Deadline: 15-Aug-23
The U.S. Embassy Lome, of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to build youth resiliency to violent extremism through a youth employability program.
Program Objectives
- Togo, despite its proximity to countries affected by violent extremism, is one West African country that has experienced relative peace and security, until recently.
- The escalation in violence in Burkina Faso has spread to neighboring countries, with Togo and Benin recording their worst Global Terrorist Index (GTI) scores on record. According to country officials, as of today, violent extremist attacks have led to 40 military casualties and more than 100 civilians were killed and 2000 Togolese have taken refuge outside the country. Several studies and assessments in the Savanes region have concluded that the factors that most fuel violent extremism and encourage the recruitment of sympathizers by extremist organizations are poverty, particularly among youth and women, and the lack of jobs and prospects for young people.
- Thus, to identify underlying violent extremism vulnerability and resilience factors in Togo and to help inform U.S. Government efforts countering violent extremism in West Africa, USAID commissioned a baseline study in Northern Togo in late 2019 that confirmed that young men and women are most likely to be impacted by violent extremism rhetoric given their difficult living conditions.
- The main objective of this NOFO is to leverage and highlight U.S. expertise and the growing U.S.-Togo relationship to strengthen and support youth in entering the labor market, particularly disadvantaged young women and men in areas affected by violent extremism. This will be through the provision of demand-led technical skills training, employability training, career guidance, and green, social, and agripreneurship with the end goal of preventing violent extremism.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $250,000
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $250,000
- Length of performance period: 12 months.
Expected Outcomes
- Specific outcomes should include one or more of the following:
- Connect youth and inform or increase their awareness of entrepreneurship opportunities
- Enhance national security by engaging with marginalized groups such as women
- Work with the Government of Togo to facilitate and improve access to economic opportunities, within the framework of the National Strategy to Prevent Violent Extremism (SNAPLEV)
- The Project Implementer should demonstrate how the desired outcomes overlap with audience’s motivation and interest and mention which tools and resources will resonate with the audiences to lead them to the desired outcomes.
Performance Indicators
- The project implementer should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Establish, where possible, performance baseline data and expected performance targets for each expected result and include details on what sources of data will be used to document performance, how the indicators will be measured, frequency of measurement, and units of measure. Where possible, indicators should also allow for sex disaggregation. Indicators should reflect key project outputs or outcomes that reflect on the primary goals or objectives of the project and that the implementer can collect with high quality data.
Participants and Audiences: The Project Implementer is expected to identify select, and segment relevant, reachable, and persuadable audiences for the program. They must take into consideration the audience’s attitude and behavior targeted for change in order to solve the problem. Their location, demographics and/or ideology should be assessed and accounted for as well.
Priority Region: All 5 regions of Togo.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- For-profit organizations
- Individuals
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
- Note: U.S. NGOs should demonstrate in country local expertise and have local experts to assist in project implementation.
- Applicants are responsible for negotiating prior agreements with Togolese state institutions for the implementation of the program. The Public Affairs Section reserves the right to request evidence of such agreements.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
