Request for Grant Proposals

for
The 2022 U.S.-Andean Innovation Fund Grant Competition
Launch Date: Closing Date:
May 12, 2022 August 28, 2022

Partners of the Americas and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) at the U.S.
Department of State (DOS) and invite higher education institutions (HEIs) from the United States
to partner with regional higher education institutions in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia to
submit proposals for this U.S.-Andean 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund
grant competition.

This 100K Innovation Fund grants opportunity is supported through generous contributions from
CAF–Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), Colombia’s Ministry of Science, Technology
and Innovation (Minciencias), and the Department of State (WHA-DOS). It is designed to support
innovative partnerships between HEIs that will result in new models of inclusive student exchange
and training programs between the United States and Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

Background: The 100K Innovation Fund is the public-private sector partnership and collaboration
among WHA-DOS, U.S. Embassies, and Partners of the Americas, working with companies,
foundations, regional government entities, and academic networks throughout the United States,
Latin America, and the Caribbean.

o In nine years (2013-2022), the Innovation Fund has awarded 278 grants to teams of 534 HEIs
working across 25 countries and 49 U.S. states. Currently, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Peru,
Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, and Costa Rica are leading grant-recipient countries in this
hemisphere-wide education initiative to partner with HEIs in the United States to create and
implement innovative, inclusive student exchange and training programs. The 100K Network
thus far includes over 2,300 regional HEIs – with 1,250 in the United States – and growing.

o The goals of the 100K Innovation Fund align with DOS priorities to build institutional
capacity, increase access to inclusive education opportunities, stimulate economic prosperity,
and contribute to workforce development. 100K-funded partnerships between HEIs in the U.S.
and rest of the Western Hemisphere provide students with more opportunities to work in teams
at both their home and host institutions, solve real-world problems, and gain technical,
linguistic, and intercultural skills – imperative for their workforce readiness.

For this 100K Andean-U.S. focused competition: Teams of HEIs between the U.S. and
Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia are invited to partner to submit proposals that show how
they will use the 100K grant to design and carry-out inclusive student training programs both
virtually and in-person during 2022-2023. We encourage proposals focused on developing
exchange and training programs between a diversity of HEIs that will be inclusive of students and
faculty. Please see Section III: “Description of this Innovation Fund Grant Competition” for list of
eligible thematic areas and other proposal requirements.

1
The intent of this Innovation Fund competition is to award up to eighteen (18) grants – pending
the grant proposal review, evaluation, and selection process.
• Nine (9) awards of up to $34,034, for U.S.-Colombia programs
• Nine (9) awards of up to $36,100, for U.S.-Peru, Ecuador, and/or Bolivia programs

NOTE: WHA-DOS, U.S. Embassies, and Partners of the Americas, in coordination with CAF and
MinCiencias, reserve the right to fund any or none of the Innovation Fund grant proposals
submitted for consideration in this competition.

2
 Table of Contents
Section I: Donor-Partners in this Innovation Fund Grant Competition ................................ 1

Section II: Eligibility Information ............................................................................................... 1

Section III: Description of this Innovation Fund Grant Competition ..................................... 2

Section IV: Award Information ................................................................................................... 5

Section V: Proposal Format and Submission ............................................................................. 6

Section VI: Anticipated Grant Competition Timeline .............................................................. 7

Section VII: Innovation Fund Contact at Partners of the Americas ....................................... 7

1
Section I: Donor-Partners in this Innovation Fund Grant Competition
The mission of CAF - Development Bank of Latin America is to promote sustainable
development and regional integration by means of financing projects in the public and private
sectors, providing technical cooperation, and other specialized services. Created in 1970, it is made
up of 20 countries, 18 Latin American and Caribbean, together with Spain and Portugal, and 13
private banks, it is one of the main sources of multilateral financing and an important generator of
knowledge for the region. For more information, visit https://www.caf.com.

