Description
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is seeking proposals for a cooperative agreement to design, administer, and implement the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program. The program aims to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities by promoting cross-cultural competence, global perspective, and American values among young leaders in the Middle East and North Africa. The program will use virtual exchange formats to reach approximately 8,000 participants annually. Key aspects of the program include:
* Promoting cultural exchanges and enhancing understanding between participants and their host communities
* Providing opportunities for participants to engage with other cultures and develop digital storytelling projects
* Challenging participants to apply American ingenuity to practical solutions that promote economic opportunity and regional stability
* Strengthening ties between the United States and key partners in the Middle East
* Advancing America's vision of a secure, prosperous, and interconnected region
Some of the key performance indicators for this program include:
* Percent of participants reporting that their program experience offered opportunities to engage with other cultures
* Percent of participants with more favorable opinions of the United States government
* Percent of participants who traveled abroad for the first time because of their program
* Percent of foreign participants who traveled to the United States for the first time during their program
* Percent of participants indicating a change in their understanding of their host country's culture and values