AID grant agreement no. 674-0309-G-SS-3056-00 to the African - American Institute [AAI] for a partnership and subgrant with the Educational Opportunities Council [EOC] to manage a two - year institutional resources development training program with the eight historically black universities [HBUs] under the South Africa support to tertiary education project [STEP]

The grant will fund short-term training, research opportunities, and skills enhancement in the United States and South Africa for black junior faculty and scholars of HBUs. Institution-building targets are to: (1) strengthen specific HBU departments in priority areas of need that are consistent with USAID/SA"s emphasis and focus (administration and management, economics, finance, public administration, private sector development, governance and democracy, rural development, and housing); (2) enhance HBU ability to manage the balance between research and teaching responsibilities; and (3) develop and institutionalize human resources planning processes and structures at all of the HBUs. A target of at least 40% female trainees has been established. Another target is to place at least 50% of trainees in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. The program also aims at establishing formal ties between HBUs and U.S. universities at the departmental and administrative levels, paving the way for educational exchanges and other resource sharing opportunities.