TechGirls Program

Overview

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges (CE), Youth
Programs Division announces an open competition for the FY 2023 TechGirls program. Launched in 2012, the TechGirls program is an intensive, educational youth exchange program that directly supports development in the field of technology by equipping young women from the United States and all world regions with the knowledge and professional/technical skills to pursue higher education and careers in STEM, contribute to their home economies, and build and sustain networks and connections in STEM fields. The program includes one four-week, U.S.-based exchange focused on the in-depth exploration of applied technology and STEM topics to be conducted in summer 2024 for a total of approximately 111 foreign young women (ages 15-17) from select countries in the six world regions, and approximately 20-25 competitively selected American peers.

The goals of the program are to:

1. Provide a program for in-depth exploration applied technology for young women (ages 15-17) who already have a demonstrated aptitude and strong interest in STEM.
2. Empower and encourage participants to pursue higher education and careers in STEM fields.
3. Build participants’ understanding of technology’s integral relationship with the professional world.
4. Develop participants’ technical skills in current technologies that are relevant and adaptable to the participants’ home countries.
5. Connect and support the next generation of women who share interests and abilities.
6. Promote problem-solving and critical thinking.
7. Build participants’ self-confidence.
8. Equip participants with leadership skills to influence positive change in their communities.
9. Encourage and support the development of meaningful cross-regional relationships and friendships.
10. Foster connections and deepen trust and mutual understanding among the youth of the United States and participating countries around the world, creating greater potential for future collaboration and networks between Americans and overseas counterparts.

Eligible Countries:

The Bureau anticipates that the TechGirls participants will be competitively
recruited and selected from the following regions/countries and territories (approximately 3
participants per country/territory):

• Sub-Saharan Africa (AF) – Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia
• East Asia and Pacific (EAP) – Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Vietnam
• Europe and Eurasia (EUR) – Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Türkiye
• Middle East and North Africa (NEA) – Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, and Tunisia
• South and Central Asia (SCA) – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
• Western Hemisphere (WHA) – Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Suriname

Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. Apply to ASU's internal limited submission competition on InfoReady. 

• Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. 
• Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2023 base year funding amount - $1,660,000; FY 2024 NCC year one funding amount - $1,660,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds; FY 2025 NCC year two funding amount - $1,660,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.
• Approximate Total Funding: $4,980,000. This figure represents a base year plus two NCC years, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.
• Approximate Number of Awards: One.
• Approximate Average Award: $1,660,000, pending the availability of funds.
• Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2023.
• Anticipated Project Completion Date: March 31, 2027.