Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 603 16 000003
Apply for RFA 603 16 000003
- The Agency for International Development, Ethiopia USAID-Addis Ababa in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Workforce Development Program - Djibouti" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 08, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $24,900,000.00 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:
USAID, through its Ethiopia-based office in Addis Ababa, issued Request for Applications (RFA) No. RFA-603-16-000003 to fund a five-year Workforce Development Program in Djibouti. The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning USAID expects a relatively hands-on partnership with the awardee during implementation. The overall goal is straightforward: increase the number of active members of the Djiboutian workforce by improving how people are prepared for jobs and how they connect to employers. The activity is planned to run across calendar years 2017 through 2021, and it is positioned as a contribution to the Government of Djibouti's broader objective of lowering an unemployment rate estimated to exceed 60 percent.
The technical focus is organized around three main results. First, the program aims to expand access to and improve the quality of workforce readiness efforts, with particular emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs. This piece is about strengthening the pipeline of job-ready candidates by ensuring training is relevant and produces graduates with skills that employers actually use. Second, the activity is intended to build durable linkages between the public sector institutions that supply labor (training institutions and related government entities) and the private sector that demands labor (companies and industry groups). In practice, that implies creating ongoing collaboration mechanisms so curricula, standards, and recruitment channels are informed by real-time market needs rather than operating in isolation. Third, the program seeks to strengthen employment services that help people not only land jobs, but keep them and progress over time, including job placement, retention support, and advancement pathways.
USAID highlights that employers in Djibouti need both technical and non-technical skills. On the technical side, examples include occupational skills tied to growth sectors and trade routes such as heavy transport operations linked to the Ethiopia-Djibouti corridor, shipping and port operations, and hospitality and tourism. On the soft-skills side, the solicitation emphasizes workplace behaviors and competencies that affect employability and performance, such as punctuality, work ethic, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively. Taken together, the program is designed to reduce the mismatch between what training systems produce and what private employers are willing to hire for, thereby increasing labor force participation and improving employment outcomes.
The opportunity is categorized under Education (CFDA 98.001) and is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, excluding entities from countries subject to U.S. foreign policy restrictions. USAID anticipated making one award, with an award ceiling of $24,900,000. The funding opportunity was posted July 8, 2016, with an original application deadline of August 11, 2016. Questions were required to be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 PM local time on July 22, 2016, to Yordanos Abraham at yabraham@usaid.gov, with a copy to caddis@usaid.gov. The legal authority cited for the solicitation is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as amended) and the Grants and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977.
Workforce Development Program in Djibouti (USAID RFA-603-16-000003) - FAQs
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a USAID Request for Applications (RFA) identified as RFA-603-16-000003 to support a five-year Workforce Development Program in Djibouti.
2) What type of award is USAID offering?
The activity is planned as a cooperative agreement. That means USAID expects a relatively hands-on partnership with the awardee during implementation rather than a fully arms-length relationship.
3) What is the overall goal of the program?
The goal is to increase the number of active members of the Djiboutian workforce by improving how people are prepared for jobs and how they connect to employers.
4) What years is the activity expected to cover?
The program is planned to run across calendar years 2017 through 2021.
5) How does the program fit into Djibouti's broader context?
The activity is positioned as a contribution to the Government of Djibouti's objective of reducing an unemployment rate estimated to exceed 60 percent.
6) What are the main technical focus areas (results) of the program?
USAID organizes the technical focus around three main results: (1) expanding access to and improving the quality of workforce readiness efforts (with emphasis on TVET), (2) building durable linkages between public sector labor-supplying institutions and private sector labor demand, and (3) strengthening employment services that support placement, retention, and advancement.
7) What does "workforce readiness" mean in this program?
In this solicitation, workforce readiness is tied to improving preparation for jobs, particularly through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), so training is relevant and produces graduates with skills employers actually use.
8) Why does the RFA emphasize TVET?
TVET is highlighted because the program aims to strengthen the pipeline of job-ready candidates by improving access to and quality of technical and vocational training, aligning it more closely with real employer needs.
9) What does USAID mean by "durable linkages" between public and private sectors?
The RFA describes durable linkages as ongoing collaboration mechanisms between training institutions and related government entities (labor supply) and companies and industry groups (labor demand), so curricula, standards, and recruitment channels reflect real-time market needs rather than operating in isolation.
10) What kinds of employment services does the program intend to strengthen?
The program seeks to strengthen services that help people land jobs and keep them, including job placement, retention support, and advancement pathways.
11) What types of skills are employers said to need in Djibouti?
USAID notes a need for both technical and non-technical skills. Technical skills include occupational skills tied to growth sectors and trade routes, while non-technical skills include workplace behaviors and competencies that affect employability and performance.
12) What examples of technical skills or sectors are mentioned?
The solicitation provides examples such as heavy transport operations linked to the Ethiopia-Djibouti corridor, shipping and port operations, and hospitality and tourism.
13) What examples of soft skills are emphasized?
Examples include punctuality, work ethic, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
14) What problem is the program trying to address in the labor market?
The program is designed to reduce the mismatch between what training systems produce and what private employers are willing to hire for, with the aim of increasing labor force participation and improving employment outcomes.
15) Which sector/category does USAID assign to this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Education, with CFDA 98.001.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, excluding entities from countries subject to U.S. foreign policy restrictions.
17) How many awards did USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipated making one award.
18) What is the maximum funding amount available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $24,900,000.
19) When was the funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 8, 2016.
20) What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was August 11, 2016.
21) When were questions due, and how were they required to be submitted?
Questions were required to be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 PM local time on July 22, 2016.
22) Who was the point of contact for submitting written questions?
Questions were directed to Yordanos Abraham at yabraham@usaid.gov, with a copy to caddis@usaid.gov.
23) Which USAID office issued the RFA?
The RFA was issued by USAID through its Ethiopia-based office in Addis Ababa.
24) What legal authorities are cited for this solicitation?
The RFA cites the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as amended) and the Grants and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 as the legal authority.
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