Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF)

Panama’s universities have become an increasingly important arena for strategic competition. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has expanded its influence through Confucius Institutes, academic exchanges, research partnerships, scholarships, and sustained engagement with students, faculty, and university leadership. These influence operations foster distrust of the United States and promote CCP narratives at a critical time in the U.S.-Panama relationship. Embassy Panama seeks to expand the U.S. presence on university campuses by creating sustained opportunities for students, faculty, administrators, and researchers to engage directly with American institutions, experts, companies, and exchange alumni. Through English-language programming, AI and emerging technology workshops, entrepreneurship initiatives, visiting speakers, research collaborations, and public discussions on academic freedom and research integrity, the program will demonstrate the advantages of partnering with the United States while providing a credible alternative to CCP-sponsored programming. Working alongside EducationUSA, American Spaces, the Regional English Language Office, and existing Embassy initiatives, the project will complement existing exchange and advising programs by focusing on institutional engagement and public diplomacy. The Embassy seeks a year-long initiative that establishes enduring U.S.-Panama academic partnerships, expands American visibility across Panamanian campuses, and directly advances U.S. efforts to counter CCP influence in higher education. Funding Opportunity Number: PDS-PAN-FY26-01. Assistance Listing: 19.040. Funding Instrument: G. Category: RD. Award Amount: $25K – $150K per award.

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives The Public Diplomacy Section invites proposals for programs that support one of the following U.S. Embassy priority program areas listed below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to propose collaborative approaches and programs that integrate multiple priority areas. Priority Program Areas/Goals: Applicants may submit a proposal to address one of the program goals below. Proposals should focus on one or more of the priority outcomes, but applicants may also recommend their own objective. Priority Program Areas: · Commercial Diplomacy and U.S.-Zimbabwe Trade · Artificial Intelligence for improved prosperity · Cybersecurity · Technology Literacy and Resilience · Free Speech · American Excellence in education, media, sports, creative industries, civil society GOAL 1. FREE SPEECH AND OPEN EXPRESSION Promote democratic principles including freedom of speech and civic participation; particularly if they share best practices for citizen advocacy or explore the challenges modern media houses face in a digital economy and the ethical standards needed to gain public confidence. Project Audience(s): Organizations and individuals that reflect American values, policies and priorities Priority Outcomes(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas. Outcome: A more informed and media-literate Zimbabwean public that can identify and resist disinformation, with stronger independent media institutions operating transparently and ethically. Strengthening independent media in Zimbabwe advances U.S. strategic interests in promoting open, stable societies across Africa. GOAL 2. ADVANCE U.S.- ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL TIES AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY Advance economic prosperity; particularly connecting social entrepreneurs and the creative community with online marketing tools. Project Audience(s): Organizations and individuals that reflect American values, policies, and priorities Priority Outcomes(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas. Outcome: Increased bilateral trade activity, expanded market access for U.S. goods and services, and a growing cohort of Zimbabwean entrepreneurs with direct ties to U.S. businesses and platforms. Deepening commercial relationships with Zimbabwe creates new markets for American exports, strengthens U.S. economic influence in the region, and reduces Zimbabwe's economic dependence on adversarial partners. This directly supports the America First economic agenda and commercial diplomacy priorities. GOAL 3. HARNESS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR DEVELOPMENT Empower Zimbabweans to leverage American innovations in technology, AI, and digital tools, to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods, and improve digital trade opportunities between the United States and Zimbabwe. Project Audience(s): Organizations and individuals that reflect American values, policies, and priorities. Priority Outcomes(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas. Outcome: A growing base of Zimbabwean professionals and institutions equipped to adopt, adapt, and deploy emerging American technologies - including AI - for economic and social development, using U.S.-developed platforms and frameworks. Promoting U.S.-developed technology standards and platforms in Zimbabwe expands American technological influence and market share, and builds a digital ecosystem aligned with U.S. values of openness, security, and innovation. GOAL 4. EXPAND U.S.-ZIMBABWE PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES Deepen bilateral relationships through targeted workshops, alumni engagement, and exchange partnerships that advance shared solutions and reinforce American values and influence. Project Audience(s): Organizations and individuals that reflect American values, policies, and priorities. Priority Outcomes(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas. Outcome: Strengthened alumni networks and new professional cohorts with sustained engagement with U.S. counterparts, resulting in collaborative projects, cross-sector partnerships, and ongoing people-to-people dialogue. Strong professional networks create durable channels of U.S. influence and goodwill in Zimbabwe. Alumni of U.S. exchange programs consistently demonstrate greater alignment with U.S. foreign policy interests and serve as credible advocates for American businesses, institutions, and values within their professional and social communities. Funding Opportunity Number: AF-HAR-FY26-03. Assistance Listing: 19.040. Funding Instrument: CA. Category: O. Award Amount: $10K – $15K per award.