Deadline: 15 November 2016
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Kosovo is seeking applications from qualified U.S. and Non-U.S. organizations to fund a program entitled “After School Support for Teens’ (ASSET)” with the goal of increased employability of Kosovo’s in-school youth (Grades 9-12) so they are better prepared to transition from being students to productive, contributing members of society.
The goal will be addressed through a combination of activities that provide teens with useful, practical content in financial literacy, entrepreneurship and other workforce readiness efforts, including building stronger linkages between the education sector and the private sector in the delivery of these activities.
The ASSET program should also align with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) Curriculum Framework by supporting Competency 4: Life and Work Skills at the upper secondary level. It includes an explicit requirement for enabling students to master workforce readiness competencies, such as:
- Demonstrating entrepreneurial skills, planning knowledge for work, and rational use of time;
- Presenting oneself in the best way and emphasizing one’s own capabilities;
- Working independently and as a member of a team;
- Organizing and leading learning and social activities; and
- Mastering abilities for conflict management and risk assessment
Funding Information: Subject to the availability of funds, USAID/Kosovo intends to provide $2.5 million in total USAID funding over a 5-year period.
Proposal Priorities
- Inspire innovation and creativity – Entrepreneurship educational activities will inspire innovation and creativity as young people get engaged with real problems in a positive way.
- Increase employability and interest in entrepreneurship – Students will gain valuable work/life skills such as ‘autonomy’, ‘independence’, ‘decision making’, and ‘personal responsibility’.
- Closer alignment of the education and business communities – Business people and entrepreneurs will become aware of the positive impact they can have on the lives of young people through participation in school-based activities.
- Motivate young people to stay in school – Learning by doing and hands on projects such as model mini-companies are sources of motivation and inspiration. Schoolwork becomes more interesting and stimulating and at the same time students feel more positive and self-confident.
- Transformation of the education system – Teachers will transform the way they teach: this will include engagement with the outside community, project-based learning and student driven activities that will help them find more challenging and rewarding teaching methods.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications should be from qualified U.S. or non-US entities, such as private, non-profit organizations (or for-profit companies willing to forego profits), including private voluntary organizations, universities, research organizations, professional associations, and relevant special interest associations.
- Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. The successful applicant(s) may be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey) by the Agreement Officer (AO).
- The Recipient must be a responsible entity.
- USAID will not accept applications from individuals. All applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law.
- Public International Organizations are not eligible to apply for funding under this program.
How to Apply
Interested applicants must be submitting their applications via email at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit After School Support for Teens Program.
