The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund Announces New 100K CLIMA Grant Competition for Higher Education Partnerships and Exchanges between the United States and Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay

The new 100K Strong Climate and Inclusive Education initiatives, announced at the Summit of the Americas, will expand opportunities for U.S. colleges and universities to build partnerships with regional education institutions in Latin America. This first 100K Strong CLIMA competition supports the Department’s policy goals for a greener, more inclusive, and prosperous Hemisphere through expanded regional education collaboration. 

Six grants of approximately $50,000 each will be awarded in this 100K Southern Cone competition to support innovative higher education partnerships to create and implement climate-focused, inclusive, student and faculty exchange programs during 2023-2024 between the United States and Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

In her remarks, U.S. Ambassador Bernadette M. Meehan affirmed that “The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund strengthens our partnerships and educational systems based on our shared values.  Together we are reinforcing U.S.-Chile connections with higher education, the private sector, and civil society to build a more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable world.”

On behalf of CAF, Christian Asinelli, Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming, stated that: “We are confident that the results of this call will contribute to strengthen the environmental awareness of the new generations and promote a change in our ways of consumption and interaction with the environment. At CAF, we will continue working to promote educational and training initiatives across the Americas, especially those aimed at protecting and caring for our ‘Common Home’.

In addition, John McPhail, President and CEO of Partners of the Americas, shared this: “By working together through cross-border partnerships, higher education institutions and the public and private sectors can expand climate action, share effective models, and collectively achieve much more than is possible when working in isolation. Partners of the Americas is dedicated to supporting the region’s higher education institutions in this work and is thrilled to offer this opportunity to expand strategic partnerships, student training, and climate action.”

Teams of HEIs between the U.S. and Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay 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 2023-2024 Thematic areas in this 100K Strong grant competition focus on climate action, including Biodiversity Protection; Bio-Economy and Sustainable Value Chains; Climate Justice; Climate Technology; Conservation and Reforestation; Endangered/Threatened Species Management and Protection; Environmental Protection; Green/Climate Finance; Renewable Energy; STEM for Climate Purposes; Sustainable Land Use; Water Protection and Restoration; and other related areas.

Please see the Request for Proposals (RFP) for 100K grant requirements and the full list of thematic areas.

These programs are focused on fostering exchange of students and faculty concentrated on a green and inclusive region. However, it is important to note that the deadline to submit a grant proposal is July 31, 2023. For more details, see the RFP at www.100kstrongamericas.org/grants.