Colombia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Minciencias) is the body that
manages the public administration, leads the sector and the National Science, Technology and
Innovation System (SNCTI, for its acronym in Spanish). It is in charge of devising, guiding,
directing, coordinating, executing, implementing and monitoring the State's policy on this matter,
in accordance with development plans and programs. As a public agency, it seeks to coordinate
the different actors in the system through knowledge generation and transfer, innovation, social
appropriation, and the vocational education of children and young people, together with top-level
training in science, technology and innovation. It also works to reinforce partnerships between
international strategic players to achieve its mission objectives and disseminate knowledge on the
global stage. For more information, visit https://minciencias.gov.co/

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) at the U.S. Department of State (DOS)
supports and manages the 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund in
collaboration with Partners of the Americas and U.S. Embassies. Since 2013, the commitments
from WHA/DOS in this hemispheric-wide education initiative have ensured a dynamic public-
private sector cooperation between DOS, U.S. embassies, NGOs, regional companies,
foundations, and government entities, and higher education networks throughout the United States,
Latin America, and the Caribbean. 100K-branded partnerships and programs align with regional
policy goals of inclusive education opportunities, exchanges, and economic prosperity.

Section II: Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) located and legally registered in the United States,
Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia are eligible to apply for the 2022 U.S.-Andean Innovation
Fund Grant Competition.

The Innovation Fund seeks the broadest diversity of institutions to compete for 100K grants to
create and implement new models of student academic exchange and training programs that will
have the greatest possibility of replication throughout the U.S. and rest of the Western Hemisphere.
As such, HEIs, including two-year and four-year degree-issuing institutions (public & private),
colleges, community colleges, technical/vocational schools, and other post-secondary institutions
with credit-bearing programs, are eligible to apply.

B. Eligible Partnerships

1
Grant proposals must include a team of at least one higher education institution in the U.S.
and one higher education institution in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, or Bolivia. Proposals can
involve new institutional partnerships or build on existing partnerships.

IMPORTANT: Proposals cannot include HEIs from Colombia with Peru, Ecuador or Bolivia.
Rather, proposals can only include HEI partnerships between the United States and Colombia or
between the United States and Peru, Ecuador, and/or Bolivia.

U.S.-Peru, Ecuador,
U.S.-Colombia or
and/or Bolivia

At least 1 U.S. HEI At least 1 U.S. HEI

At least 1 Peruvian/
At least 1 Ecuadorian/
Colombian HEI Bolivian HEI

C. Additional Considerations

Proposals must demonstrate strong institutional support from all parties involved – as well as from
potential local partner organizations – and should focus on creating innovative, inclusive student
training and academic exchange programs among proposed partner institutions. In order to
increase the diversity of participating institutions, the Review Committee reserves the right to give
preference to institutions that have not previously received 100K grants. However, all HEIs in the
United States and Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia (including previous 100K-grant
recipients) are encouraged to submit proposals for consideration.

Section III: Description of this Innovation Fund Grant Competition

A. Thematic Requirements

The purpose of the 2022 U.S.-Andean Innovation Fund Grant Competition is to provide funding
to increase partnerships and inclusive student training and exchange programs between HEIs in
the U.S. and Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia in various eligible academic areas.

Requirements and important notes:

• Geographic eligibility is divided into two groups. Proposals must include partnerships
between HEIs in the U.S. and Colombia or between the U.S. and Peru, Ecuador, and/or
Bolivia. Proposals must clearly indicate in which countries the intended 100K program
activities would be implemented.

2
 • The academic areas and grant amounts available vary for the two different sets of eligible
countries. Proposed 100K programs must include one or more of the eligible thematic areas
for the selected country of implementation.

Specific academic disciplines are flexible as long as they can be justified in the proposal. For
questions, please contact 100kstrongamericas@partners.net.

ELIGIBLE PROGRAM AREAS

U.S.-Colombia
• Sustainable Energy
• Convergent Technologies – Industry 4.0
• Biotechnology, Environment, Bio-economics
• Oceanography and Hydrobiology
• Social Sciences and human development with a
focus on equity
• Life and Health Sciences
• Basic and Space Sciences
• Creative and Cultural Industries
See attached for description of the Misión
Internacional de Sabios.
• Environment and Climate Solutions
• Public Health - Responses to impact/needs related
to major public health issues, such as the (COVID-
19) pandemic and other public health challenges,
particularly in rural communities.
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
(STEM)
• Human Rights and Public Policy
• Education Technology - Use of digital technology
for academic exchanges, advancement, and
empowerment of student learning.
• Food and Agricultural Sciences
• Economic Development
U.S.-Peru/Ecuador/Bolivia
• Green Economy
• Environment, Climate Action, and
Energy Transition
• Digital Transformation
• Gender, Inclusion & Diversity
• Regional Integration
• Public Health: Responses to
impact/needs related to major public
health issues, such as the (COVID-19)
pandemic and other public health
challenges, particularly in rural
communities.
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
(WASH)
• Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math (STEM)
• Human Rights and Public Policy
• Education Technology: Use of digital
technology for academic exchanges;
empowerment of student learning.
• Food and Agricultural Sciences
• Economic Development

B. Proposal Timeframe (Grant Period)

All proposed activities, including planning and implementation, should take place during between
February 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024. Proposals may include information on activities that have
occurred prior to this period that provide background or lay the groundwork for the proposed
partnership/program. Proposals may also include projected activities beyond these dates, such as
additional student exchanges to demonstrate sustainability and continuation of the 100K program
beyond the grant period.

