rev. 2/21/16
PROJECT PROPOSAL
Academics without Borders-USA (AWB-USA, www.awbusa.org) is seeking proposals. Proposals can be sent to Gwynn Benner (). A typical AWB-USA award does not exceed $5000. Jointly funded projects with other outside sources will be considered.
Who We Are: AWB-USA is a non-profit organization located in Davis, California. We support initiatives geared at building capacity in institutions of higher education in developing nations throughout the world. Our mission is to mobilize academic communities to assist these institutions in their efforts to improve both the quantity and quality of academic programs required to produce the trained professionals needed to address their societal challenges of the 21st century.
How We Assist: AWB-USA partners with institutions in developing countries to support their locally-identified academic and/or academic support priority by providing on-site and/or remote expertise from our corps of highly qualified volunteers. The goal is to augment the host institution’s own resources to accomplish specific, long-lasting and defined outcomes. Volunteers, the heart of the AWB-USA organization, reflect a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, including current or recently retired university and college faculty, post-doctorates, advanced graduate students, high-level academic administrators and non-academic professionals.
AWB-USA financial support is focused on covering the travel costs (i.e., transportation, medical insurance, visas and other related expenses) of volunteers traveling to the requesting institution of higher education. The partnering, in-country host institutions commit to providing in-kind support, which might include accommodations, in-country travel and logistics, and technical and administrative support for the AWB-USA volunteers. AWB-USA does not transfer funds abroad nor pay for equipment or construction of buildings.
Projects We Support: Projects range from expansion or enhancement of existing academic, professional, research, technical and administrative programs to helping set-up new initiatives. This can include undertakings such as program design, curriculum development, teacher and professional training, etc. Projects can also be targeted at providing guidance and technical support in the development of academic administration such as admissions, registration, and other student services; and administrative functions (e.g., computing, information systems, and communication services; library management, and financial management).
Project duration can vary. For example, a project focused on curriculum development might span several weeks with AWB-USA volunteers working directly with faculty followed by on-going communications throughout the year. Alternatively, building a new doctoral program from the ground up could require months of initial on-site work involving several AWB-USA volunteers and recurring “remote” visits spread over several years as the new program takes shape and the first students are admitted.
How Projects Are Conceived: Projects are first proposed by the requesting institution of higher education, and then developed and refined collaboratively with AWB-USA. Once a project plan is developed and agreed to by both parties AWB-USA recruits volunteers based on their expertise and the goals of the project. AWB-USA works closely with the interested institution of higher education during this initial phase to vet volunteers and refine the project proposals so that they are manageable, sustainable and consistent with the basic needs of their institution.
Eligibility
AWB-USA considers projects proposed by institutions of higher education in developing countries. AWB-USA will also consider projects proposed by an institution of higher education in the USA as long as the work is being done in a developing country and in full partnership with an institution of higher education.
In determining whether countries and proposals are eligible for funding, AWB-USA is informed by several international indices of Poverty, Hunger and Malnutrition (including the World Bank, FAO/United Nations, and International Food Policy Research Institute). We recognize the great heterogeneity within countries, and, therefore, project proposals will be evaluated based on their potential impact for the designated geographic area.
Proposals are evaluated based on the following criteria:
REQUIRED CRITERIA:
· Occurs within a developing country
· Is a collaboration with an institute of higher education
· The local, in-country institution of higher education has identified this project as a priority
· It is as safe as is practically possible
· There is confidence it will be completed
MEASURABLE IMPACT:
· The project will help to build capacity at an institution of higher education
· There is an evaluation plan for determining measurable (quantitative and/or qualitative) results
· The measurable results include qualitative and/or quantitative outcomes that can be reasonably accomplished
· There are defined outcomes that are anticipated to have an impact and include lasting results
SUSTAINABLE:
· Has a longer-term horizon beyond the initial funding
· Will result in identified long-lasting anticipated improvements and/or benefits
· Will be sustained by the local institution of higher education educators and/or administrators
STRONG PARTNER
· Has a verified track record or is already a project partner
· The institution of higher education will provide adequate in-kind support
· The institution of higher education has adequate staffing and/or local volunteers to implement the project
· There is demonstrated leadership and approval of the project internal to the institution of higher education
· The project helps develop or builds upon a long-term relationship
Questions? Please contact, Gwynn Benner ().
