Engaging the USG Alumni community to solve the "Gender Gap" | OSAKA PAS FY23 01 01

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Engaging the USG Alumni community to solve the 'Gender Gap'."

2) Which U.S. government entity is offering this funding competition?

This is a U.S. Department of State funding competition administered by the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe.

3) What is the main purpose of the opportunity?

The purpose is to build the capacity of U.S. government exchange program alumni in Japan by supporting alumni-driven projects and programs focused on addressing gender inequality, while strengthening alumni leadership skills and deepening professional networks that advance shared U.S. interests and values overseas.

4) What problem area is the program designed to address?

The notice focuses on Japan's "gender gap," including the underemployment of qualified women and the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles. It attributes these challenges to workplace bias and entrenched social norms.

5) What geographic areas are the focus of this opportunity?

The geographic focus is Japan's Kansai, Hokuriku, Shikoku, and Chugoku regions.

6) Who is expected to be involved in planning and implementing the activities?

Competitive proposals are expected to be planned and carried out in collaboration with U.S. government (USG) alumni in the target regions, with a clear emphasis on alumni-driven programming.

7) What type of projects does the Consulate appear to prefer?

The Consulate encourages proposals that emphasize network-building and sustained alumni engagement rather than one-off events, and that include structured opportunities for alumni to collaborate.

8) Are one-time events allowed?

The notice emphasizes sustained alumni engagement rather than one-off events, so proposals centered primarily on a single standalone activity may be less competitive compared to programs designed for ongoing engagement.

9) What kinds of activities are mentioned as good fits for this grant?

Examples described as typical components of strong proposals include learning and leadership development activities such as workshops, speaker series, mentoring, or project-based collaboration. The intent is for alumni to learn from experts and then apply that learning through practical alumni-led activities.

10) What does "alumni-driven" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the notice, "alumni-driven" programming centers USG exchange alumni as key partners and leaders in the design and implementation of activities, with the goal of translating their exchange experiences into real-world initiatives.

11) Is there an expected U.S.-Japan dimension to the programming?

Yes. A key feature of the desired programming is a comparative and cooperative U.S.-Japan dimension. Applicants are asked to highlight collaboration between the United States and Japan and include opportunities for alumni to engage both Japanese and American experts across sectors.

12) Which sectors or fields does the notice specifically reference for expert engagement?

The notice points to fields such as politics, economics, and education, and frames gender equality as a cross-cutting issue affecting leadership pipelines, workplace structures, public policy, and community norms.

13) How much funding is anticipated under this competition?

The opportunity anticipates a single award of up to $25,000.

14) How many awards are expected?

The notice indicates an anticipated single award.

15) What type of award mechanism will be used?

The funding instrument may be a grant or a cooperative agreement.

16) What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement for this opportunity?

The notice indicates that the Department of State may expect varying levels of involvement in program oversight depending on whether the selected mechanism is a grant or a cooperative agreement.

17) Is this a discretionary award?

Yes. The notice describes this as a discretionary award.

18) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.

19) What activity areas does this opportunity cover?

The notice lists activity areas including community development, education, employment and training, humanities/cultural affairs, and related public-interest domains.

20) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad, including individuals and other applicant types as specified in the additional eligibility guidance.

21) Does the opportunity require involvement from USG exchange program alumni specifically?

Yes. The competition is designed to build the capacity of USG exchange program alumni in Japan and expects competitive proposals to be developed and carried out in collaboration with USG alumni in the target regions.

22) What outcomes is the Consulate aiming for beyond gender equality programming?

Beyond locally grounded efforts to address gender inequality, the Consulate aims to strengthen alumni leadership skills, deepen professional networks, and reinforce the U.S.-Japan alliance through a more engaged, better connected alumni community.

23) What does the notice suggest about the preferred structure of programming?

The notice suggests programming that combines learning (for example, expert-led sessions) with practical application (for example, alumni-led projects), and that creates structured opportunities for alumni to collaborate and remain engaged over time.

24) When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on December 22, 2022.

25) What was the original closing date for submissions?

The original closing date was February 19, 2023.