Deadline: 29 March 2019
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Higher Education Capacity Development (HECD) Program.
The HECD activity addresses an underlying development problem that affects higher education and post-secondary levels in Lebanon: the limited capacity of many higher educational institutions resulting in poor or non-existent workforce development programs and an unprepared or irrelevant workforce.
The HECD activity’s goal is ‘Students better equipped with the necessary technical, soft, and leadership skills to excel in the labor market’ (HEP SubPurpose). The purpose is ‘Increased workforce development linked to job opportunities’ (HEP IR1.2). The HECD theory of change is: if higher education institutions have the capacity to provide students with skills that match the demand in the marketplace, and students are able to acquire these improved skills, then students will enter the labor market better prepared and more attractive to employers or more able to initiate their own ventures, and therefore will have greater success in the labor market. Gender, youth, and institutional capacity are crosscutting issues.
Objectives
- Objective 1: Post-Secondary Education Institutions’ capacity improved
- Sub Objective 1.1: Post-Secondary Education Institutions with Potential for Improved Capacity Identified and Engaged
- Sub Objective 1.2: Internal systems of targeted tertiary institutions enhanced
- Sub Objective 1.3: Academic support and administrative skills at targeted institutions enhanced
- Objective 2: Expanded job readiness skills
- Sub Objective 2.1: Activities for job readiness developed
- Sub Objective 2.2: Students’ entrepreneurial and soft skills enhanced
Funding Information
- USAID intends to provide $10,000,000 in total USAID funding over a five (5) year period.
- The estimated start date will be July 1, 2019.
Eligibility Criteria
- USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
- In addition to other conditions of this NOFO, organizations must have a politically neutral mandate, a commitment to non-discrimination, and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non-discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation. Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism.
- 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) will be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey) by the Agreement Officer (AO).
- The Recipient must be a responsible entity. The AO may determine a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – in order to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award.
How to Apply
Initial applications must be submitted at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=313347