The Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) award is a five-year initiative (2024-2029) funded by USAID through the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) in a partnership between USAID’s Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI) and the Institute of International Education (IIE).

SPARK supports research collaborations between universities, research organizations and researchers in eligible low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the U.S. The program focuses on discovering and implementing solutions in key development areas identified in USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategies (CDCS). SPARK provides grants, supports capacity-building initiatives, and fosters sustainable and equitable partnerships. 

To achieve this, SPARK focuses on the following objectives:

• Awarding Grants to researchers, institutions and partnerships that fund locally led, high-quality actionable research to support advancement toward development goals
• Supporting equitable partnerships between low- and middle-income countries and U.S. researchers and institutions that promote capacity exchange and are sustainable beyond the life of the project
• Strengthening the capacity of local researchers and institutions to conduct high-quality research and disseminate findings that advance development goals

SPARK aims to establish a model for future initiatives, driving sustainable research and higher education partnerships to advance priority USAID development goals globally.

To learn more about SPARK or to be added to our mailing list, please contact SPARK@iie.org.