2022 Reciprocal Exchange Component Application

Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is the difference between a hybrid and a virtual Reciprocal Exchange?

Hybrid Reciprocal Exchange projects aim to conduct in-person activities in the Fellowship Alumni Collaborator’s community with the U.S. professional participating virtually via Zoom or another platform.  Virtual Reciprocal Exchange projects take place entirely on a virtual platform such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.  There should be no in-person activities.  Virtual projects are ideal for implementation in African countries with a high level of risk for in-person activities, or for activities that are easily conducted virtually.

Eligibility

What are the eligibility requirements for the Fellowship Alumni Collaborator?

Fellowship Alumni Collaborators must be considered Alumni of the Fellowship by the U.S. Department of State. Fellowship Alumni may not be employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government. Fellowship Alumni must reside in the host country and be present for the duration of the Reciprocal Exchange.

What are the eligibility requirements for the U.S. professional?

U.S. professionals must be U.S. citizens currently living in the United States. U.S. professionals may not be employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. embassy, USAID, or other U.S. Government entity).

Can a U.S. professional who previously received a Reciprocal Exchange be eligible to apply for a new one with a different Fellowship Alumni in a different country?

Yes, U.S. professionals, including previous Reciprocal Exchange recipients, and Fellowship Alumni from all cohorts are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to U.S. professionals and Fellowship Alumni who have not previously participated in a Reciprocal Exchange.

Are there any priority topic areas the U.S. Department of State and IREX would like to fund this year?

Please refer to the application criteria included in the announcement. Rather than indicating priority areas, the application should demonstrate impact of the project both in the Fellowship Alumni’s country and the U.S. professional’s community in the United States.

Application

Can I access the application from my phone or tablet?

Yes! You can access the application from any device that is connected to the internet. The application is mobile-friendly, so it is easy to apply from your phone or tablet. Please remember to submit all required attachments with your application.

I am unable to move past the general information section. How do I apply?

Please review the eligibility requirements. The application will not let you proceed unless you meet the general requirements and have fully completed the section. Any question with a red asterisk is required and must be completed before you can progress with the application.

My U.S. partner submitted an application; is our application complete?

No, both the U.S. professional(s) and the Fellowship Alumni Collaboator must submit the application form for it to be considered complete. While similar, the U.S. professional and Alumni Collaborator applications require different answers in some sections.

After I complete and submit my application, can I go back in and make changes or add supplemental materials at a later date?

No, once you have submitted your application, you can no longer add any additional information or make any changes.  All information and documents should be uploaded prior to final submission.

I have a physical disability or other special need, and I require another person’s assistance to complete my application. Is this alright?

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the Reciprocal Exchange component.  Applicants with physical disabilities or special needs who require another person’s assistance to complete an application may do so.  However, the thoughts, ideas, and content of your application must be your own.  While you should work together with the U.S. professional or Fellowship Alumni Collaborator on building your application, you may not collaborate with the person assisting you.

Can I submit a paper copy of the Reciprocal Exchange application?

No, you must submit your application through the online application system. Paper applications or applications sent via email attachment will not be accepted.

When can applicants expect to receive notification on the status of their application?

Applicants will be notified of their selection status 6-8 weeks after the deadline.

Budget

Can multiple U.S. professionals apply as a group?

Yes, multiple U.S. professionals can apply as a group for a Reciprocal Exchange. The maximum award for Reciprocal Exchange projects, regardless of the number of Participants, is $3,000.

Can a U.S. professional who wishes to partner with multiple Fellowship Alumni in different countries for the same or similar projects apply for more than one award, so as to establish a support network?

The U.S. applicant can propose partnering with Fellowship Alumni in different countries on the same project, but will only be eligible for one award at the standard maximum funding level of up to $3,000. If one U.S. professional submits multiple applications with multiple Fellowship Alumni, only one project will be selected, if it meets all requirements.

My proposal has extra costs. Will IREX/the U.S. Department of State be able to provide additional funding for these costs?

No; up to $3,000 may be provided per Reciprocal Exchange project to help cover approved program-related costs. Fellowship Alumni and U.S. professionals will be responsible for covering additional costs. This should be indicated in the budget cost-share column.

How are funds disbursed?

Funds may be disbursed to the U.S. professional or the Fellowship Alumni Collaborator. Eighty (80) percent of the award will be disbursed prior to implementation, upon submission of required documents. The remaining twenty (20) percent of the award will be disbursed upon completion of the exchange and the submission of additional required documents within 30 days of the project’s completion. All other costs associated with the exchange must be funded by the Fellowship Alumni Collaborator and/or U.S. professional.

Are there any restrictions on how the funds can be used for this program?

Yes, there are restrictions. Costs for participant meals may not exceed rates established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Funds may not be used to pay administrative or indirect costs of the project, such as the U.S. professional’s or Fellowship Alumni Collaborator’s salary. U.S. Government funding may not pay for alcohol and other entertainment expenses such as tourism. Please see the guidelines listed in the budget template for additional information about restricted costs.

Work Plan

What does the work plan need to include?

U.S. professionals and Fellowship Alumni must collaborate on the submitted work plan. While your initial work plan may be broad, please provide at minimum your anticipated schedule and a general idea of content for each specific activity. Work plans should also include information about what activities Participants and Fellowship Alumni will undertake before and after Reciprocal Exchange implementation to ensure that your project will be successful and will have an impact within both the U.S. professional’s community in the United States and the Fellowship Alumni Collaborator’s community in Africa. Add rows if necessary so that every activity, including those on the same day, is included in the plan. Please see the guidelines listed in the work plan template for more information.

How detailed does the work plan need to be?

Application work plans are expected to be broad, but please try to be as specific as possible on the following items:

  • Locations of activities (for hybrid Reciprocal Exchanges)
    • This is important so the U.S. embassies in the country you are applying for can confirm that the locations are safe for in-person activities.
  • COVID-19 regulations and steps your team will take to ensure participants remain safe (for hybrid Reciprocal Exchanges).  This may include:
    • Capacity limits for indoor and outdoor activities
    • Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
    • Social distancing precautions
  • Activity types (meetings, lectures, trainings, film screenings, etc.)
  • Activity participants and anticipated numbers of participants (university undergraduates, elementary school teachers, local filmmakers, conference attendees, rural hospital staff, etc.)
  • Activity outcomes (for the implementation period only)
    • Describe what participants will take away from each activity (increased knowledge about a topic, new skill, etc.)

Is there a required duration for the exchange?

Reciprocal Exchange implementation periods should be fewer than four weeks.