Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 15 000011
Apply for RFA OAA 15 000011
- The Agency for International Development in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Workforce Development Program" 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 Jun 11, 2015 and posted on Apr 30, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 17, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $35,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $35,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- See RFA for explanation.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Regional Workforce Development Program is a USAID-funded, five-year regional initiative focused on improving job outcomes for young people in Latin America and the Caribbean, with an emphasis on youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of two- and three-year technical and vocational training institutions so they can deliver higher-quality training that is tightly aligned with real labor market demand. In practical terms, the grant is aimed at helping training providers modernize what they teach and how they teach it, so graduates leave with skills that employers actually need and are more likely to translate training into employment.
The opportunity is administered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (USAID/LAC), Office of Regional Sustainable Development (RSD). It was offered as a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means USAID expects to be actively involved during implementation through substantial engagement, collaboration, and oversight rather than acting only as a passive funder. The funding activity category is Education, reflecting the central role of workforce-oriented training systems and institutional strengthening.
The program defines success in terms of improved employment for youth, using two clear outcome categories: "new employment" and "better employment." New employment includes any job gained by a young person who was previously unemployed or not participating in the labor market, and it explicitly includes formal jobs, informal work, and self-employment. Better employment is defined more broadly as an upgrade in job quality, such as higher wages or income, greater stability, safer working conditions, stronger use of upgraded and market-relevant skills, and improved potential for career advancement. This framing makes it clear that the program is not only counting job placements, but also paying attention to whether those jobs represent meaningful improvements in livelihoods and long-term prospects.
Financially, the solicitation listed an estimated total funding amount of USD 35,000,000, with an award ceiling and floor both set at USD 35,000,000, indicating USAID expected to make a single award at that level. The number of expected awards was one, reinforcing that this was intended to be a large, centralized regional program rather than multiple smaller grants. The assistance listing is associated with CFDA (now often referred to as Assistance Listing) number 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas. The opportunity also included a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning the selected recipient would be expected to contribute resources toward the project in addition to USAID funds, consistent with many USAID solicitations where leverage and shared investment are part of the design.
In terms of timing and status, the opportunity was posted on April 30, 2015, and later archived on July 11, 2015. The original closing date was June 11, 2015, and it was extended to a current closing date of June 17, 2015. Eligibility was listed as "Others" with further details provided in the full Request for Applications (RFA), meaning interested organizations would have needed to consult the RFA text for specific eligibility rules, partnership structures, and any limitations or preferences. For administrative questions or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Abdulaziz Yousuf, Grants Specialist, reachable by phone at 202-567-4203.
Overall, this grant opportunity can be understood as a large-scale regional effort to improve the workforce development ecosystem by upgrading technical training institutions and connecting training more directly to employment outcomes for disadvantaged youth. It emphasizes measurable improvements in both access to work and the quality of work, reflecting a development approach that treats employability and job quality as central drivers of inclusive economic opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Regional Workforce Development Program?
The Regional Workforce Development Program is a USAID-funded, five-year regional initiative focused on improving job outcomes for young people in Latin America and the Caribbean. It places special emphasis on youth from disadvantaged backgrounds and aims to make workforce training more effective and more connected to real employer demand.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The core goal is to improve employment outcomes for youth by strengthening the capacity of two- and three-year technical and vocational training institutions. The grant is intended to help training providers modernize both what they teach and how they teach it so graduates gain skills that employers actually need and can translate training into employment.
Which region does the program cover?
The program is regional and focuses on Latin America and the Caribbean.
Who is the program intended to benefit?
The intended beneficiaries are young people, with an emphasis on youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, through improved training quality and stronger connections between training and labor market demand.
What types of institutions are targeted for strengthening?
The program focuses on two- and three-year technical and vocational training institutions, with the intent to build their capacity to deliver higher-quality, labor market-aligned training.
What does it mean that the training should be aligned with labor market demand?
It means the training institutions are expected to deliver programs that match what employers are actually looking for. In practical terms, this implies updating curricula and training methods so participants develop market-relevant skills that improve their chances of employment and advancement.
How does the program define success for youth employment outcomes?
Success is defined using two outcome categories: "new employment" and "better employment." The program emphasizes not only whether youth get jobs, but also whether job quality and long-term prospects improve.
What counts as "new employment" under this program?
"New employment" includes any job gained by a young person who was previously unemployed or not participating in the labor market. It explicitly includes formal employment, informal work, and self-employment.
What counts as "better employment" under this program?
"Better employment" refers to improved job quality. Examples include higher wages or income, greater job stability, safer working conditions, stronger use of upgraded and market-relevant skills, and improved potential for career advancement.
