Opportunity Information: Apply for FY2024VE003
The Collaborative Research Opportunities Program (CROP) in Agricultural STEM is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Venezuela, Venezuela Affairs Unit or VAU) Public Diplomacy funding opportunity designed to strengthen research capacity inside Venezuelan universities while building durable partnerships with U.S. higher education institutions. The program is framed as a higher-education engagement initiative that uses agricultural STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math as applied to agriculture and related fields) as the common platform for collaboration. The central idea is that if Venezuelan universities improve their ability to conduct and manage research to international standards, and if they nurture a campus-wide culture that supports research, they will be better positioned to form comprehensive, long-term institutional partnerships with U.S. counterparts and contribute more directly to Venezuela's national development goals.
This opportunity anticipates funding a single award, with up to $200,000 total available, for a performance period of up to 18 months. The expected start date is August 1, 2024, and the award is issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning the VAU will likely remain actively involved in key elements of implementation (such as participant selection, coordination, and program direction) compared to a more hands-off grant. Funding is provided through Public Diplomacy (Smith-Mundt) funds under CFDA 19.040, and the notice is explicitly subject to the availability of funds.
Eligible applicants are U.S. public or private institutes of higher education with academic programs in agricultural STEM fields. Consortia applications are allowed, and the notice signals that proposals featuring a broad group of U.S. HEIs and strong, creative networking approaches will be prioritized. Applications were due February 29, 2024, and proposals were to be submitted by email to VAUPublicEngagement@fan.gov. The VAU indicates it will identify the target audience and beneficiaries, and recruitment and selection of participants will be conducted jointly by the grantee and the VAU, with flexibility to adjust participant numbers based on local conditions and budget.
Program activities are structured around three main deliverables. First, the grantee is expected to run online capacity-building sessions for approximately 25 Venezuelan university faculty and staff (academics and administrators) who are living and working in Venezuela. These trainings should focus on practical research methodologies, grant application development, and research compliance, with a strong emphasis on establishing research methods and administrative processes that align with international standards. The NOFO also encourages additional content areas such as market-based research, private-sector integration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, defining the characteristics of a productive research environment, and strategies to build undergraduate student research capacity. Importantly, the curriculum should go beyond technical skills and address how to foster a sustainable "culture of research" at the institutional level, including leadership support and strategic vision, professional development as a priority, key policies and steps to implement research culture reforms, and case studies of successful university research development initiatives.
Second, the program must include structured professional networking activities connecting Venezuelan participants with multiple U.S. HEI counterparts to catalyze collaborations and seed institutional partnerships in agricultural STEM. This is not meant to be casual networking; the notice emphasizes intentional design that helps participants form real professional connections and identify shared research priorities that can lead to ongoing joint projects. Proposals that bring in multiple U.S. institutions and use innovative online networking strategies are explicitly favored, signaling that the VAU wants a network-building model rather than a single one-to-one partnership.
Third, the grant should support a U.S. study tour to multiple U.S. HEIs for up to ten Venezuelan academics and administrators selected from the larger group participating in the online sessions. The purpose of the study tour is to deepen engagement through direct institutional exposure and targeted meetings that help define research priority areas and advance concrete partnership opportunities. While Spanish language capacity is not required, proposals that include key staff who can operate bilingually in Spanish and English are prioritized, suggesting that language support is viewed as an advantage for program quality and participant engagement.
Overall, the CROP in Agricultural STEM is best understood as a capacity-building and partnership-formation program rather than a pure research grant. It is aimed at strengthening Venezuelan universities' ability to conduct, administer, and sustain high-quality research, while simultaneously creating pathways for U.S.-Venezuela university collaborations in agricultural STEM. The expected outputs are trained cohorts of Venezuelan faculty and administrators, practical tools and shared standards for research methods and compliance, expanded professional networks across institutions, and early-stage partnership concepts that can grow into longer-term joint research and academic initiatives.Apply for FY2024VE003
- The U.S. Mission to Venezuela in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Research Opportunities Program (CROP) in Agricultural STEM" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-29. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Collaborative Research Opportunities Program (CROP) in Agricultural STEM?
CROP in Agricultural STEM is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Venezuela, Venezuela Affairs Unit or VAU) Public Diplomacy funding opportunity designed to strengthen research capacity within Venezuelan universities while building durable partnerships with U.S. higher education institutions, using agricultural STEM as the platform for collaboration.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program aims to help Venezuelan universities improve their ability to conduct and manage research to international standards and to foster a campus-wide culture that supports research. By doing so, Venezuelan institutions are expected to be better positioned for long-term institutional partnerships with U.S. universities and to contribute more directly to Venezuela's national development goals.