3
C. Program Design & Components
1. Academic Credit
Students must receive some level of credit from their home institution during, or as a
result, of the proposed 100K exchange program.

2. Student Recruitment, Mobility & Activities

Proposed programs must include student mobility (bi-directional not required, but
preferred) between the U.S. and Colombia or between the U.S. and Peru, Ecuador, and/or
Bolivia. Proposals should include activities that enhance student academic learning
through practical training, such as engagement through field-based activities, service-
learning, or other methods that will enhance course work.

Special consideration will be given to proposals focused on programs that benefit

underserved, non-traditional, and/or diverse student populations. Proposed programs that
target underrepresented student populations should provide a recruitment strategy/plan for
engaging and including diverse groups of students.

a. Colombia: Proposals should include the mobility of at least one (1) U.S. student and a
minimum of four (4) Colombian students. Note: A student is not permitted to participate
in more than one grant proposal.

b. Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia: There is no minimum number of students required to

travel in programs to/from these countries.

3. Education Technology and Virtual/Distance Education

Proposals may include virtual activities to support in-person mobility programming and
sending and/or hosting students and faculty between the partnering institutions during the
grant period. Virtual activities should enhance or complement, not replace, in-person
training and exchange components. Consider practices and strategies to using
technology/virtual platforms to enhance traditional academic exchange programs and
improve education equality, such as the incorporation of Collaborative Online International
Learning (COIL).

4. Effective Practices & Strategies to Student Exchanges

The Innovation Fund encourages proposals that include effective practices and strategies
discussed at 100K workshops and webinars, as well as at regional higher education
conferences (i.e., NAFSA, CCID, HACU, FAUBAI, AIEA, EducationUSA, Forum on
Education Abroad, among others). Related topics may include credit transfer, community
engagement, entrepreneurship, language training, local private sector support/engagement,
program assessment, student recruitment, and technical skills training.

D. Other Requirements & Considerations

1. Sustainability

4
 Proposals should also highlight how a grant from the Innovation Fund would impact the
partnering institutions’ ability to secure additional resources from other sources to sustain
the proposed exchange and training programs between the U.S. and the eligible countries
beyond the grant period.

2. Carbon Offsets
It is encouraged, but not required, that HEI applicants commit to offsetting carbon1 produced
by flights involved in the proposed program, using a reputable provider of carbon offset
services. MyClimate is one provider of carbon offsets which makes it very easy to determine
the carbon cost of any given flight2 and offers a number of options to invest in carbon savings
in communities in Latin America. Proposals that contain a commitment to offset the carbon
produced by flights during the program will be viewed favorably in the review process.

E. Expected Results
Higher education institutions that are successful in implementing Innovation Fund grants will:
• Provide new exchange/training opportunities for students in the U.S. and the Andean
region;
• Increase numbers of students working in teams to gain skills in the U.S. and Andean region;
• Create/strengthen HEI partnerships through bilateral academic exchange programs; and
• Engage/collaborate with the Innovation Fund during and after the grant period to share
lessons learned, effective practices, and new models of academic mobility and training
programs.

Section IV: Award Information

A. Awards Available
The intent of the 2022 U.S.-Andean Innovation Fund Grant Competition is to award up to eighteen
(18) Innovation Fund grants, pending the proposal evaluation and selection process.
• 9 awards of up to $34,034 to U.S.-Colombia programs, and
• 9 awards of up to $36,100 to U.S.-Peru, Ecuador, and/or Bolivia programs

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Partners of the
Americas, U.S. Embassies, Minciencias, and CAF reserve the right to fund any or none of the grant
proposals submitted for consideration in this competition.

B. Notification of Award Recipients

Partners of the Americas will notify applicants of the status of their proposal by late November
2022. Please note that this date is subject to change and we will notify applicants, as necessary.

