The Scholarships for Education and Economic Development Program (USAID SEED Program) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by Georgetown University’s Center for Intercultural Education and Development (CIED).   The program is built on the solid foundation of Georgetown and USAID’s quarter century partnership implementing the CASS Program to support economic and social development throughout Central America and the Caribbean.  SEED Program activities aim to:

• Build human capital in key sectors to support USAID’s regional economic and social development efforts.
• Create a cadre of change agents and future leaders with an understanding, experience and appreciation of democratic processes and U.S. values, especially free market economics.
• Provide participants with skills/knowledge to actively and responsibly participate in democratic societies.
• Strengthen local capacity in a wide range of technical fields that are critically needed to increase competitiveness and free trade opportunities.
• Support U.S. public diplomacy efforts by creating a cadre of future leaders who have been immersed in American culture and have an understanding and appreciation for the United States.

SEED scholarships provide training to youth and community leaders from economically disadvantaged and historically underserved populations, including women and ethnic/indigenous groups, to become key protagonists in their countries’ development.  Moreover, the program significantly enhances public diplomacy efforts of the U.S. government by ensuring that participants learn firsthand about the fundamentals of civil society and free market economy.  Countries currently participating in the program are the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. 

The scholarship model incorporates technical training, leadership skills enhancement and English as a Second Language (ESL) preparation focusing on civil society, volunteerism, free market economy and democratic participation as practiced in the United States. 


Partner Academic Institutions Selected to Host Cycle 2009 SEED Scholars

The SEED program is pleased to announce the selection of U.S. partner institutions to host the Cycle 2009 groups of SEED scholarship participants.

Youth Scholarships Partner Academic Institutions and Fields of Study

Broome Community College: Quality Control

St. Louis Community College: Quality Control

Fox Valley Technical College: Agribusiness for Export

Reedley College: Agribusiness for Export

Kirkwood Community College: Agribusiness for Export

North Central Technical College: Small and Medium Enterprise Management and Mktg.

Kentucky State University: Small and Medium Enterprise Management and Mktg.

Florida Community College at Jacksonville: Small and Medium Enterprise Management and Marketing

Professional Scholarships Academic Institutions and Fields of Study

University of Arizona: Strengthening Rural Primary Education for Mexico

Alamo Community College: Strengthening Rural Primary Education for Central America and the Dominican Republic

El Paso Community College: Strengthening Rural Primary Education for Central America and the Dominican Republic

University of Northern Colorado: Strengthening Rural Primary Education for Central America and the Dominican Republic - Six Month Program

The SEED Program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development