Is this funding opportunity primarily a research grant?
No. The opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building and partnership-formation program rather than a pure research grant. The focus is on training, research administration and compliance, strengthening institutional research culture, and building networks that can lead to future collaborations.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Venezuela, Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU), under Public Diplomacy (Smith-Mundt) funds.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The notice lists CFDA 19.040.
How many awards are expected, and what is the funding amount?
The opportunity anticipates funding a single award with up to $200,000 total available.
What is the period of performance for the award?
The performance period can be up to 18 months.
What is the expected start date?
The expected start date is August 1, 2024.
What type of award will be issued?
The award is issued as a cooperative agreement. This indicates the VAU will likely remain actively involved in key elements of implementation (such as participant selection, coordination, and program direction) compared to a more hands-off grant.
Is the award guaranteed?
No. The notice is explicitly subject to the availability of funds.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are U.S. public or private institutes of higher education with academic programs in agricultural STEM fields.
Are consortium applications allowed?
Yes. Consortia applications are allowed.
What kinds of applications are prioritized?
The notice signals that proposals featuring a broad group of U.S. higher education institutions and strong, creative networking approaches will be prioritized. It also favors innovative online networking strategies and engagement with multiple U.S. institutions rather than a single one-to-one partnership model.
When were applications due?
Applications were due February 29, 2024.
How were applications submitted?
Proposals were to be submitted by email to VAUPublicEngagement@fan.gov.
Who are the intended participants/beneficiaries in Venezuela?
The VAU indicates it will identify the target audience and beneficiaries. The program activities described focus on Venezuelan university faculty and staff (academics and administrators) living and working in Venezuela.
How are participants recruited and selected?
Recruitment and selection of participants will be conducted jointly by the grantee and the VAU. The notice also notes flexibility to adjust participant numbers based on local conditions and budget.
What are the main required deliverables or activity components?
Program activities are structured around three main deliverables: (1) online capacity-building sessions for Venezuelan university faculty and staff, (2) structured professional networking connecting Venezuelan participants with multiple U.S. HEI counterparts, and (3) a U.S. study tour to multiple U.S. HEIs for a subset of participants.
What does the online capacity-building component involve?
The grantee is expected to run online capacity-building sessions for approximately 25 Venezuelan university faculty and staff (academics and administrators) who are living and working in Venezuela. The training should emphasize practical research methodologies, grant application development, and research compliance, with a strong focus on aligning methods and administrative processes with international standards.
How many Venezuelan participants are expected for the online sessions?
The online capacity-building sessions are described as serving approximately 25 Venezuelan university faculty and staff, with flexibility to adjust based on local conditions and budget.
What topics should the online trainings cover?
The notice specifies a focus on practical research methodologies, grant application development, and research compliance aligned to international standards. It also encourages additional content such as market-based research, private-sector integration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, defining the characteristics of a productive research environment, strategies to build undergraduate student research capacity, and institutional approaches that sustain a culture of research.
What does "culture of research" mean in the context of this program?
In this opportunity, building a "culture of research" goes beyond technical training. It includes institutional leadership support and strategic vision, making professional development a priority, identifying key policies and steps to implement reforms, and using case studies of successful university research development initiatives to drive sustainable change at the institutional level.
What is required for the networking component?
The program must include structured professional networking activities that connect Venezuelan participants with multiple U.S. higher education institution counterparts to catalyze collaborations and seed institutional partnerships in agricultural STEM. The notice emphasizes intentional design aimed at forming real professional connections and identifying shared research priorities that can lead to ongoing joint projects.
Is casual or informal networking enough to meet the requirement?
No. The notice explicitly indicates the networking is not meant to be casual and should be intentionally designed to support concrete professional connections and collaboration pathways.
What is the purpose of the U.S. study tour?
The study tour is intended to deepen engagement through direct exposure to multiple U.S. higher education institutions and targeted meetings that help define research priority areas and advance concrete partnership opportunities.
How many Venezuelan participants can take part in the U.S. study tour?
The grant should support a U.S. study tour for up to ten Venezuelan academics and administrators selected from the larger group participating in the online sessions.
Are study tour participants separate from the online training cohort?
The study tour participants are expected to be selected from the larger group who participate in the online capacity-building sessions.
Does the program require Spanish language capacity?