C. Award Period of Performance

1
How Carbon Offsets Work: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/carbon-offset.htm.
2
https://co2.myclimate.org/en/flight_calculators/new

5
Following the award notification, Partners of the Americas will contact grant-winning teams with
next steps and information to formalize the award and receive the funds. The grant period will be
from February 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024, with the possibility of extensions pending analysis of the
100K program at the time of the request and in coordination with Partners of the Americas.

D. Innovation Fund Award Responsibilities

1. Innovation Fund Staff at Partners of the Americas
Partners of the Americas, based in Washington, D.C., will work in close coordination with Award
Recipients in the following areas:
• Technical support of grant activities and oversight of award terms/contract;
• Review of the recipient’s progress reports;
• Approval of changes in grant budget, personnel, timeline, and activities;
• Request for additional information on grant activities and student/faculty engagement;
• Facilitation of communications between recipients and WHA/DOS, sponsors, and where
appropriate, U.S. Embassies; and
• Outreach regarding sharing of lessons learned from program implementation and
participation at visibility events and conferences, among others

2. HEI Award Recipients

Award recipients will be responsible for sharing information on a regular basis with the Innovation
Fund staff on program activities through report mechanisms provided by Partners of the Americas.
Project reports will provide:
• Progress on program goals and objectives, including the development of grant activities
and student and faculty travel;
• Successes, challenges, and lessons learned in program implementation and evaluation;
• Testimonials on how the grant benefits/impacts students and institutions; and
• Program expenditures and cost-sharing.

Section V: Proposal Format and Submission

A. Proposal Format
Proposals must utilize 12-pt Times New Roman font, single-spaced, typed in standard 8 ½” x 11”
paper with one-inch margins, and each page numbered consecutively. Keep in mind the page
limitations and document types for each section of the proposal as listed below. Any additional
pages that exceed the page limitations will not be reviewed by the Review Committee.

All proposal components below must be submitted in English.

• Proposal Narrative in PDF
o Cover Page (1 page)
o Table of Contents (1 page)
o Technical Narrative (10 pages max)
• Budget (5 pages max)

6
 o Summary in Excel format
o Narrative in Word/PDF format
• Supporting Documents in PDF (no total page limit)
o Letters of Support
o Bios/Résumés of Project Team (1-2 pages per person)
o Additional materials

Note that Applicants will be required to upload each of the three sections above separately in the
Application Portal. For a detailed description of the proposal format and requirements,
including the evaluation criteria, visit www.100kstrongamericas.org/app-format/.

B. Online Submission Process

Proposals must be submitted online through the Application Portal found on the 100,000 Strong
in the Americas website (www.100kstrongamericas.org/application-portal/) by the deadline
indicated on the cover page of this RFP. Proposals that are received late or are incomplete will not
be considered in the review process. No proposals will be accepted via email unless otherwise
instructed by Partners of the Americas.

Applicants seeking information or clarification about this competition should complete the online
form at www.100kstrongamericas.org/questions. For a comprehensive list of questions received
from applicants of previous grant competitions, please visit www.100kstrongamericas.org/100k-
competition-faqs.

Section VI: Anticipated Grant Competition Timeline

ACTIVITY TIME PERIOD*
Launch of 100K Grant Competition May 12, 2022
Close of 100K Grant Competition August 28, 2022
Proposal Evaluation & Selection Process August 29 – November 2022
Notification of Status of Proposal Late November 2022
Award of Grant Funds to Winners Late November 2022 – February 2023
Period of Performance for 100K Grants February 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
*Dates are subject to change.

Section VII: Innovation Fund Contact at Partners of the Americas

Questions about this RFP must be submitted by completing the online form at
www.100kstrongamericas.org/questions. No phone calls please.

7
 Summary of the “Misión Internacional de Sabios”

In 2019, the current national government, under the leadership of President Iván Duque,
and the Vice President of the Republic, Marta Lucia Ramírez, convened 47 national and
international experts, with the aim of contributing to the construction and implementation
of the public policy regarding education, science, technology, and innovation, and to
propose strategies to respond to productive and social challenges in a scalable,
replicable, and sustainable manner.

This mission was made up of 47 experts belonging to all areas of expertise and taking
into account the current circumstances of the world and the country, they made some
recommendations so that, from now through the year 2031, Colombia can become a
leader in transcendental issues for the advancement of science, technology, and
innovation. The text created by the experts, entitled "Colombia: Towards a Society of
Knowledge", speaks of three grand challenges, five emblematic missions, and eight
thematic foci.

