USAID’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) initiative provides assistance to overseas schools, libraries, and hospitals that serve as study and demonstration centers for American ideas and practices. ASHA’s mission is somewhat unique amongst USAID programs because of its focus on public diplomacy. 

Since 1947, the ASHA program has supported local institutions that foster a positive image of the United States around the world, collaborating with approximately 300 institutions, and investing more than $1.4 billion to improve health and education services in over 80 countries. ASHA awards provide the infrastructure, equipment, and exposure to American values, ideas, and practices necessary to sustain development results and increase local civil society capacity and leadership through enduring partnerships. 

In line with USAID Administrator and Biden-Harris Administration's emphasis on inclusion and locally led development, ASHA strengthens local capacity and leadership to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. As USAID Administrator Samantha Power has affirmed, the quality of USAID’s relationships with local partners will determine how our development work is sustained over time. 

Opportunity to Comment

ASHA issues an annual Request for Application (RFA), which is posted on Grants.gov. This competitive solicitation process results in approximately 30 to 40 awards made to U.S. organizations (USOs) who have partnered with overseas institutions (OSIs). This approach has been developed and refined over more than 60 years of practice, and has led to strong partnerships between the USOs and OSIs and the development of a cadre of influential leaders around the world. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, ASHA funded 40 awards in 25 countries, totaling approximately $27 million. 

The American Schools and Hospital Abroad's (ASHA's) Fiscal Year 2022 draft Request for Applications (RFA) is available for public comment from December 6, 2021, until January 5, 2022, at 4 p.m. EST on Grants.gov. Please submit comments to ASHAapplications@usaid.gov by January 5, 2022, at 4 p.m. EST. Comments will not be accepted through the Grants.gov portal.

After ASHA receives and responds to public comments, the official RFA will be posted in early 2022 to Grants.gov. The deadlines for the subsequent RFA question-and-answer period and Phase 1 application submissions will be listed in the official RFA.

For more information, email PartnerwithASHA@usaid.gov. Click here to sign up for the LFT Hub monthly newsletters.