The ALFA Programme III is defined via the following specific objectives:

  1. Improve the quality, relevance and accessibility to higher education in Latin America;
  2. Contribute to the process of regional integration in Latin America, promoting advances towards the creation of a regional common higher-education space and developing its synergies with the European Union.


The participating countries are European Union countries and 18 Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The ALFA Programme was started in 1994 with the aim of strengthening co-operation in the field of higher learning. The programme co-finances projects aimed at improving the capacity of Latin American higher-education institutions (universities and other organisations) and fostering academic co-operation between the two regions.

The first stage, ALFA I (1994-1999) had a € 31 million contribution from the EC and was developed until 1999, with the involvement of 1064 institutions operating 846 micro-projects.

The second stage, ALFA II (2000-2006), with a total of 10 selection rounds, had a € 54.6 million contribution from the EC, which was distributed over 225 projects approved and executed by 770 institutions distributed into networks and with an average of 9 institutions in Latin America and the European Union.

The third stage ALFA III (2007-2013), is endowed with a budget of 85 million euros. ALFA III represents a significant increase in the budget with regard to contributions from the European Union, but also entails a new and improved programme structure, formed of three specific areas: Area 1: Joint projects; Area 2: Structural projects; and Area 3: Accompaniment measures.

ALFA III’s first call for proposals took place in 2008 with a high participation of Latin American institutions. During this process, a total of 14 projects were selected, covering all three specific areas. The second call for proposals was launched in March 2010, which resulted in awarding funds to 19 projects. In February 2011, the third call for projects was published for two areas.
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/alfa