Emerging Markets Program (EMP)

Scientific Exchange Program (SEP) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The SEP program focuses on training and empowering fellows from low-to-middle income economies in Africa, with a focus on research related to increasing access to high-quality animal feed and innovative techniques for improved efficiency of fertilizers among African smallholder …

Cochran Fellowship Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The Cochran Fellowship Program provides short-term training in the USA for senior and mid-level specialists and administrators from developing and emerging countries. The training focuses on agricultural trade, agribusiness development, and agricultural management, policy, and marketing.

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.

SSbD bio-based polymers from alternative sources is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Successful proposals will contribute to the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the Chemical Industry Action Plan, and the Clean Industrial Deal. Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes: Sustainable feedstock diversification for the production of bio-based polymers. Scalable process(es) for obtaining SSbD bio-based polymers from bio-based feedstock alternative to primary biomass. Enlarge the portfolio of performant bio-based polymers, opening up new market applications. Scope: Emerging alternative sources of bio-based polymers are gaining more and more attention as substitutes for primary biomass from agriculture and forestry. Additional R&I effort is needed to study innovative and scalable processes where bio-based polymers from unexplored/alternative resources are the main products. Proposals under this topic should: Develop (at TRL 5) efficient processes for synthesis and/or extraction of bio-based polymer(s) from the alternative sources in scope, targeting high yield and selectivity. Primary biomass from agriculture and forestry is out of scope; for other applicable feedstock the CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) [1] and its Annex V can be consulted. When relevant, develop adequate pretreatment/fractionation of targeted feedstock. Both new bio-based polymers and already established ones (but currently produced at scale from primary feedstock) are in scope. Integrate further isolation and purification (when relevant) of obtained bio-based polymer(s) according to specific application requirements. Functionalisation of purified bio-based polymers to achieve targeted properties is also in scope. Test (at least at TRL 4) the suitability of obtained bio-based polymers in circular-by-design final applications targeting at least two market sectors. Validate the technical performances of developed bio-based polymers materials/products and proving to fulfil market requirements for selected application sector(s). Test (at least at TRL 4) for suitable, safe and sustainable EoL options (recycling, biodegradation, re-use and/or re-manufacturing). When targeting biodegradable bio-based polymers, test biodegradability according to existing standards and methods. In addition to the specific requirements applicable for the type of action, as described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 [1] , proposals under this topic should: As part of the multi-actor approach (MAA), involve bio-based feedstock providers and waste management operators, end-users in targeted application sector(s) and consumers (if targeting consumer products). Include a task to apply the SSbD framework, developed by the European Commission for the assessment of targeted bio-based polymers. For more information on the SSbD framework and criteria, refer to Safe and sustainable by design . Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe (under Cluster 6 and other Clusters of Horizon Europe) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects. [1] https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents [2] https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents Programme areas: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy, Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Keywords: Applied and industrial chemistry, Materials engineering, Polymer chemistry, Polymers and plastics, alternative feedstock sources, bio-based polymers, bio-based products, biodegradation, biorefinery, circular-by-design, polymer extraction, polymer synthesis, recycling, safe and sustainable by design