Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 14 000037
Apply for RFA OAA 14 000037
- The Agency for International Development in the business and commerce community development education employment, labor and training regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Call For Partnership Concept Papers focused on Regional Leadership Centers under the Presidents Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 1, 2014 and posted on Mar 28, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 7, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $12,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
This USAID funding opportunity (RFA-OAA-14-000037) invited organizations to submit Partnership Concept Papers to help create Regional Leadership Centers (RLCs) under President Obama s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The central aim was to build a network of approximately five Africa-based centers that would expand leadership development and professional training opportunities for young leaders across sub-Saharan Africa. USAID framed these centers as a way to strengthen local and regional leadership capacity while also connecting participants to broader economic, civic, and development opportunities. The notice also emphasized that the solicitation timeline was extended, with submissions due by midnight Eastern Time on July 7, 2014 (extended from the original July 1 date), and that notes from a June 10, 2014 YALI RLC Consultative Meeting were made available to inform applicants.
The opportunity was positioned as a stand-alone call but explicitly linked to USAID s broader Global Development Alliance (GDA) approach and referenced the Fiscal Year 2014/2015 GDA Annual Program Statement (APS No. APS-OAA-14-000001). In practical terms, USAID expected these Regional Leadership Centers to be organized as public-private partnerships using the GDA model, meaning applicants were encouraged to bring in private sector and other non-governmental partners to share resources, expertise, and financing. USAID described this structure as a cost-effective way to leverage outside capabilities and interests, rather than relying only on traditional grant-funded programming.
A key strategic rationale in the announcement was leverage. USAID noted it already had more than 350 million dollars invested in youth-focused programs and initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa and intended for the RLCs to amplify and connect with that existing portfolio. In other words, the centers were not meant to operate in isolation; they were envisioned as hubs that could strengthen, coordinate, and extend the impact of ongoing youth development and leadership efforts, likely through training, networking, mentoring, and linkages to employment, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement pathways.
From a funding and award perspective, the opportunity was listed as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement, which typically implies more substantial involvement by USAID in program direction and implementation compared with a standard grant. USAID anticipated making about two awards under this specific announcement, with an estimated total funding amount of up to 12,000,000 dollars. The ceiling was listed as 12,000,000 dollars and the floor as 0, indicating awards could vary in size up to the maximum. Cost sharing or matching was required, reinforcing the partnership and leverage expectations consistent with a GDA style activity.
The activity areas associated with the funding included business and commerce, community development, education, employment/labor and training, and regional development. That mix signals an emphasis on practical leadership development tied to economic opportunity and workforce readiness, alongside civic and community-oriented leadership outcomes. Eligible applicants covered a wide range of organization types, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and certain Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations. The wide eligibility suggests USAID was looking for strong implementers and conveners, including universities and training institutions, nonprofits with youth leadership experience, and private sector entities capable of contributing expertise, networks, or co-investment.
Operationally, the notice instructed that anyone unable to access the full announcement electronically should reach out through the African Leaders email box listed in the posting. The opportunity was posted March 28, 2014, with administrative updates reflected in early July 2014, and it was scheduled to be archived on August 6, 2014. Overall, the solicitation sought partners who could propose credible, scalable concepts for establishing and running YALI Regional Leadership Centers as collaborative platforms that blend USAID support with significant partner contributions to develop the next generation of African leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - USAID YALI Regional Leadership Centers (RFA-OAA-14-000037)
1) What is the funding opportunity described here?
This is a USAID funding opportunity identified as RFA-OAA-14-000037. It invited organizations to submit Partnership Concept Papers focused on establishing Regional Leadership Centers (RLCs) under President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
2) What is the main purpose of the YALI Regional Leadership Centers (RLCs)?
The central aim was to build a network of approximately five Africa-based centers that expand leadership development and professional training opportunities for young leaders across sub-Saharan Africa, while strengthening local and regional leadership capacity and connecting participants to broader economic, civic, and development opportunities.
3) How many centers were envisioned under this effort?
USAID described a target network of about five Africa-based Regional Leadership Centers across sub-Saharan Africa.
4) Were applicants asked to submit full proposals or concept papers?
Applicants were invited to submit Partnership Concept Papers.
