Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq | SFOP0007771

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0007771

The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0007771). The overall purpose of this program is to strengthen and expand American-style institutions of higher education (IHE) operating in Iraq by helping them build the institutional capacity needed to function at a level consistent with U.S. higher education standards. The opportunity is designed around making practical, lasting improvements to how these institutions are run, how they deliver education, and how they sustain themselves over time.

A central requirement of proposed projects is the creation or expansion of partnerships between Iraqi IHEs and U.S. colleges or universities. These partnerships are not meant to be symbolic or short-lived; the announcement emphasizes structuring proposals so the partnerships can continue long enough to produce measurable, meaningful institutional change. In other words, applicants are expected to propose long-term, hands-on collaboration that transfers knowledge, strengthens systems, and supports improvements that can realistically be maintained after the grant period.

The types of improvements the Department of State is looking to support are broad but clearly focused on institutional quality and sustainability. Proposals may address both short-term and long-term capacity building, including plans to diversify and stabilize funding streams so institutions are less dependent on a single source of support. Another major target area is progress toward formal accreditation, whether through relevant Iraqi accrediting bodies, U.S. accrediting bodies, or pathways that align Iraqi institutions with recognized accreditation standards. The opportunity also highlights curriculum development and reform, suggesting a strong interest in updating academic programs to reflect American-style higher education expectations, including learning outcomes, academic rigor, and modern instructional approaches. In addition, the program encourages professional skills development, which can include strengthening faculty and staff capabilities, improving administrative and governance practices, and building operational competencies that allow institutions to perform at a higher standard across departments.

Beyond internal systems and academic quality, the grant is also oriented toward institutional growth and inclusion. The announcement specifically calls out increasing the size and diversity of the student body, signaling that funded projects can include strategies that expand access, improve recruitment and retention, and broaden participation among different communities. Taken together, these priorities reflect an intent to support Iraqi American-style universities and colleges not only as academic institutions, but as durable, well-managed organizations that can attract students, deliver credible degrees, and operate in a way that is sustainable and aligned with internationally recognizable standards.

Administratively, the opportunity is a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) in the education category, listed under CFDA 19.600. The award ceiling is up to $5,000,000, and the agency indicated interest in making multiple awards, even though the posting lists Expected Awards as 0 (which can occur in listings depending on how the forecast or award estimates were entered at the time of publication). The opportunity was created on April 16, 2021, with an original closing date of June 8, 2021. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the expectation that prospective applicants refer to the full notice section on eligibility for the exact details of who may apply.

In practical terms, a competitive application under this announcement would likely present a clear plan for an Iraq-U.S. institutional partnership, define specific capacity gaps and how the partnership will address them, and lay out a realistic path toward improvements such as accreditation readiness, strengthened governance and administration, modernized curricula, staff and faculty development, financial sustainability, and expanded student access. The underlying theme is long-term institution-building: creating American-style higher education institutions in Iraq that can meet high standards, demonstrate quality and credibility, and continue improving after U.S. grant funding ends.

• The Department of State, Assistance Coordination in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.600.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 16, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 08, 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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for SFOP0007771

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