Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 19 CA 006 SCA 03252019
The Undergraduate Scholarships for Afghan Students opportunity is a competitive funding announcement from the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, issued under the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs). It invites eligible organizations to apply to run a scholarship program that supports Afghan students, with a clear emphasis on serving women. The central aim is to make undergraduate degrees accessible through American-style, liberal arts, English language-based institutions, with the broader intention of building graduates who can contribute meaningfully to Afghanistan's workforce and act as positive agents of change after completing their studies.
The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expects active involvement and coordination with the recipient organization rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The planned project timeline includes a 60-month base period, with the possibility of two additional 12-month option periods. Each option year is intended to fund a new cohort of students, expanding the program's reach over time if funding and performance allow. Students supported in the base period are expected to begin their studies no later than the 2020-2021 academic year, aligning the scholarship pipeline with a near-term start date rather than an open-ended launch.
PAS indicates a strong preference for a traditional four-year undergraduate timeline, reflecting the standard duration of many American-style degree programs. At the same time, the announcement allows flexibility for applicants to propose up to five years of support when justified, specifically to include an optional pre-academic year followed by four years of degree study. That pre-academic component is framed as practical preparation for student success, including assessing academic readiness, providing remedial coursework when needed, and helping students acclimate to the host country environment and expectations. In effect, applicants can design a pathway that supports students who may have had uneven prior educational opportunities, while still keeping the end goal focused on completing an accredited undergraduate degree.
A key rationale behind the opportunity is the recognition that women in Afghanistan face persistent barriers to higher education. The announcement highlights several factors driving this gap, including limited access to secondary and higher education, financial constraints that make private education unattainable for many, cultural limitations that restrict participation, and security conditions that can make education unsafe or impractical. Against this backdrop, PAS positions the scholarship program as both an educational and civic investment, aiming to give recipients access to an environment that emphasizes critical thinking, leadership development, tolerance, and appreciation for diversity.
The opportunity also signals a preference for partner institutions that reflect contemporary, high-quality teaching and learning practices. PAS specifically notes interest in universities that use integrated and modern technology, updated texts, and effective teaching methods. This suggests the program is not only about paying tuition, but also about placing students in academic settings that mirror the style and learning outcomes commonly associated with American liberal arts education, including strong English language instruction and broader skills that transfer to professional and civic life.
In terms of geography, the scholarships are intended to support Afghan women pursuing American-style undergraduate education not only inside Afghanistan but also across several surrounding regions. Eligible study locations mentioned include Afghanistan, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Indian sub-continent, and the East Asia-Pacific region. This regional flexibility appears designed to help applicants identify safe, appropriate, and academically suitable host institutions that can deliver instruction in English and provide a liberal arts-oriented curriculum, while also accommodating practical considerations like security, accessibility, and institutional capacity.
Administratively, the funding opportunity is identified as SCAKAB 19 CA 006 (SCA 03252019) under CFDA number 19.501. It was posted on March 26, 2019, with an original application deadline of May 23, 2019. The award ceiling is listed at $4,000,000, and the agency anticipated making up to four awards, indicating a plan to fund multiple implementing organizations or program models rather than a single nationwide effort. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," implying that applicants should consult the full eligibility language in the complete announcement, but the intent is clearly to attract organizations capable of recruiting and supporting Afghan scholars, coordinating placements with appropriate universities, and managing multi-year scholarship administration and student support services.Apply for SCAKAB 19 CA 006 SCA 03252019
- The Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Undergraduate Scholarships for Afghan Students" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 26, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 2019. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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