Fueling AI Innovation and Adoption

The Fueling AI Innovation and Adoption (FAIIA) program is a cooperative funding initiative led by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. As part of the Department’s foreign assistance strategy, FAIIA is designed to promote the U.S. approach to artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, regulation, and adoption across partner nations. This initiative is rooted in a broader geopolitical goal: to enhance U.S. technology leadership globally while countering authoritarian influences, particularly China’s expanding footprint in AI and digital governance. FAIIA’s funding originates from FY24 Economic Support Funds under the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, with a total of $4 million available for one award. The performance period is anticipated to begin in May 2026 and last up to 36 months. FAIIA targets foundational barriers to AI development in partner countries. The program operates globally and supports nations in developing the institutional, technical, and workforce infrastructure needed to become AI-ready. The core objectives are threefold: first, to assist nations in designing national AI strategies aligned with U.S. standards and frameworks; second, to foster environments conducive to AI investment and governance through technical, legal, and regulatory support; and third, to build local capacity through workforce development programs, enabling officials and experts to manage AI projects independently. Ultimately, these interventions are intended to support the adoption of American AI technologies while discouraging dependency on adversarial systems. Eligibility for FAIIA is restricted to U.S.-based organizations, including nonprofits, think tanks, civil society groups, and for-profit entities. Applicants must demonstrate deep technical and policy expertise in AI, and preference will be given to those with regional experience in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Island Countries. While cost sharing is not a requirement and does not affect competitiveness, applicants must possess or be able to develop partnerships with a diverse array of stakeholders, such as policy research bodies, AI vendors, and training institutions. Given the program’s complexity, consortium applications are strongly encouraged. The application process requires submission of a detailed project proposal using the FAIIA Project Proposal Template. Required components include an executive summary, project narrative, logic model, risk analysis, sustainability plan, detailed budget, and supporting documents such as resumes of key personnel and letters of support. Budget justification must align with OMB cost categories and include both narrative and line-item breakdowns. Applicants must also register in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) prior to submission. Proposals will be reviewed by a panel based on five primary criteria: quality of project design (20 points), organizational capacity (30 points), ability to achieve objectives (30 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (5 points), budget and cost effectiveness (10 points), and sustainability (5 points). Preference may be given in the event of tie scores to applicants with lower indirect cost rates. Substantial involvement by the Department of State is expected, and the recipient must report quarterly using defined performance indicators. The deadline for applications is May 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov or MyGrants. The project is not rolling or recurring annually, and only one proposal may be submitted per organization. For inquiries, applicants may contact [email protected]. Applicants should prepare early, as the SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Selected recipients will be notified within 60 days after the application deadline, and awards will be managed via the Department of Health and Human Services' Payment Management System.

Clearly define problem and outcomes; ensure feasibility; sustainability plan required; consortiums encouraged for broad impact.