October 5, 2023: Partners of the Americas, along with the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (WHA), and the U.S. Embassy in Colombia announce the new 100,000 Strong in the Americas Climate Initiative (100K Strong CLIMA) grant competition for higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States and in Colombia.
This new, bilateral 100K CLIMA grant competition is generously supported by Grupo Energía Bogotá (GEB), Fundación Santo Domingo (FSD), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Colombia.
The new 100K Strong CLIMA competition will stimulate and support innovative partnerships between HEIs that will create access to inclusive, climate-focused, student and faculty exchange and research programs between the United States and Colombia – and strategic climate action projects. This 100K Strong CLIMA competition supports the Department of State’s policy goals for a greener, more inclusive, and prosperous hemisphere through expanded regional education collaboration. The 100K Strong CLIMA and Inclusive Education initiatives also support the Department of State’s collaboration with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), as well as bilateral agreements on social inclusion and racial equality with several Latin American countries.
In the upcoming 100K Strong CLIMA Colombia competition, approximately 16 grants are set to be distributed among innovative higher education partnerships. These grants aim to fund the creation and implementation of climate-focused, inclusive student and faculty exchanges programs, as well as climate action and research projects, that will take place between the United States and Colombia in the 2024-2025 academic year.
“Colombia is the leading country in the initiative, which has already achieved a great regional impact through the participation of 140 higher education institutions in 33 states of the United States and 20 departments of Colombia. This type of initiative allows us to be optimistic about the future of our bilateral relationship, because by investing in educational cooperation programs, we contribute to the training of our people and the prosperity of both nations.” said Francisco Palmieri, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.
“Grupo Energía Bogotá is an organization acutely aware that the energy transition should not solely revolve around the increased use of cleaner energy sources. It should also prioritize improving the well-being of historically marginalized communities through actions aimed at reducing economic and social inequalities. Partnerships like the one we have established are essential for nurturing the talents of the regions that generously contribute their resources to fulfill our mission of improving lives with sustainable and competitive energy. Our intention is to continue participating in such initiatives and promote investment in the development of diverse human capital that can be found throughout Colombia. Undoubtedly, due to their varied experiences and origins, these individuals will make significant contributions to our collective fight against climate change, but on a local level based on the needs of the communities, which are not necessarily the ones reflected in a global climate agenda. It is our responsibility and ethical duty before society to raise awareness that the energy transition of industrialized countries is not the same one that should be promoted for the global south.” said Juan Ricardo Ortega, President of Grupo Energía Bogotá.
“From our strategic line of work on Education, we articulated and lead high-impact projects for social transformation in the country. That is why we celebrate this alliance, which allows us to join forces to mobilize education initiatives focused on knowledge management that will promote the viability of innovative solutions to pressing challenges in Colombia, such as the challenges derived from climate change regarding water, energy and food. We are convinced that with these types of initiatives we will continue to promote the well-being of Colombian families, and make this a more sustainable and equitable country,” said José Francisco Aguirre, Executive Director of Fundación Santo Domingo.
“We are eager to celebrate the collaboration between 100K Strong CLIMA and the USDA Food for Progress Colombia project, ‘Colombian Cacao and Complementary Crops for Development’ or C4D. This partnership will support climate action research and student/faculty exchange initiatives aligned with C4D´s efforts to consolidate Colombia´s cacao sector as an agroforestry and sustainable landscape farming system – an approach that contributes to mitigate climate change while providing smallholder farmers with food security and a sustained living income. Through cross-border collaboration, Colombian and U.S. higher education institutions, along with the public and private sectors, can advance climate action, spur innovation, and share effective models,” stated John McPhail, President & CEO of Partners of the Americas.
Teams of HEIs between the U.S. and Colombia are invited to form partnerships and submit proposals to create and implement new models of inclusive education and exchange programs for students and faculty during 2024-2025. Thematic areas in this 100K Strong CLIMA grant competition focus on agriculture; bioeconomy; cacao and complementary crops value chain; circular economy; climate justice; climate technology; conservation and reforestation; decarbonization and electrification; design, architecture, and construction of climate-resilient infrastructure; energy transition; integrated management for sustainable cities; public health and climate; renewable energy; sustainable design, architecture, and construction; sustainable trade; sustainable/electric transportation; and water, among others.
The deadline to submit a grant proposal is January 31, 2024. For more details, please see the Request for Proposals (RFP) for 100K grant requirements and the full list of thematic areas at www.100kstrongamericas.org/grants.
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The 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund is the public-private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, U.S. embassies, and Partners of the Americas working in collaboration with regional private, public, and academic sectors to stimulate innovative partnerships and inclusive exchanges for students and faculty between the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. As of October 2023, after 35 competitions over 10 years, the 100K Strong Innovation Fund has awarded 306 grants ($25,000-$40,000 each) to teams of 572 higher education institutions (HEIs) working across 25 countries and 49 U.S. states. As a result of 100K Strong partnerships, upwards of 9,000 students and faculty have participated in dynamic, inclusive exchange and training programs throughout the Americas. The 100K Network, a virtual platform for higher education collaboration, includes more than 4,000 individual members representing approximately 2,300 HEIs in the Western Hemisphere.
To Join the 100K Network: www.100KStrongAmericas.org // Follow: #100KStrongAmericas
The mission of Partners of the Americas is to connect people and organizations across and within borders to serve and change lives through lasting partnerships. These partnerships create opportunity, foster understanding, and solve real-life problems. Inspired by President Kennedy and founded in 1964, under the Alliance for Progress, Partners is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with international offices in Washington, D.C. Learn more at www.partners.net.
Grupo Energía Bogotá (GEB) is an international company with more than 127 years of history, with operations throughout the energy chain in transmission, generation, and distribution of electric power, and transportation and distribution of natural gas through 11 subsidiaries and strategic investments in companies in the energy sector in Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Guatemala. The higher purpose of GEB is “to improve lives with sustainable and competitive energy“, which aims to contribute to the construction of sustainable, inclusive, and equitable societies through competitive businesses in the energy sector that maximize the generation of value for interest groups and contribute to the well-being of the communities in the environments where GEB operates. Learn more at www.grupoenergiabogota.com.
Fundación Santo Domingo (FSD) is a non-profit organization that, for 63 years, has had a great higher purpose: that more people in Colombia can care for the well-being for their families and make Colombia a more equitable place. In partnership with public and private organizations, FSD leads projects in prioritized sectors, including education, environment, health and territorial development, the latter with a focus on the Colombian Caribbean. Learn more at www.fundacionsantodomingo.org
Colombian Cacao and Complementary Crops for Development (C4D) is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded program that aims to achieve a living income for cacao farmer families by helping them attain economically viable diversified farming systems, sustainable agricultural landscapes, and equitable commercialization models. To do so, C4D brings together government, NGOs and private sector allies to improve cacao and other promising complementary supply chains such as plantain, cassava/yuca, chili bell peppers, mango and Tahiti lime. This program is the largest of its kind in Colombia and aims to improve the conditions of the farmers using a household living income lens.
The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) at the U.S. Department of State (WHA/DOS) supports and oversees the 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund in collaboration with Partners of the Americas and U.S. Embassies. Since 2013, the commitments from WHA/DOS to this signature hemispheric-wide education initiative have leveraged robust, dynamic public-private sector cooperation with regionally focused companies, foundations, and government entities, and higher education networks throughout the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. 100K-branded partnerships and programs align with WHA/DOS regional policy goals to support inclusive education opportunities, exchanges, democratic institutions, and economic prosperity.
Press Contact: Melisa Arrázola