English language Capacity Building Program for Azerbaijani English-language teachers | DOS AZE PD 23 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS AZE PD 23 02

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Azerbaijan, is offering a discretionary grant opportunity called the English Language Capacity Building Program for Azerbaijani English-language teachers (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS AZE PD 23 02; CFDA: 19.900). The opportunity invites U.S.-based organizations and universities to propose and deliver a comprehensive teacher-training certificate program for English-language teachers working in Azerbaijan's public school system. The overarching aim is to raise the quality of English instruction nationwide and, as a result, improve English fluency among Azerbaijani students across education levels.

Proposed programs are expected to be practical, innovative, and cost-effective, combining virtual and in-person instruction. A key design requirement is the use of a synchronous online learning platform so participants can engage in real-time instruction, discussion, and practice. Beyond coursework, the program is meant to include a practical curriculum and live, personal coaching, signaling that proposals should go beyond lecture-style training and include ongoing mentoring, feedback, and skills application in classroom-relevant contexts.

The grant lays out three central objectives. First, it seeks to expand professional development access for Azerbaijani English teachers, particularly by helping them strengthen their own English proficiency while also learning current, effective approaches for teaching English as a foreign language. Second, it calls for a high-quality certificate program grounded in communicative language teaching methods, emphasizing speaking, listening comprehension, and real-world language use, while still aligning with relevant elements of the National Curriculum of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Third, it aims to deepen U.S.-Azerbaijan people-to-people ties by incorporating community service and critical-thinking activities, along with structured information sharing and exchanges between American experts and Azerbaijani educators to build mutual understanding.

The primary target audience is young, less-experienced English-language teachers in public schools who have had little or no prior access to professional development. The opportunity places special emphasis on reaching teachers outside of Baku, especially secondary school educators serving disadvantaged communities, including rural areas, low-income populations, and internally displaced persons (IDP) communities. In practice, proposals that demonstrate credible recruitment and delivery strategies for underserved regions and populations are positioned as particularly responsive to the Embassy's priorities.

Eligible applicants include U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, as long as they are not institutions of higher education where specified). The grant has an award ceiling of $100,000, with up to two awards anticipated. The opportunity was posted on March 16, 2023, with an original application deadline of May 7, 2023.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Azerbaijan in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "English language Capacity Building Program for Azerbaijani English-language teachers" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 16, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2023. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for DOS AZE PD 23 02

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