Deadline: 18 April 2022

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified Tanzanian entities to implement the “Youth Empowerment and Skills (YES)” program. Eligibility for this award is restricted to Tanzanian organizations that meet USAID’s definition of local entity.

Under this call, USAID/Tanzania is looking to fund an organization that will work closely with the USAID/Tanzania Mission and current implementing partners to create and support an array of sustainable human-centered design interventions, differentiated, and tailored to the specific needs of the targeted youth between the ages of 15 and 25.

Interventions will be youth-owned, youth-led, and youth-managed. They will focus particularly on out-of-school youth who have had limited opportunities to engage in the formal education sector. Interventions will be implemented in the following regions:

• Zanzibar, including Pemba
• Dar es Salaam and up to one or two additional regions from the following CDCS target areas:
• Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania: Iringa, Morogoro, Ngombe, and Mbeya; and
• Lake Western Zone:  Mwanza, Shinyanga, Mara, and Kagera; and 

The three main objectives of the activity are to enable youth to: (1) access resources and opportunities for basic educational, life, and entrepreneurial skills; (2) participate in activities that foster physical and mental well-being; and (3) build or strengthen existing networks that support youth development and community engagement. The expected result of this activity is that youth will be more productive, engaged, and active members in their communities.

I. Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

• USAID intends to award one cooperative agreement pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity.
•  Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $10,630,000 in total USAID funding over a four-year period.
• The estimated start date is September 30, 2022.

II. Eligibility

• Only local organizations as defined below are eligible for award. USAID defines a “local entity” as an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:

1. Is legally organized under the laws of; and
2. Has as its principal place of business or operations in; and
3. Is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and
4. Is managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance.

• These eligibility requirements apply to only the principal applicant.
• Entities that meet the definition of “locally established partner” are not eligible to submit an application as the principal applicant.
• USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
• Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law.

III. Responsibility

• Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations.
• The successful applicant may be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey) by the Agreement Officer (AO).
• The Recipient must be a responsible entity. The AO may determine a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award.

IV. How to apply?

To be considered for this funding opportunity, all applicants must follow the procedures below.

• Both the Technical and Business (Cost) Applications must include a cover page containing the following information:

1. Name of the organization(s) submitting the application;
2. Identification and signature of the primary contact person (by name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone number and email address) and the identification of the alternate contact person (by name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone number and email address);
3. Program name
4. Notice of Funding Opportunity number
5. Name of any proposed sub-recipients or partnerships (identify if any of the organizations are local organizations, per USAID’s definition of ‘local entity’ under ADS 303.

• Applicants may choose to submit a cover letter in addition to the cover pages, but it will serve only as a transmittal letter to the Agreement Officer. The cover letter will not be reviewed as part of the merit review criteria.
• Applications must be submitted by email to Cecilia Mambo Acquisition and Assistance Specialist: [email protected] and Sascha Kemper: Agreement Officer [email protected]
• Email submissions must include the NOFO number and applicant’s name in the subject line heading. In addition, for an application sent by multiple emails, the subject line must also indicate whether the email relates to the technical or cost application, and the desired sequence of the emails and their attachments (e.g., "No. 1 of 4", etc.). For example, if your cost application is being sent in two emails, the first email should have a subject line that states: "[NOFO number], [organization name], Cost Application, Part 1 of 2".

For more information, please visit the official webpage