FY 2021 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (Stevens Initiative)

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The J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (Stevens Initiative), developed in partnership with the Stevens Family Foundation is a multilateral public-private partnership that will strengthen engagement between young people in the Middle East and North Africa (NEA) and in the United States as a lasting tribute to the legacy of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. The Stevens Initiative will use technology and online tools to facilitate educational exchanges between the United States and the Middle East and North Africa. Through intensive, structured online engagements between youth at various education levels, the Initiative will increase mutual understanding and equip more than one million youth with the skills and aptitudes they need to succeed in the 21st century. Launched in 2015, ECA’s Stevens Initiative has implemented over 63 projects involving nearly 70,000 participants in 17 NEA countries and the Palestinian Territories. It has also included participants from 47 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, D.C., and one tribal community. A Managing Partner is being sought to manage and coordinate all aspects of the Initiative. ECA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement for $5,000,000 to support the implementation of the Initiative. With ECA’s funds, the award recipient will develop transparent, merit-based subaward competitions for U.S. and NEA-based organizations to administer virtual and blended (virtual and physical) exchange projects between youth in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa as well as coordinate and report on all activities under the Stevens Initiative brand. The award recipient will also facilitate on-going collaboration among the Stevens Initiative partners and conduct research and evaluations of activities undertaken by the Stevens Initiative. The award recipient will not directly implement exchanges. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

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