tools, and best practices in ways that other institutions, communities, or sectors in Nepal can observe and adopt, with an emphasis on approaches that are competitive, transparent, and durable over the long term.
What does the Ignite pillar focus on?
Ignite centers on building lasting U.S.-Nepal commercial and institutional partnerships. Projects may connect Nepali alumni with U.S. companies, entrepreneurs, universities, and technical experts to expand mentorship, facilitate technology transfer, strengthen workforce skills, and improve access to markets, aiming for tangible trade and investment outcomes and sustainable partnerships.
Are there any required elements that every AEIF project must include?
Yes. Every AEIF project must include at least one required engagement element that strengthens the alumni ecosystem and the alumni-U.S. government relationship.
What counts as a required engagement element?
A project must do at least one of the following: (1) convene alumni from different exchange programs to build or expand an alumni network that can collaborate on shared priorities (including regional or global collaboration); (2) strengthen working relationships between alumni and the U.S. government around shared goals and challenges; or (3) support alumni leadership development as they implement community-level projects for maximum impact.
Is there a minimum team composition requirement?
Yes. Each proposal must involve at least two exchange alumni or include the involvement of an alumni association, ensuring projects are network-based rather than purely individual efforts. The project team must include at least two alumni.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange program, and the application must be submitted by exchange alumni (not by outside organizations).
Can non-alumni organizations apply as the primary applicant?
No. Non-alumni organizations cannot apply as applicants. However, alumni teams are encouraged to partner with implementing organizations (such as nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions) to carry out activities.
Can U.S. citizen alumni apply as the applicant?
No. U.S. citizen alumni are not allowed to submit proposals as applicants. They may participate as team members.
Does the team have to include someone based in Nepal?
Yes. While teams can include alumni from different exchange programs and even different countries, at least one team member must be a Nepali citizen residing in Nepal.
Can the team include alumni from different exchange programs or countries?
Yes. The opportunity allows teams to include alumni from different exchange programs and even different countries, as long as the minimum requirements are met (including at least two alumni and at least one Nepali citizen residing in Nepal).
Who can receive the grant award?
Depending on the structure, the grant may be awarded either directly to an individual alumnus/alumna or to a partner organization supporting implementation.
What types of results are projects expected to deliver?
The embassy is looking for alumni-driven projects that deliver visible, locally grounded results in Nepal, demonstrate clear pathways from alumni expertise to measurable outcomes, and build stronger alumni networks and practical collaborations across sectors and borders.
What kinds of partnerships does the embassy want to see?
Projects are encouraged to build durable U.S.-Nepal commercial and institutional partnerships, including linkages with U.S. companies, entrepreneurs, universities, and technical experts that can lead to mentorship, technology transfer, workforce development, market access, and tangible trade and investment outcomes.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Business and Commerce, and the CFDA listing is 19.022.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAS KTM NOFO 2026 01.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $35,000.
How many awards does the embassy expect to make?
The embassy expects to make about two awards.
When was the opportunity created and what is the application deadline?
The opportunity was created on April 15, 2026, and the application deadline is May 14, 2026.
What makes a proposal especially competitive based on the opportunity description?
The strongest proposals clearly show that exchange alumni are uniquely positioned to act as catalysts for innovation and economic growth, align with embassy priorities and the Strategic Partnership Strategy (SSP), deliver measurable results in Nepal, include at least one required alumni engagement element, and advance durable U.S.-Nepal commercial and institutional partnerships consistent with the Freedom 250 spirit.
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