5) What was the submission deadline for Partnership Concept Papers?
Submissions were due by midnight Eastern Time on July 7, 2014. This deadline was an extension from the original July 1, 2014 date.
6) Was the solicitation timeline changed after posting?
Yes. The notice emphasized that the solicitation timeline was extended, moving the due date from July 1, 2014 to July 7, 2014 (midnight Eastern Time).
7) Were any applicant resources provided to inform concept papers?
Yes. Notes from a June 10, 2014 YALI RLC Consultative Meeting were made available to help inform applicants.
8) How does this opportunity relate to USAID's Global Development Alliance (GDA) approach?
Although positioned as a stand-alone call, the opportunity explicitly linked to USAID's broader Global Development Alliance (GDA) approach and referenced the FY 2014/2015 GDA Annual Program Statement (APS No. APS-OAA-14-000001). In practical terms, USAID expected the RLCs to be organized as public-private partnerships using the GDA model.
9) What kind of partnership structure was USAID encouraging?
USAID encouraged public-private partnerships consistent with the GDA model, meaning applicants were encouraged to bring in private sector and other non-governmental partners to share resources, expertise, and financing.
10) Why did USAID emphasize leverage and partnerships for this effort?
USAID described the partnership structure as a cost-effective way to leverage outside capabilities and interests rather than relying only on traditional grant-funded programming. USAID also highlighted that it already had more than $350 million invested in youth-focused programs and intended for the RLCs to amplify and connect with that existing portfolio.
11) Were the RLCs intended to operate independently from other USAID youth investments?
No. USAID indicated the centers were not meant to operate in isolation. They were envisioned as hubs that strengthen, coordinate, and extend the impact of ongoing youth development and leadership efforts.
12) What types of activities or outcomes were implied for the RLCs?
Based on the description, the centers were expected to support leadership development and professional training, and to create linkages such as networking, mentoring, and connections to employment, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement pathways, while aligning with broader economic, civic, and development opportunities.
13) What type of funding instrument was anticipated?
The opportunity was listed as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement.
14) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (as described in the notice)?
The notice indicated that a cooperative agreement typically implies more substantial involvement by USAID in program direction and implementation compared with a standard grant.
15) How many awards did USAID anticipate making under this announcement?
USAID anticipated making about two awards under this specific announcement.
16) What was the estimated total funding amount available?
The estimated total funding amount was up to $12,000,000.
17) What were the award ceiling and floor?
The ceiling was listed as $12,000,000 and the floor was listed as $0, indicating awards could vary in size up to the maximum.
18) Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, reinforcing the partnership and leverage expectations consistent with a GDA-style activity.
19) What program/activity areas were associated with this opportunity?
The activity areas associated with the funding included business and commerce, community development, education, employment/labor and training, and regional development.
20) What do the listed activity areas suggest about the focus of the program?
The mix of activity areas signals an emphasis on practical leadership development tied to economic opportunity and workforce readiness, alongside civic and community-oriented leadership outcomes.
21) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and certain Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations.
22) Did the opportunity appear to limit eligibility to universities or nonprofits only?
No. The eligibility was broad and included higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, small businesses, housing authorities, and certain tribal governments and tribal organizations.
23) What kinds of organizations did USAID appear to be seeking for these RLCs?
Based on the wide eligibility and partnership expectations, USAID appeared to be looking for strong implementers and conveners, including universities and training institutions, nonprofits with youth leadership experience, and private sector entities able to contribute expertise, networks, or co-investment.
24) What should someone do if they could not access the full announcement electronically?
The notice instructed that anyone unable to access the full announcement electronically should reach out through the African Leaders email box listed in the posting.
25) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 28, 2014.
26) Were there administrative updates after the initial posting?
Yes. The posting noted administrative updates reflected in early July 2014.
27) When was the opportunity scheduled to be archived?
The opportunity was scheduled to be archived on August 6, 2014.
28) What is the overall takeaway for what USAID was seeking through this solicitation?
USAID sought partners who could propose credible, scalable concepts for establishing and running YALI Regional Leadership Centers as collaborative platforms that blend USAID support with significant partner contributions, in order to develop the next generation of African leaders and connect them to broader opportunity pathways.
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