NOFO: Implementation of the English Access Scholarship Program in Philippines 2025-27

This two-year after-school program provides economically disadvantaged and underserved youth with critical thinking, leadership, and life skills through American-style English classes, enhancement activities, and intensive sessions. By integrating the four pillars of the Access Program Global Citizenship Themes, U.S. Culture and Values, 21st-Century Skills, and English Language Instruction the program introduces students to American culture and values, promotes multicultural understanding, and prepares them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.

Goal

• The English Access Scholarship Program fulfills the U.S. government’s commitment to promote the United States as the Philippines’ leading partner in equitable human capital development, climate action, and environmental resilience. By providing high-quality English language education and cultural exchange opportunities, the program integrates the four Access pillars Global Citizenship Themes, U.S. Culture and Values, 21st-Century Skills, and English Language Instruction to empower Filipino youth to become globally competitive and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Focus Areas

• The English Access Scholarship Program delivers a minimum of 360 program hours of instruction per student, designed to integrate the four pillars of the Access Program:
  • Global Citizenship Themes: Activities focus on topics such as climate action, civic engagement, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), and sustainability. Students may research environmental issues, participate in sustainability projects, and engage with global initiatives to deepen their understanding.
  • U.S. Culture and Values: Opportunities to explore American history, institutions, societal norms, and democratic principles are incorporated through discussions, cultural analyses, and activities that foster an appreciation of U.S. values and multicultural understanding.
  • 21st-Century Skills: Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, media literacy, creativity, communication, and collaboration. These skills are developed through project-based learning, problem-solving activities, and teamwork to prepare students for real-world challenges.
  • English Language Instruction: Interactive, student-centered lessons enhance fluency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Language instruction emphasizes practical application through real-world scenarios and meaningful engagement.

Funding Information

• Funding Amount: Up to $45,000 per location, up to five awards in total.

Eligibility Criteria

• The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines is currently considering Access Programs at 5 locations across the Philippines:
  • Metro Manila
  • Northern Luzon
  • Visayas (2 locations)
  • Mindanao
• Students must be:
  • 13-18 years old
  • Economically and educationally disadvantaged
  • Secondary students from public high school
  • Be highly motivated and able to commit to a two-year after-school program

Review Criteria

• The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success:
  • Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea-20 points: The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. Proposals should also demonstrate how the program will support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) principles and engage underserved communities in their program’s administration, design, and implementation.
  • Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants-20 points: The organization has expertise in administering educational programs and/or teaching English, preferably to the target age group and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. New organizations are encouraged to apply.
  • Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives-15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated, and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
  • Budget-10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the number of classes and sites, proposed activities, and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. This includes administrative costs, materials, student transportation, enhancement activities, outreach activities, and an off-site immersion experience. The U.S. Embassy encourages interested Providers to identify creative ways to extend the quality and quantity of learning experiences for this amount as opposed to competing based on a low cost per student. All possible costs for overhead, teachers’ salaries, administration, materials, enhancement activities, off-site immersion sessions and transportation for the students should be covered. Providers are expected to keep administration costs to a minimum. Providers are encouraged to consider cost-sharing.
  • Monitoring and evaluation plan-15 points: Applicant demonstrates the ability to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.
  • Sustainability-10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.
  • Support of Equity and Underserved Communities-10 points: Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation. If applicable, proposals should clearly demonstrate how classes would successfully accommodate and integrate learners with disabilities in all components of the Access program.

Application Requirements

• Each location must meet the following requirements:
  • A total of 50 participants, divided into three (3) groups/classes.
  • A maximum of 20 students per class.
  • A balanced gender ratio of 50% male and 50% female students.
  • Accessible to U.S. Embassy officers and staff for both virtual and in-person monitoring.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.