www.awbusa.org
P.O. Box 72814 | Davis, CA 95616
rev. 2/21/16
I. Project Title:
II. Project Location:
City/town:State/Province/District:
Country:
III. Information (overview of the local, in-country institution of higher education):
Institution name:Type of institution (e.g., University or college, Autonomous Public, Private or Other):
Type of degrees awarded (e.g., technical degree, certificate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral):
Total number of students:
Total number of faculty:
Academic year (dates of academic terms):
Institution’s website:
a. Department Profile
Department name:Number of students in department:
Number of faculty members in department:
Department website:
b. Contact Person
Name:Title:
Name of department, college, faculty, or unit:
Mailing address:
Email address:
Telephone number:
IV. Contact Information for USA Partner (if applicable):
Name:Title:
Name of department, college, faculty, or unit:
Mailing address:
Email address:
Telephone number:
V. Contact Information for Proposed Volunteer(s) (if applicable):
#1 - Name:Title:
Name of department, college, faculty, or unit:
Mailing address:
Email address:
Telephone number:
#2 - Name:
Title:
Name of department, college, faculty, or unit:
Mailing address:
Email address:
Telephone number:
VI. Project Description:
a. Need for the Project [Maximum 500 words]: Describe the critical need not being met within the institution. What are the short-term and long-term challenges being faced? Why isn’t your institution currently meeting need? How can a technical/professional volunteer from AWB-USA address this need?
b. Specific Project Objectives [Maximum 1000 words]: Describe what you anticipate an AWB-USA volunteer doing to help fulfill the above described need. Include the number of host faculty to be involved and their role in the project, number of students impacted, description of what has to be designed, delivered, completed, and/or changed.
For example, new course, new curriculum, new program, new procedures, etc. (attachments are welcome and do not count against the maximum word limit).
c. Anticipated Results and Outcomes: What will be accomplished upon completion of this project? Who will benefit? How will they benefit?
Result #1:Result #2:
Result #3:
d. Time Frame: How long will this project take? When is the best time frame to begin and end?
d. Evaluation/Assessment: [maximum 500 words]: What steps will you undertake to determine your project results have been achieved and the objective(s) met?
e. Sustainability: How will this initiative be maintained and continue after the AWB-USA funding and implementation is complete? What additional funding do you anticipate in the future? Who will be responsible for ensuring the project continues over the long-term?
VII. Estimated Project Budget: itemize each item, identifying the amount specifically requested from AWB-USA. Include any additional items that are already funded as part of the project. Also, include a list of funding already in-hand or requested from other sources.
Project Budget ItemsAirfare:
Transportation:
Lodging:
Visa:
Travel-related pre-health visit/medication:
Other (please specify as only a limited number of items can be covered):
TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET REQUEST FOR AWB-USA:
ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES IN-HAND:
(include description of what is being covered with these funds)
ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES REQUESTED:
(include description of what is being covered with these funds)
TOTAL BUDGET:
VIII. Anticipated financial and/or in-kind support provided by the local, in-country institution: What contribution will the local, in-country institution of higher education provide to this project? Financial or in-kind contributions might include stipends, housing, and meals; and staffing, logistics and other miscellaneous support. Other contributions might be provided in the form of office and/or equipment use, laboratory use, access to internet/library/computer, and participation of faculty in the development of course materials, co-teaching, analysis, monitoring and evaluation, etc.
Please submit completed to:
Gwynn Benner, Project Committee:
www.awbusa.org
P.O. Box 72814 | Davis, CA 95616