Evaluation of the Professional Fellows Program

OMB Control No: 1405-0239	ICR Reference No: 202003-1405-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: STATE/AFA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Evaluation of the Professional Fellows Program
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 06/22/2020
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 03/10/2020
Terms of Clearance: The agency provided minor clarifications to its supporting statement.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2023	36 Months From Approved
Responses	467	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	169	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The PFP is a two-way, global exchange program for mid-level emerging leaders from select foreign countries. The PFP is managed by the Professional Fellows Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Foreign fellows come to the United States for a five- to six-week fellowship, including a minimum four-week tailored placement in a relevant professional organization (NGO’s, business, government, etc.) and an end of program conference in Washington, D.C. While in the Unites States, the foreign fellows volunteer in their local community, stay with local families, and create follow-on project plans to implement back in their home country. A select number of U.S. counterparts travel overseas on an outbound program that is approximately two weeks in length to directly support foreign fellows’ follow-on projects. This program is funded pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 24512464). To fully evaluate the effectiveness and impacts of the program, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) intends to collect data to include the perspectives of: • the foreign and U.S. fellows who participated in the PFP between 2013 and 2018; • U.S. professionals who interacted the foreign fellows during their exchange in the United States; and • U.S. families who hosted the foreign fellows during their stay. In order to do so, ECA contracted with GDIT to administer surveys and conduct face-to-face interviews with the stakeholders listed above.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 61673	11/13/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 13225	03/06/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 4

IC Title Form No. Form Name U.S. Homestay Host Interview Guide U.S. Fellow, Host Institution Supervisor, and Day-to-Day Contact Interview Guide PFP U.S. Fellow, Host Supervisor, and Day-to-Day Contact Survey Homestay Host Survey

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	467	0	0	467	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	169	0	0	169	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: New Collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $95,386

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Elizabeth Botkin 202 632-6423

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 03/10/2020

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