USAID/RDMA Grant: Increasing Youth Workforce Readiness in the Lower Mekong Region

Request for Information (RFI): Better preparing Lower Mekong youth for the 21st century workforce

Reference Number: 72048618RFI00013

Release Date: September 28, 2018

Response Due Date:October 24, 2018

The United States Agency for International Development, Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA) is in the process of gathering information to support anticipated project design in support of the U.S. Government’s efforts to strengthen higher education in the Lower Mekong so as to better prepare students to join the 21st century workforce in high growth sectors.

This Request for Information (RFI) offers the opportunity for interested individuals and organizations to provide recommendations on how to best equip post-secondary students with the skills required by employers in the five Lower Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam).

Background

The technological revolution demands advanced technical skill sets, and greater need for the soft skills that will enable employees to adapt, analyze, learn quickly, and collaborate across cultures. Since 2014, in support of the Lower Mekong Initiative, USAID has been partnering with U.S. companies and universities to bring cutting edge educational approaches and technologies to the Lower Mekong countries to improve workforce capacity. Through key U.S. and local partners, USAID has been supporting a network of universities and vocational colleges across the five Lower Mekong countries to transform their educational systems to better equip students with 21st century workplace skills.