Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 623 11 000005
Apply for RFA 623 11 000005
- The Kenya USAID Nairobi in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Yes Youth Can" 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 Mar 30, 2011 and posted on Mar 30, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 26, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $23,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $23,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 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/Kenya's "Yes Youth Can" is a three year grant program designed to strengthen Kenya's post election recovery by putting young people at the center of local development, livelihoods, and peacebuilding. The program targets provinces most affected by the 2007 to 2008 post election violence, as well as areas considered vulnerable to future election related violence, with the broader aim of reducing conflict risk ahead of national elections by addressing one of the root drivers: large numbers of youth who lack economic opportunity and meaningful civic voice. The overarching goal is to empower Kenyan youth to drive their own development and become responsible citizens who contribute to peace and prosperity, while the core objective is to support recovery and development in violence affected or at risk areas by strengthening the ability of youth, youth groups, and youth serving organizations to collaborate with each other, engage markets and government, and advocate for legitimate needs in ways that also promote inter ethnic understanding and tolerance. A central theme throughout is that youth empowerment must be authentic, meaning youth ownership should be embedded in decision making and governance at every level rather than youth being treated only as beneficiaries.
The opportunity is grounded in a diagnosis of structural youth marginalization in Kenya. Youth ages 15 to 30 make up about a third of the population, and roughly 500,000 leave school each year, yet the formal economy has not created jobs at a pace that matches this growth. With only about 150,000 formal sector jobs created over a six year period cited in the description, many young people are pushed toward informal "jua kali" livelihoods, where operating a small business can involve unofficial payments for security to police or youth gangs. Although the Government of Kenya has a National Youth Policy and other initiatives like the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and Kazi Kwa Vijana, the description notes that many youth are unaware of these policies or feel excluded from their design, and that some programs are perceived as lacking transparency and genuine youth involvement. "Yes Youth Can" positions itself as an alternative approach that combines economic, civic, and service access interventions in an integrated, multi sectoral way, with activities meant to reinforce each other rather than operate in isolation.
The program sets out five main objectives. First, it seeks to increase youth economic prospects through skills development and improved access to finance so youth can start viable microenterprises, implement self reliant community level economic development projects, and access employment opportunities. Second, it aims to strengthen youth voice in governance by building advocacy capacity and supporting inter ethnic dialogue so youth can participate more effectively in local, regional, and national policy discussions. Third, it focuses on expanding youth access to essential services that are more youth friendly, recognizing that service barriers can reinforce exclusion. Fourth, it intends to establish new institutional arrangements that can attract and leverage public and private resources through youth managed organizations, not just short term projects. Fifth, it explicitly promotes a new model of empowerment built around youth owned, youth led, and youth managed actions, making youth leadership an operating principle rather than an add on.
A notable element is the emphasis on building youth managed institutional capacity at both national and county levels, including mechanisms that allow youth to design, govern, and sustain their own structures. While "at risk" youth are the primary beneficiaries, the program also plans to leverage "non risk" youth as role models, mentors, coaches, and trainers, including drawing on educated or experienced youth and leaders of effective civil society organizations to strengthen peer learning and leadership development. By the end of the three year period, USAID expects to have demonstrated a workable model where youth serve as decision makers and community development leaders, created new livelihood opportunities largely through self employment that overcome market barriers, increased youth participation and influence in civic and governance affairs, and established national, grassroots based youth networks that provide an ongoing platform for youth led development beyond the life of the award.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary USAID opportunity issued by USAID/Kenya (Nairobi) under Funding Opportunity Number RFA 623 11 000005, with awards made through cooperative agreements. The estimated total funding is $23,000,000, with an anticipated range per award of roughly $20,000,000 to $23,000,000 and an expectation of up to five awards. Cost sharing or matching is required. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types can apply, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement. The posting date is March 30, 2011, and the closing date is April 26, 2011.
The description also highlights a specific functional role often referred to as a Fund Manager, outlining the kinds of responsibilities an implementer may be expected to carry. These include identifying and recruiting youth and community fund participants; providing hands on technical assistance to help youth access the fund, such as developing feasible proposals; establishing project approval mechanisms; leading development of a fund operations manual; managing disbursements; auditing funded projects; applying a business minded approach to grow the fund's resource base; and designing an institutional framework for a youth owned, youth led, and youth managed institution supported by a viable business plan. For applicant support or submission questions, the point of contact listed is Francis Kavulu (Senior Acquisition Specialist), and the submission and inquiry email provided is cafrica@usaid.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - USAID/Kenya "Yes Youth Can" (RFA 623-11-000005)
1) What is the "Yes Youth Can" grant program?
USAID/Kenya's "Yes Youth Can" is a three-year grant program designed to strengthen Kenya's post-election recovery by putting young people at the center of local development, livelihoods, and peacebuilding.
2) What problem is the program trying to address?
The opportunity is grounded in a diagnosis of structural youth marginalization in Kenya, including limited economic opportunities and limited meaningful civic voice for youth. A major concern is that large numbers of youth who lack opportunity can increase conflict risk, especially around elections.
3) What is the overarching goal of the program?
The overarching goal is to empower Kenyan youth to drive their own development and become responsible citizens who contribute to peace and prosperity.
