USAID Policy
 
Training is an essential component of USAID's development strategies in all sectors, complementing other forms of assistance and/or continuing to have an impact long after other investments of capital commodities or technical assistance have been expended.
 
In the past, USAID/Philippines provided scholarship assistance to a wide range of disciplines. Currently, USAID/Philippines’ training activities are conducted in support of the achievement of target results, which are defined in the joint Assistance Objective (AO) Agreement with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Participants are generally nominated and approved by the appropriate AO Team, in conjunction with the host country and/or USAID/Washington partners, as appropriate.
 
There are three types of participant training:

  1. U.S.
  2. Third Country, and
  3. In-Country

 
Eligible candidates must be citizens or permanent residents of the host country. U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and individuals with dual U.S. and other country citizenship living outside the U.S. are not eligible unless the need for such training is critically related to attaining assistance objective, and the sponsoring unit justifies the training in writing on a case-by-case basis.
 
Participant training covers not only formal courses, but also study tours and workshops/conferences. However, it specifically excludes TDYs, paper presentations, business travel, and travel of contractor staff.
 
Any host-country resident or host-country national traveling to the United States whose travel USAID funds, is an Exchange Visitor. All USAID-sponsored Exchange Visitors must obtain, use, and abide by the terms of the J-1 visa exclusively even if they already have a valid non-immigrant visa (e.g., B-1/B-2).
 
The procedures for processing participants are complex, especially in the case of U.S. training. A lead time of six (6) to eight (8) weeks is suggested to process the relevant paperwork. There are not only Agency and Mission requirements, but also applications of laws enforced by other U.S. Government agencies, such as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
 
Approved participants for U.S. training should review the Participant Training Information Sheet early on to ensure that they can meet the paperwork requirements in time for departure.