Alumni Small Grant (ASG)

Alumni Small Grant (ASG)

The Alumni Small Grant (ASG) Program is jointly administered by the U.S. Mission and the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN). The ASG aims to strengthen mutual understanding between the American and Pakistani people and encourages alumni to leverage their exchange program learning to put ideas into action to create meaningful change. The ASG program offers funding opportunities on a competitive basis, for initiatives that create impact at professional, organizational and community levels. These funding opportunities are open to the alumni of the U.S. Government-funded exchange programs.

Proposals are being accepted from Monday 11 September 2023 till 3 PM Friday September 29th, 2023. Proposals can only be submitted through online process.

The process of strict observance and implementation COVID SOPs, if required, during all in-person activities, must be mentioned in the proposal.

Requested budget for proposal addressing one of the special themes mentioned below should not exceed Rs. 1,000,000/-. Proposals developed to address any other theme not included in “Special Themes”, can request a budget of up to Rs. 500,000/-

Maximum grant period is four months from approval date. Funds for approved/successful proposals will be disbursed in early December 2023. Project activities should not be planned before the start of December 2023 and must not go beyond March 31, 2024.

Funding Opportunities

There are two types of Alumni Small Grant opportunities available.

SPECIAL THEMES: Grant proposals are solicited on pre-defined themes for each cycle. Special themes are announced at the start of each grant cycle.

Special Themes for current grant cycle are as follows:

  1. Advance sustainable solutions to environmental challenges, including by advancing the U.S.-Pakistan Green Alliance framework.
  2. Bolster democratic institutions and support the political participation and civil rights of women, religious minorities, ethnic minorities, and other disadvantaged groups.
  3. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in schools and workplaces, public facilities and public programs, and communities throughout Pakistan.

OPEN THEMES: Alumni whose project idea cannot be covered by one of the announced “Special Theme”, can still apply as “Open Theme” project. Funding is available for projects that:

  • Support and develop emerging leaders.
  • Provide educational or economic opportunities for Pakistani youth.
  • Create engagement opportunities between the people of Pakistan and its neighbors.
  • Advance the public good and promote community service in Pakistan.
  • Increase understanding about the United States and the American people or strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and Pakistan

Application Process

Interested alumni should carefully review all opportunities, themes under Special Themes Category, and deadlines in the ASG calendar as advertised by PUAN office on this blog page as well as on Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network | Facebook page. 

Once applications are closed for each grant cycle, proposals are reviewed by the National Committee to ensure a fair, competent and objective assessment of their merit. The entire process of review and decision take up to two months from the application submission deadline.

Once the application submission deadline has passed, the next two months are reserved for review, approval, and funds disbursement process. Maximum time duration to complete all activities, including submission of closing reports, is four months, starting from the approval of grant date.

Funds are disbursed in two installments; 70% of approved amount is released within two weeks of signing of Grant Award Document (GAD) and submission of Project Inception Report, while the remaining 30% is released after successful closure of the grant project.

Eligibility

  • Applicant must be an alumnus/alumna of the U.S. Government-funded exchange program
  • Applicant must be registered with the PUAN Alumni Portal. (To register visit (puan.pk/AlumniRegistration/)
  • Applicant must be 18 years or older

How to Apply

The applications for ASG program should be made through the online portal: puan.pk/AlumniRegistration/

A complete application package MUST include:

Guidelines

  • The video should not exceed 5MB in size
  • The maximum project execution period is four (4) months from the date of signing the Grant Award Document (GAD)
  • If any member is found resorting to fraudulent or coercive practices, their membership from the network will be suspended and due legal action will be taken

FAQs (click to download)

If you cannot find the answer using FAQs, contact us at asg@usefp.org. Our team is always happy to help discuss your project ideas or provide feedback during the application process.