4) What is the core objective of "Yes Youth Can"?
The core objective is to support recovery and development in violence-affected or at-risk areas by strengthening the ability of youth, youth groups, and youth-serving organizations to collaborate with each other, engage markets and government, and advocate for legitimate needs in ways that also promote inter-ethnic understanding and tolerance.
5) Which geographic areas does the program target?
The program targets provinces most affected by the 2007 to 2008 post-election violence, as well as areas considered vulnerable to future election-related violence.
6) Who are the primary beneficiaries?
"At risk" youth are described as the primary beneficiaries. The program also plans to leverage "non risk" youth as role models, mentors, coaches, and trainers.
7) What age group is considered "youth" under this opportunity?
The description discusses youth ages 15 to 30 in Kenya as the relevant population group.
8) What does the program mean by "authentic" youth empowerment?
A central theme is that youth empowerment must be authentic, meaning youth ownership should be embedded in decision-making and governance at every level, rather than youth being treated only as beneficiaries.
9) Is this program focused only on jobs and livelihoods?
No. The program is presented as an integrated, multi-sectoral approach that combines economic, civic, and service access interventions so that activities reinforce each other rather than operate in isolation.
10) What are the five main objectives of "Yes Youth Can"?
The program sets out five main objectives: (1) increase youth economic prospects through skills development and improved access to finance; (2) strengthen youth voice in governance through advocacy capacity and inter-ethnic dialogue; (3) expand youth access to essential, more youth-friendly services; (4) establish new institutional arrangements that can attract and leverage public and private resources through youth-managed organizations; and (5) promote a model built around youth-owned, youth-led, and youth-managed actions as an operating principle.
11) What kinds of economic activities does the program expect to support?
The description indicates support for skills development and access to finance so youth can start viable microenterprises, implement self-reliant community-level economic development projects, and access employment opportunities, with a strong emphasis on self-employment and overcoming market barriers.
12) How does the program approach governance and civic participation?
The program aims to strengthen youth voice in governance by building advocacy capacity and supporting inter-ethnic dialogue so youth can participate more effectively in local, regional, and national policy discussions.
13) What does "youth-friendly services" mean in this opportunity?
The description emphasizes expanding youth access to essential services that are more youth-friendly and notes that service barriers can reinforce exclusion. Specific service sectors are not detailed in the provided summary.
14) What is meant by "new institutional arrangements"?
The program intends to establish institutional arrangements that can attract and leverage public and private resources through youth-managed organizations, not just short-term projects, including mechanisms allowing youth to design, govern, and sustain their own structures at national and county levels.
15) What results does USAID expect by the end of the three-year period?
By the end of the three years, USAID expects to have demonstrated a workable model where youth serve as decision-makers and community development leaders, created new livelihood opportunities largely through self-employment that overcome market barriers, increased youth participation and influence in civic and governance affairs, and established national, grassroots-based youth networks that can continue youth-led development beyond the award period.
16) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA 623 11 000005.
17) Which USAID office is issuing the opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by USAID/Kenya (Nairobi).
18) What type of award will USAID make under this opportunity?
Awards are made through cooperative agreements.
19) What is the estimated total funding available?
The estimated total funding is $23,000,000.
20) What is the anticipated funding range per award?
The anticipated range per award is roughly $20,000,000 to $23,000,000.
21) How many awards does USAID expect to make?
The description states an expectation of up to five awards.
22) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required.
23) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types can apply, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement.
24) When was the opportunity posted and when does it close?
The posting date is March 30, 2011, and the closing date is April 26, 2011.
25) Does the opportunity describe a "Fund Manager" role, and what does it include?
Yes. The description highlights a functional role often referred to as a Fund Manager. Responsibilities described include identifying and recruiting youth and community fund participants; providing hands-on technical assistance so youth can access the fund (including developing feasible proposals); establishing project approval mechanisms; leading development of a fund operations manual; managing disbursements; auditing funded projects; applying a business-minded approach to grow the fund's resource base; and designing an institutional framework for a youth-owned, youth-led, and youth-managed institution supported by a viable business plan.
26) How does the program plan to involve "non risk" youth?
"Non risk" youth are intended to be leveraged as role models, mentors, coaches, and trainers, including educated or experienced youth and leaders of effective civil society organizations, to strengthen peer learning and leadership development.
27) How is peacebuilding incorporated into the program design?
Peacebuilding is incorporated through targeting violence-affected or at-risk areas, reducing conflict risk ahead of national elections, strengthening youth collaboration and engagement with markets and government, and supporting inter-ethnic understanding, tolerance, and dialogue.
28) Who is the listed point of contact for applicant support or submission questions?
The point of contact listed is Francis Kavulu (Senior Acquisition Specialist).
29) What email address is provided for submission and inquiries?
The email provided is cafrica@usaid.gov.
30) Does the description indicate how the program differs from some existing youth initiatives?
Yes. The description notes that while the Government of Kenya has initiatives (such as a National Youth Policy, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, and Kazi Kwa Vijana), many youth are unaware of these policies or feel excluded from their design, and some programs are perceived as lacking transparency and genuine youth involvement. "Yes Youth Can" positions itself as an integrated, youth-owned approach that embeds youth in decision-making and governance rather than treating them only as beneficiaries.
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