FY 2026 Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program

The Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program, administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), supports a dynamic two-way exchange focused on fostering economic prosperity through entrepreneurship, leadership development, and commercial engagement. The program is designed to build enduring relationships between emerging leaders from Tibetan communities in China, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and professionals in the United States. Named in honor of Tibetan filmmaker and Fulbright scholar Ngawang Choephel, the program has operated since 1997 and continues to reflect the U.S. government's commitment to cultural exchange, democratic values, and regional partnership-building in the Indo-Pacific. Under this funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0017864), the ECA seeks proposals for one or two cooperative agreements to design, manage, and implement the FY 2026 iteration of the Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program. The anticipated award ceiling is $750,000 if a single award is issued, or up to $325,000 for each of two awards. The total estimated funding for this cycle is $750,000, pending availability. Awards will support a performance period of 18 to 24 months, with a projected start date of September 1, 2026. The core component of the program is a U.S.-based exchange of at least four weeks, offering up to 25 non-U.S. fellows a suite of leadership and professional development activities, followed by a reciprocal two-week visit by up to 10 U.S. fellows to India, Nepal, or Bhutan. Program participants, or Fellows, will be selected through a merit-based process in collaboration with U.S. embassies in the region. Eligible non-U.S. fellows will be between 25 and 40 years of age, with a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in sectors related to entrepreneurship, small business development, tourism, workforce training, or innovation. U.S. fellows must be American citizens with demonstrated expertise relevant to program goals and a willingness to engage directly with their international counterparts during the U.S.-based exchange. All applicants must be professionals able to work in a cross-cultural setting, demonstrate leadership potential, and commit to implementing a follow-on project in their home communities. ECA outlines detailed responsibilities for recipient organizations, including program design, orientation sessions, travel logistics, health and safety provisions, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) based on the MODE Framework, and development of a technology-enabled alumni engagement platform. Cultural programming must highlight American democratic values, economic systems, and counter narratives to state-driven economic coercion. Proposals must include contingency planning for alternative virtual formats in the event that international travel is not feasible. All participants must be enrolled in the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), and awardees must maintain accurate and timely reporting on finances and program outcomes through the MyGrants platform. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and public or private higher education institutions with at least four years of experience managing international exchange programs. Only one application per organization is allowed. There is no required cost-sharing percentage, although voluntary contributions are encouraged and must be tracked if offered. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and valid registration in SAM.gov. The application deadline is May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Required submission components include the SF-424 form, executive summary, proposal narrative, detailed line-item budget and justification, and other required forms as detailed in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI). Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria such as program relevance, planning, institutional capacity, cost-effectiveness, and adherence to the M&E framework. The ECA anticipates issuing notification and awards by September 1, 2026. Questions regarding this opportunity may be directed to Susannah Wood at [email protected] or (202) 957-8308.

Emphasize U.S. foreign policy alignment, MODE indicators, and regional engagement strategies; include alternate plans for virtual exchanges and clear follow-on projects.