Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 663 14 000004
Apply for RFA 663 14 000004
- The Ethiopia USAID Addis Ababa in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "POTENTIAL" 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 23, 2014 and posted on Jun 27, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 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 $17,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $17,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The POTENTIAL grant opportunity is a USAID/Ethiopia five-year cooperative agreement designed to help unemployed and underemployed Ethiopian youth ages 15 to 29, especially those living in rural areas and smaller towns, move into more stable and productive work. The central idea is to connect young people with practical workforce development and livelihood support that matches what local markets are actually demanding, rather than offering training that does not translate into jobs or income. By doing that, the project aims to help youth increase earnings in the near term while also building the longer-term skills, knowledge, networks, and confidence that support economic self-sufficiency as they transition into adulthood.
The opportunity is structured around two main objectives. First, it seeks to enable youth to raise their income and improve the quality of their employment, including strengthening family livelihoods where youth contribute to household economic activities. This reflects a focus not only on getting young people into any job, but on improving the stability, productivity, and earning potential of the work they do. Second, the project aims to strengthen the capacity of local institutions that serve youth so they can prepare young people for work more effectively. That includes improving coordination among service providers, raising the quality and relevance of services, and ensuring training and support are closely tied to market demand. A specific emphasis is placed on reaching underserved groups, including young women, who often face additional barriers to skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.
To reach those goals, POTENTIAL is expected to work through and with a range of Ethiopian institutions and stakeholders involved in skills training and youth services. These include Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions (TVETs), Woreda TVET Offices, CSTCs, and FTCs, as well as private sector actors, civil society organizations, and youth-led groups. The project is meant to strengthen linkages between these players so that youth services are not fragmented, duplicative, or disconnected from real employment opportunities. In practice, this means building stronger pathways from training to work, improving the responsiveness of training providers to employer needs, and supporting partnerships that create clearer transitions into jobs, apprenticeships, self-employment, or other viable livelihood options.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary USAID funding opportunity issued by USAID/Ethiopia in Addis Ababa under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-663-14-000004. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by USAID during implementation compared to a standard grant. The activity category is Education, and the CFDA listing is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). USAID anticipated making one award with an estimated total funding amount of USD 17,500,000, with the award floor and ceiling both set at USD 17,500,000, suggesting a single fully funded award at that level rather than a range of possible award sizes. Cost sharing or matching was required. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could apply, subject to any additional eligibility details contained in the full announcement.
Key dates for the opportunity show it was posted on June 27, 2014, with a closing date of July 31, 2014, and it was later archived on August 30, 2014. Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact William Ndinya, Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID/Ethiopia, with the phone number provided in the notice.
FAQs: USAID/Ethiopia "POTENTIAL" Youth Workforce Development Cooperative Agreement
What is the POTENTIAL grant opportunity?
POTENTIAL is a five-year USAID/Ethiopia cooperative agreement designed to help unemployed and underemployed Ethiopian youth transition into more stable and productive work. The approach centers on linking young people to practical workforce development and livelihood support that matches actual local market demand.
What problem is the activity trying to address?
The activity is designed to reduce the gap between training and real employment or income opportunities. It emphasizes market-relevant skills and livelihood support so youth are not pushed into training that does not translate into jobs, earnings, or sustainable work.
Who is the primary target population?
The primary target group is Ethiopian youth ages 15 to 29 who are unemployed or underemployed.
Is there a priority focus on certain locations?
Yes. The opportunity places special emphasis on reaching youth in rural areas and smaller towns.
Does the project focus only on wage jobs?
No. The project is intended to support clearer transitions into jobs, apprenticeships, self-employment, or other viable livelihood options, depending on what local markets demand.
What are the two main objectives of POTENTIAL?
The opportunity is structured around two main objectives: (1) enabling youth to raise income and improve the quality of their employment (including strengthening family livelihoods where youth contribute to household economic activities), and (2) strengthening the capacity of local institutions that serve youth so they can prepare young people for work more effectively.
What does "improving quality of employment" mean in this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, the focus goes beyond placing youth into any job. It aims to improve stability, productivity, and earning potential, and to support pathways into more reliable and economically beneficial work.
How does the project plan to increase youth earnings?
The stated strategy is to connect youth to practical workforce development and livelihood support aligned with local market demand. By aligning services with real demand, the activity aims to increase earnings in the near term while building longer-term capabilities.
What longer-term outcomes does USAID expect for youth?
In addition to near-term earnings gains, the opportunity aims to build longer-term skills, knowledge, networks, and confidence that support economic self-sufficiency as youth transition into adulthood.
Which groups are specifically emphasized as underserved?
The opportunity includes a specific emphasis on reaching underserved groups, including young women, who often face additional barriers to skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.
What kinds of institutions and stakeholders are expected to be involved?
POTENTIAL is expected to work through and with a range of Ethiopian institutions and stakeholders involved in skills training and youth services, including TVET institutions, Woreda TVET Offices, CSTCs, and FTCs, as well as private sector actors, civil society organizations, and youth-led groups.
What is the purpose of working with so many different stakeholders?
The purpose is to strengthen linkages between actors so youth services are not fragmented, duplicative, or disconnected from real employment opportunities. The opportunity describes improving coordination, raising quality and relevance of services, and tying training and support to market demand.
How is this opportunity connected to employers and local markets?
The central concept is market alignment: improving the responsiveness of training providers to employer needs, strengthening pathways from training to work, and supporting partnerships that lead to real employment or livelihood options.
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is described as a discretionary USAID funding opportunity issued by USAID/Ethiopia.
What is the funding instrument?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. The notice indicates this typically involves substantial USAID involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
What is the activity category for this award?
The activity category is Education.
What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 98.001, described as USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-663-14-000004.
How many awards did USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipated making one award.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount is USD 17,500,000.
Is there an award range (floor and ceiling), or a single amount?
The award floor and ceiling are both listed as USD 17,500,000, which suggests a single fully funded award at that level rather than a range of possible award sizes.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The notice states that cost sharing or matching was required.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could apply, subject to any additional eligibility details contained in the full announcement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 27, 2014.
What was the closing date for applications?
The closing date was July 31, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on August 30, 2014.
Where was the opportunity issued from?
The opportunity was issued by USAID/Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
Who was the contact person for help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact William Ndinya, Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID/Ethiopia. The notice also provided a phone number for him.
Does the description specify exact training curricula or specific sectors?
No. The information provided describes an overall market-driven workforce and livelihoods approach but does not list specific sectors, trades, or curricula.
Does the description indicate how performance or results would be measured?
No specific indicators, targets, or measurement methods are included in the information provided. The text emphasizes outcomes like improved income, better employment quality, stronger institutional capacity, and better market alignment.
Is the grant focused only on individual youth, or also on the institutions that serve them?
It is designed to address both. One objective targets youth income and employment quality, while the other objective targets the capacity, coordination, and market relevance of institutions and service providers that prepare youth for work.
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