Which U.S. government agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (USAID/LAC), Office of Regional Sustainable Development (RSD).
What type of funding instrument was used?
This was offered as a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement.
What does a Cooperative Agreement imply about USAID's role?
A Cooperative Agreement typically indicates that USAID expects to be actively involved during implementation through substantial engagement, collaboration, and oversight, rather than acting only as a passive funder.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Education, reflecting the focus on workforce-oriented training systems and institutional strengthening.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was USD 35,000,000.
Was USAID expecting multiple awards or a single award?
USAID expected to make a single award. The solicitation listed the award ceiling and award floor both at USD 35,000,000 and stated the number of expected awards was one.
What were the award floor and award ceiling?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling were USD 35,000,000, indicating an expected single award at that level.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The opportunity included a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning the selected recipient would be expected to contribute resources toward the project in addition to USAID funds.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA (Assistance Listing) number 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 30, 2015.
What was the original closing date and the extended closing date?
The original closing date was June 11, 2015, and it was extended to a closing date of June 17, 2015.
What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?
The opportunity was archived on July 11, 2015, indicating it was no longer active or accepting submissions after that period.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as "Others," with further details provided in the full Request for Applications (RFA). Interested organizations would have needed to consult the RFA for the specific eligibility rules, partnership structures, and any limitations or preferences.
Where would applicants find the detailed eligibility rules and requirements?
The detailed eligibility rules and other requirements were provided in the full Request for Applications (RFA), which applicants needed to review for specifics.
Who was the point of contact for administrative questions or access issues?
The listed point of contact was Abdulaziz Yousuf, Grants Specialist.
How could someone reach the listed point of contact?
Abdulaziz Yousuf could be reached by phone at 202-567-4203 for administrative questions or access issues related to the full announcement.
How should this opportunity be understood at a high level?
It can be understood as a large-scale regional effort to improve the workforce development ecosystem by upgrading technical training institutions and connecting training more directly to employment outcomes for disadvantaged youth, with an emphasis on measurable improvements in both access to work and the quality of work.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: Kentucky Natural Lands Trust
Previous opportunity: Drum Removal and Restoration Project Assessment and Design Phase
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA OAA 15 000011
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA OAA 15 000011) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Community Colleges in the 21st Century Apply for CRFP15 07 Funding Number: CRFP15 07 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Symposium on State Competitiveness Apply for NDRFP16 05 Funding Number: NDRFP16 05 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Skills Development Study Trip for State Officials Apply for NDRFP16 06 Funding Number: NDRFP16 06 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Building Smart Cities Through Educational Linkages Apply for NDRFP16 04 Funding Number: NDRFP16 04 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $120,000 |
| App Making Challenge Apply for MRFP15 05 Funding Number: MRFP15 05 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| 2015 National Park Service Academy Summer Intern Program Apply for P15AS00118 Funding Number: P15AS00118 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $531,078 |
| Latino Heritage Internship Program Apply for P15AS00120 Funding Number: P15AS00120 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $199,125 |
| Photographic Exhibit on Community Colleges in the U.S. Apply for NDRFP16 07 Funding Number: NDRFP16 07 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Latino Heritage Internship Program Apply for P15AS00121 Funding Number: P15AS00121 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) First in The World (FITW) Program VALIDATION Grants CFDA Number 84.116X Apply for ED GRANTS 051115 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 051115 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) First in The World (FITW) Program DEVELOPMENT Grants CFDA Number 84.116F Apply for ED GRANTS 051115 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 051115 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Education Models of Four Significant Truss Designs in Wooden Truss Evolution Burr, Town, Long, and Howe. Apply for P15AS00126 Funding Number: P15AS00126 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $34,525 |
| U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program for India Apply for NDRFP16 08 Funding Number: NDRFP16 08 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| South Asian Regional Exchange Program for Young Political Leaders Apply for NDRFP16 09 Funding Number: NDRFP16 09 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Predominantly Black Institutions Competitive Grant Program CFDA Number 382A Apply for ED GRANTS 051815 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 051815 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Science Management of the National Ice Core Laboratory Apply for G15AC00192 Funding Number: G15AC00192 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Education Funding Amount: $97,349 |
| Youth Ambassador and Civic Leadership (Interns)2015 Apply for NPS NOI 15 GUIS 70221 Funding Number: NPS NOI 15 GUIS 70221 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Going Green MOOC Apply for MRFP15 06 Funding Number: MRFP15 06 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Security Studies Course Apply for MRFP15 07 Funding Number: MRFP15 07 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Creation of Centennial Outreach Web Materials for the NPS Park Cultural Landscapes Program Apply for P15AS00138 Funding Number: P15AS00138 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $62,013 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA OAA 15 000011", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.