Grants / Department of State / U.S. Mission to Zambia

PDS-LUSAKA-EDUSA-FY26: EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program 2026

Closed Closed July 10, 2026 Opportunity PDS-LUSAKA-EDUSA-FY26 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of U.S. Mission to Zambia notices from 2026.

• Award ceiling$28,000
• Award floor$10,000
• Total funding$28,000
• Expected awards1
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations. Public and private educational institutions. Must be able to submit documentation verifying eligibility, including: Proof of legal registration and physical presence in Zambia, organizational chart showing key personnel letters of reference and past performance documentation. Organizations with a track record managing U.S or international grants are encouraged to apply.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs Appropriation Overseas Grants awards averaged $17,021; this notice allows up to $28,000 per award.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

EducationUSA connects academically gifted Zambian students with opportunities at U.S. universities and colleges. The Opportunity Funds support the students with costs related to U.S. college applications such as application fees, standardized testing fees, visa fees, and travel expenses. This program enables economically disadvantaged students to complete applications to pursue enrollment at U.S.-accredited institutions. Recruitment and selection will rigorously prioritize merit-based criteria, with particular emphasis on candidates pursuing degrees in STEM, AI, cybersecurity, data science, and other critical and emerging fields central to U.S. innovation leadership. Selection criteria will include demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and articulated career goals in high-priority fields, assessed through a structured rubric developed by the Embassy's Education Outreach Coordinator to ensure the cohort reflects U.S. strategic priorities while remaining accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. By facilitating international enrollment, the program advances U.S. economic prosperity — fee-paying students generate revenue for American institutions, support domestic job creation, and strengthen U.S. global competitiveness; select participants return home to fill critical skill gaps to build Zambia's economy and create markets for U.S. investment. Beyond economics, the program serves key U.S. strategic and national security interests by cultivating a generation of American-educated Zambian leaders, scientists, and professionals, building durable institutional ties and reducing the influence of strategic competitors like China and Russia among Zambia's youth. Taken together, EducationUSA strengthens the bilateral relationship between the United States and Zambia through shared academic and professional experience, advancing mutual understanding and long-term partnership. Successful students will be enrolled into the EducationUSA alumni program, offering long term partnership with future students and the U.S. Embassy. The program will track enrollment rates in STEM and other Administration-priority fields, alumni career outcomes, and retention in EducationUSA and Embassy engagement networks post-graduation. The grantee will not be involved in the selection and recruitment of Opportunity Fund students. The grantee will assist the U.S.

Category: Education.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.