‘‘SEC. 299. HIGHER EDUCATION COLLABORATION FOR 
TECHNOLOGY, 
AGRICULTURE, 
RESEARCH 
AND EXTENSION. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to 
provide United States assistance for the development of 
higher educational capacity in the field of agriculture in 
a manner that builds and strengthens institutional and 
human capacity of developing countries in the field of agri-
culture and related sciences, promotes entrepreneurship 
and economic growth in rural areas, increases agricultural 
productivity and sustainable agriculture, alleviates poverty 
and malnutrition, promotes nutritional diversity to include 
consumption of highly nutritious indigenous foods, and 
promotes good government through the participation of 
United States institutions of higher education. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, 
the Administrator shall establish a program to be known 
as the Higher Education Collaboration for Technology, 
Agriculture, Research, and Extension (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘Program’ or ‘HECTARE’) for the pur-
pose of providing assistance in support of policies and pro-
grams in eligible countries that advance hunger alleviation 
by increasing agricultural productivity and rural develop-
ment through partnerships with institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
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‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ASSISTANCE PLAN.—The term ‘assistance 
plan’ means a multi-year plan developed by the 
United States Agency for International Development 
in coordination with a foreign government or univer-
sity to provide assistance for agricultural education 
programs at a country or regional level. 
‘‘(2) BOARD.—The term ‘Board’ means the 
Board for Higher Education Collaboration for Tech-
nology, Agriculture, Research, and Extension. 
‘‘(3) HECTARE
SCHOOL.—The term ‘HEC-
TARE school’ means an institution of higher edu-
cation in an eligible country that is designated as 
the lead educational institution for purposes of a 
country or regional assistance plan. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE COUNTRY.—The term ‘eligible 
country’ means a country that meets the require-
ments of subsection (g). 
‘‘(d) FORM OF ASSISTANCE.—Assistance may be pro-
vided under this section in the form of grants, cooperative 
agreements, or contracts to or with eligible entities de-
scribed in subsection (h) and shall be provided pursuant 
to assistance plans as described in subsection (f). Assist-
ance may not be provided under this section in the form 
of loans. 
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‘‘(e) USE
OF FUNDS.—Assistance provided under 
this section may be used to provide support to HECTARE 
schools or, where appropriate, other institutions of higher 
education in eligible countries for the following purposes: 
‘‘(1) Academic exchange programs for students, 
faculty members, extension educators, and school ad-
ministrators with HECTARE schools, other institu-
tions of higher education, and United States univer-
sities. 
‘‘(2) Strengthening agricultural sciences cur-
ricula, including vocational training. 
‘‘(3) Increasing research capacity, output, and 
quality. 
‘‘(4) Improving the dissemination of informa-
tion and technology to farmers and others engaged 
in agriculture, especially women and other small 
farmers. 
‘‘(5) Identifying leading educational institutions 
uniquely able to serve as regional hubs to promote 
the purposes specified in paragraphs (1) through (4) 
and promoting cooperation between such institutions 
and other educational institutions through regional 
networks. 
‘‘(f) ASSISTANCE PLANS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
provide assistance under this section pursuant to an 
assistance plan developed in coordination with an eli-
gible country that establishes a multi-year plan for 
significantly improving agricultural productivity and 
investing in rural economies through the strength-
ening of agricultural programs at institutions of 
higher education. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—An assistance plan should— 
‘‘(A) take into account the national devel-
opment strategy of the eligible country or the 
participation of the eligible country in a re-
gional development strategy; 
‘‘(B) identify an institution of higher edu-
cation for designation as a HECTARE school 
that has programs in agricultural sciences; 
‘‘(C) identify the partnership between the 
government agencies, including local and re-
gional governments, civil society, farmer organi-
zations, cooperatives, institutions of higher 
learning, private entities, multilateral institu-
tions, and nongovernmental organizations; 
‘‘(D) identify appropriate channels for dis-
semination of farming techniques to the field, 
especially women and other small farmers; and 
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‘‘(E) identify the plans of the HECTARE 
school for— 
‘‘(i) conducting agricultural research 
and technology transfer and extension; 
‘‘(ii) strengthening the teaching of ag-
riculture 
science, 
including 
programs 
aimed at curriculum, faculty, and students; 
‘‘(iii) improving university administra-
tion; and 
‘‘(iv) establishing methods by which to 
engage with other institutions of higher 
education to fulfill the purposes of the Pro-
gram. 
‘‘(g) ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.— 
‘‘(1) CRITERIA.—The Administrator shall, in 
consultation with the Board, identify eligible coun-
tries for purposes of this section. Such determina-
tion shall be based, to the maximum extent possible, 
upon objective and quantifiable indicators of a coun-
try’s demonstrated commitment to the following: 
‘‘(A) Investments in, and support for, rural 
economies, including the protection of private 
property rights, the promotion of private sector 
growth and sustainable management of natural 
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