Sustainable Skills for Sustainable Communities Education Skills Program (South Africa)

Deadline: 18-Feb-25

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/ Southern Africa Mission (USAID/SA) invites all interested organizations to submit concept notes that are focused on private sector engaged skills programs that support the economic diversification goals of Mpumalanga, South Africa.

USAID intends to advance those solutions that are focused on:

• The building of strong private sector relationships in skills development, whether it be in curricular development, training of lecturers and students, resources and equipment needs, onsite training opportunities etc. that are relevant for Mpumalanga,
• Unlocking the learning to sustained earning pipeline for graduates/course completers in their diverse starting points and
• Carefully working with marginalized groups of people to ensure they are meaningfully folded into the economy either as employees or entrepreneurs. A non-negotiable of the program/course/intervention proposed must be a provable history of sustainable employment and/or earning upon program completion. Construction and Infrastructure activities will not be accommodated under the activity.

Objectives

• The activity seeks to support interventions aligned to one or more of the following objectives that meet the high-level key result:
  • Objective 1: Accredited or industry endorsed skills programs with a green skills focus are developed through strong private sector engagement in Mpumalanga’s coal belt communities (within in the districts of Nkangala and Gert Sibande), with evidence of strong long-lasting institutional support being built. (Note: For interventions where accreditation is being sought, applicants must be clear about how the accreditation process will work, how far along it is or will be based on realistic timelines.
  • Objective 2: Students and graduates, in their diverse needs and starting points, are provided accredited or industry endorsed technical knowledge and soft skills that are transferable to the workplace and have gained practical work-based learning opportunities required to complete their qualifications because of strong industry partnerships.
  • Objective 3: Capacity of youth and graduates/course completers to meaningfully participate in the formal economy is increased by unlocking earning opportunities through local/ community/ business partnerships in identified green sector(s) while also ensuring inclusive and just growth for the historically marginalized in that field.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $ 5,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $5,000,000

Eligibility Criteria

• The following considerations will apply:
  • Interventions need to respond to skilling both youth and affected workers in Mpumalanga’s coal belt communities earmarked for coal plant closures in the coming decade. Innovative approaches that make use of Positive Youth Development (PYD) approaches and/or Inclusive Development practices are encouraged.
  • Applicants need to demonstrate strong private sector/industry relationships onboard and ready to participate in program co-creation from beginning to implementation, and close-out. Preference for replicable or ready to scale solutions will be given. The role of the private sector needs to be elevated and specific conditions of their involvement outlined deliberately in the solicitation.
  • Applications from entities who can demonstrate strong co-creation and co-implementation approaches with local organizations who have a deep knowledge of the Just Transition and/or the skills landscape in Mpumalanga will be weighted more. Joint Ventures welcome.
  • Green/sustainable sectors identified must show how their interventions do not create barriers for entry or further burden/alienate already vulnerable populations.
  • Eligibility for this funding opportunity is not restricted. US and non-US organizations may participate.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.