Spanish language capacity is not required. However, proposals that include key staff who can operate bilingually in Spanish and English are prioritized.
What kinds of outcomes are expected from the program?
The expected outputs include trained cohorts of Venezuelan faculty and administrators; practical tools and shared standards for research methods and compliance; expanded professional networks across institutions; and early-stage partnership concepts that can grow into longer-term joint research and academic initiatives in agricultural STEM.
Which institutions are expected to be involved on the U.S. side?
The applicant must be a U.S. institute of higher education with agricultural STEM academic programs. The notice favors proposals that involve a broad group of U.S. higher education institutions and that connect Venezuelan participants with multiple U.S. counterparts.
How involved will the VAU be during implementation?
Because the mechanism is a cooperative agreement, the VAU is expected to remain actively involved in key elements of implementation, such as participant selection, coordination, and program direction.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other
Next opportunity: Support for Developing the Blue Economy and Combatting Illegal Fishing in the Western Indian Ocean
Previous opportunity: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Intermediate Patient Population Expanded Access (U01 Clinical Trial Required)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for FY2024VE003
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (FY2024VE003) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY2023 Historic Preservation Fund - Semiquincentennial Grants Apply for P23AS00504 Funding Number: P23AS00504 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Request for Information (RFI) for Potential Partners for Planned Knowledge, Monitoring, Evidence, Learning, and Research Activity Apply for RFI 278 24 PRO KMELR Funding Number: RFI 278 24 PRO KMELR Agency: Jordan USAID-Amman Category: Other Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY2024 ABPP - Preservation Planning Grants Apply for P24AS00516 Funding Number: P24AS00516 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2024 Technology Integration (TI) Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0003249 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003249 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Other Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY2024 ABPP - Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Apply for P24AS00517 Funding Number: P24AS00517 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Semiconductor Market Research Apply for USAIDMEXICO RFI 2024 001 Funding Number: USAIDMEXICO RFI 2024 001 Agency: Mexico USAID-Mexico City Category: Other Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Education USA Advising Services Apply for DOS KAZ AST ECA 24 001 Funding Number: DOS KAZ AST ECA 24 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan Category: Other Funding Amount: $26,000 |
| Bolstering Security and Defense Apply for LUXEM PDS FY24 02 Funding Number: LUXEM PDS FY24 02 Agency: U.S. Mission to Luxembourg Category: Other Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| Accelerating STEM and Climate Ambitions Apply for LUXEM PDS FY24 01 Funding Number: LUXEM PDS FY24 01 Agency: U.S. Mission to Luxembourg Category: Other Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| Remembering our Shared History Apply for LUXEM PDS FY24 04 Funding Number: LUXEM PDS FY24 04 Agency: U.S. Mission to Luxembourg Category: Other Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Apply for LUXEM PDS FY24 03 Funding Number: LUXEM PDS FY24 03 Agency: U.S. Mission to Luxembourg Category: Other Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| Engaging Students in English Apply for LUXEM PDS FY24 05 Funding Number: LUXEM PDS FY24 05 Agency: U.S. Mission to Luxembourg Category: Other Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| Democracy Commission Program, Round 1 FY2024 Apply for TIRDEMCOMMR1FY24 Funding Number: TIRDEMCOMMR1FY24 Agency: U.S. Mission to Albania Category: Other Funding Amount: $24,000 |
| LOCALLY LED DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT Apply for 7200AA19APS00007 23 Funding Number: 7200AA19APS00007 23 Agency: Jordan USAID-Amman Category: Other Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Democracy Commission Small Grants Program Apply for STATE BISHKEK PDS 24 0003 Funding Number: STATE BISHKEK PDS 24 0003 Agency: U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan Category: Other Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| FY2023 Historic Preservation Fund - Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program Apply for P23AS00515 Funding Number: P23AS00515 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Local Partner and Sub-Partner Outreach Apply for RFI 2024 003 Funding Number: RFI 2024 003 Agency: Mexico USAID-Mexico City Category: Other Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| FY2024 ABPP - Battlefield Restoration Grants Apply for P24AS00519 Funding Number: P24AS00519 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Healing & Accountability through Human Rights Apply for 72012124RFA00024 Funding Number: 72012124RFA00024 Agency: Ukraine USAID-Kiev Category: Other Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
| FY2024 - Historic Preservation Fund- Annual Tribal Historic Preservation Office Grants Apply for P24AS00507 Funding Number: P24AS00507 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: $200,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "FY2024VE003", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.