For the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the recommendations of the
“Misión Internacional de Sabios” have been the basis for establishing the national policy
for science, technology, and innovation, and for creating the open opportunities so that
all Colombians can access scientific resources in order to advance in the process of
becoming a knowledgeable society.

The 3 Grand Challenges:

• BIODIVERSE COLOMBIA, which refers to a model of economic sustainability based
on the natural and cultural diversity of the country.
• PRODUCTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COLOMBIA, which seeks to modify the
productive structure of the country towards industries and services with high
technological content and circular economic businesses, and
• EQUITABLE COLOMBIA, which seeks to confront the problems of exclusion and
social inequality.

The 5 Emblematic Missions:

1. Diverse Colombia, bioeconomy, and creative economy
2. Water and climate change
3. Colombia towards a new productive, sustainable, and competitive model
4. Knowledge and innovation for equity
5. Quality education for growth, equity, and human development
The 8 thematic foci and their recommendations:

• CONVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES – INDUSTRY 4.0

The focus of Convergent Technologies – nano, info and cogno – and Industry 4.0,
proposes the steps to become a highly competitive country, achieving Digital
Transformation in Industry 4.0.

Recommendations
1. Integrate small and medium-sized businesses into the dynamics of the fourth
industrial revolution.
2. Digitally transform the State.
3. Promote new technology-based business models based on research,
development, and innovation processes.

• SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
The focus on sustainable energy seeks to ensure the supply of sustainable energy with
the help of technological development, in favor of energy efficiency and the use of
renewable energies.

Recommendations
1. Advance the development, appropriation, and scaling of innovative technologies
in the generation, transformation, and use of energy.
2. Entrust studies and carry out technological surveillance in all candidate
technologies to make up the country's energy resources.
3. Integrate small and medium-sized businesses in the fourth industrial revolution.

• BIOTECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND BIOECONOMY

The focus on biotechnology, bioeconomy and environment recognizes strategic areas to
promote knowledge, conservation, and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Recommendations
1. Promote and manage in a sustainable manner renewable natural resources,
guaranteeing its sustainable use, reducing pressure on the environment, and
conserving biodiversity.
2. Accelerate the advancement of bio-inventions for the different markets of
interest, guaranteeing adequate attention to environmental and health concerns.
 3. Generate financing strategies and establish incentives for private sector
investment.

• OCEANS AND HYDROBIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

This focus raises the possibility that Colombia could be a power in the use, care, and
conservation of water and maritime sources.

Recommendations
1. Establish policies for open science with data obtained from research excursions.
2. Promote training in marine sciences and hydrobiological resources at the
primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
3. Explore marine biodiversity and develop biotechnological opportunities.

• SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT WITH EQUITY

The focus of Social Sciences and Human Development seeks to advance in challenges
of equity, competitiveness, and education.

Recommendations
1. Solve educational problems related to access, quality, and relevance.
2. Improve the standards of competitiveness of the population, as well as
guarantee a quality education that is reflected in innovative dynamics.
3. Generate post-conflict care environments.

• LIFE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

The Life and Health Sciences focus recognizes science, technology, and innovation as a
tool that contributes to the well-being of society.

Recommendations
1. Strengthen the network of labs for tropical diseases.
2. Design, develop, or promote models of pharmaceutical innovations.
3. Develop skills in professionals and scientists.
• BASIC AND SPACE SCIENCES

The focus on basic and space sciences proposes recommendations to understand the
phenomena associated with nature, its laws, and interactions through various applied
disciplines.

Recommendations
1. Promote space sciences and the acquisition of a satellite or a constellation to
conduct observations of the Earth.
2. Consolidate a science diplomacy program, research, doctoral scholarships, and
international mobility.
3. Promote educational strategies that lead to greater equity, increase the quality of
education in basic sciences, and generate synergy between education and
research.

• CREATIVE AND CULTURAL INDUSTRIES

The Creative and Cultural Industries focus strengthens the artistic and cultural
ecosystem, so that Colombia becomes a society where research-creation plays a leading
role in the generation of knowledge.

Recommendations
1. Develop mechanisms aimed at promoting the dialogue of knowledge.
2. Lead articulation with the Ministries of Culture, Education, and Information &
Communication Technologies in public policies for the production of knowledge
in the country.
3. Integrate research-creation into science, technology, and innovation activities
through the dissemination and social appropriation of knowledge.

It is through these acts and as a team that we serve Colombia!

We continue to forge a country of Science for All.

We are Minciencias.