Opportunity Information: Apply for 72061221RFA00003
Strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and Expanding Degree Opportunities (SSTEMEDO) is a USAID/Malawi grant opportunity issued as an addendum under the broader Higher Education for Leadership, Innovation, and Exchange (HELIX) Annual Program Statement, which sits within USAID's New Partnerships Initiative (NPI). In practical terms, the addendum is a targeted call meant to expand USAID/Malawi's higher education work by encouraging new, structured collaborations between Malawian higher education institutions and universities or colleges in the United States. The emphasis is on strengthening STEM education and widening access to degree opportunities, using international institutional partnerships as the main vehicle for change.
The opportunity is designed around the idea that higher education partnerships can produce long-lasting improvements in teaching, training, and workforce readiness, especially in STEM fields that are often central to national development goals. USAID frames this within its broader "Journey to Self-Reliance" approach, meaning the projects are expected to help Malawi build durable local capacity, generate sustainable and resilient results, and promote more effective partnering models that can continue beyond the life of USAID funding. Rather than focusing only on short-term trainings or one-off exchanges, the addendum signals interest in collaborations that can amplify impact across institutions and systems.
Applications are expected to begin with the submission of Concept Notes, which function as an initial screening step. Concept Notes submitted under this addendum must be led by U.S. higher education institutions, but the program clearly anticipates active collaboration with Malawian partners and also encourages involvement from relevant non-academic organizations when appropriate. That can include private sector entities, government bodies, NGOs, professional associations, or other institutions that can strengthen alignment with labor market needs, practical training opportunities, or national policy priorities. If a Concept Note is selected, the applicant may be invited to continue in the process toward a full application, at which point USAID may ultimately make awards.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, SSTEMEDO is offered by USAID/Malawi (USAID-Lilongwe) as a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial involvement by USAID during implementation, such as collaboration on planning, monitoring, and technical direction. The opportunity is categorized under Education, with CFDA number 98.001. The funding opportunity number is 72061221RFA00003. USAID anticipated making up to two awards, with a total award ceiling of $17,000,000, indicating relatively large, multi-institutional projects or initiatives with the scale to meaningfully influence degree programming and STEM capacity.
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with clarification to be found in the full eligibility section of the announcement, but the narrative makes one key requirement clear: U.S. HEIs must take the lead on Concept Notes submitted under this addendum. The notice was created on March 16, 2021, and originally closed on April 26, 2021. Overall, SSTEMEDO is best understood as a competitive mechanism to seed and grow Malawi-U.S. university partnerships that strengthen STEM education and expand degree pathways, while also advancing USAID's larger goal of building sustainable local capacity through innovative, high-impact partnerships.Apply for 72061221RFA00003
- The Agency for International Development, Malawi USAID-Lilongwe in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics & Expanding Degree Opportunities (SSTEMEDO)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 16, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 26, 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 $17,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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