Deadline: 5-Sep-22
The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Mission in Djibouti (USAID/Djibouti) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the USAID/Djibouti Youth Employment (YE) Activity, subject to the availability of funds.
The goal of this activity is to increase youth employment through strengthened workforce programs and expanded links to quality jobs. The activity’s objective is to increase employment with greater access, equity, and effectiveness. The activity will support United States Government (USG) priorities and Government of Djibouti (GoDj)-led efforts to increase readiness for, and access to, quality employment opportunities for Djiboutian youth. The activity will pursue transformative and sustainable change by collaborating closely with local stakeholders to facilitate the development of promising sectors and sub-sectors, increasing job opportunities/availability for well-prepared Djiboutian youth.
The activity’s objective is also supported by three cross-cutting and complementary considerations: learning and adaptive management; gender equity and social inclusion, and; digital and information technology.
Strategic Objectives
The activity also supports Djibouti’s National Employment Policy, particularly the following Strategic Objectives:
- Strategic Objective 1: Increase and improve the supply of TVET in line with the needs of the labor market;
- Strategic Objective 2: Improve the employability and integration of young people and women seeking employment;
- Strategic Objective 3: Develop a segment of SMEs/SMIs dense and intensive in decent employment;
- Strategic Objective 5: Promote a harmonious functioning of the labor market;
- Strategic Objective 7: Build the capacities of labor market stakeholders.
Funding Information
USAID/Djibouti intends to award one Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID/Djibouti intends to provide about USD 16 million in total over four years.
Outcomes
Activity interventions will focus on governance and collaboration, the labor demand, and the labor supply, aligned with the following Intermediate Results (IRs):
- IR1: Governance for increased youth employment strengthened: The activity will support effective coordination between key stakeholders, including government and the private sector, and will work to gain a clear understanding of promising sectors and subsectors for youth employment.
- IR2: Availability of quality jobs expanded: The activity will explore opportunities to support the growth of private sector businesses in sectors and subsectors with significant youth job creation potential, focusing on identifying and alleviating both regulatory and non-regulatory constraints.
- IR3: Youth workforce readiness strengthened: The activity will work with technical/vocational education institutions to strengthen workforce readiness programs, train youth and ensure that participants have the skills and abilities required by potential employers in promising sectors and subsectors.
Target Beneficiaries and Geographic Focus
The target beneficiaries for the activity are Djiboutian youth ages 18 to 35 who are seeking employment. The activity will consider promising sectors and subsectors in both urban and rural areas, across all six regions, with increasing equity and inclusion as important guiding principles.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility for this NOFO is not restricted.
- USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID. Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law
- Any one entity/organization may submit one (1) application for funding in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity NOFO as a prime awardee.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=342650