U.S. Department of State Grant: Empowering Kenyan Youth through Inclusive Work Readiness and Tech Opportunities

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The U.S. Embassy in Kenya of the U.S. Department of State invites you to submit a cooperative agreement proposal, not to exceed $22,000 to develop and implement a program on Inclusive Work Readiness and organize a Tech Opportunities Summit. Please follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: Nairobi, Lamu, Mombasa and Nakuru regions. 

Program Objectives: 

Work readiness skills are the foundational skills needed to be minimally qualified for a specific occupation as determined through a job analysis or occupational profile. Equipped with often-missing cognitive, technical, digital, and self-advocacy skills, 18–35-year-old Kenyans, including those living with disabilities, could greatly improve their employability and attract opportunities that could advance their socio-economic wellbeing as well as that of the country.

In cooperation with the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, this award will develop and implement a program on Inclusive Work Readiness and organize a Tech Opportunities Summit to be held in-person at the five American Spaces in Nairobi (2), Lamu, Mombasa, and Nakuru. Specifically, the implementer should be able to, at a minimum, conduct the following activities:  

• Develop a workshop series of 10-12 modules (with one or more sessions per module) to include topics such as: job seeker visibility, CV/Resume and application letter writing, navigating applicant tracking systems, networking, interviewing skills, salary negotiation, career growth mapping, and job retention among other relevant skills. Content can be original or re-purposed but must be copyright- and royalty-free and may include content freely available from U.S. government websites. 
• Publish workshop-related content on availed platforms for participant access and to review progress.
• Recruit a minimum of 250 target audience participants across all five locations. A minimum of 150 of the recruited participants are expected to successfully complete the workshop series.
• Facilitate in-person and/or virtual workshops or sessions at all five locations covering the pre-packaged modules. Include expert guest speakers as needed and appropriate. (Venues are available free-of-charge; grant proposal should include any workshop materials, refreshments, and travel expenses anticipated. Ideally, there would be at least one in-person session at each of the five locations.)
• Collaborate with the U.S. Embassy Kenya to organize an inclusive Tech opportunities Summit (1 day) with speakers at a venue to be provided [No venue cost for implementer.]
• Build in time for U.S. Embassy speakers to address the target audiences periodically.
• Provide all workshop series resources in a manner that can be easily replicated by PDS for future iterations of the program.
• Ensure program is inclusive, accessible, and accommodates persons with disabilities.
• Consider sustainability and follow-on activities for participants to network with others, share the newly acquired knowledge, and/or maintain their new skills.
• Document program activities and testimonials to provide materials for PD Tools and Embassy social media entries for each program. Templates to be provided.
• Develop clear monitoring and evaluation to produce evidence-based results. This will provide a way to gauge public perception, sustainability, and scalability.

Participants and Audiences:

Kenyans ages 18-35 who are unemployed or under-employed looking to improve their employability across different fields including the dynamic tech space. Special consideration for persons with disabilities. 

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The U.S. Embassy in Kenya of the U.S. Department of State invites you to submit a cooperative agreement proposal, not to exceed $22,000 to develop and implement a program on Inclusive Work Readiness and organize a Tech Opportunities Summit. Please follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: Nairobi, Lamu, Mombasa and Nakuru regions. 

Program Objectives: 

Work readiness skills are the foundational skills needed to be minimally qualified for a specific occupation as determined through a job analysis or occupational profile. Equipped with often-missing cognitive, technical, digital, and self-advocacy skills, 18–35-year-old Kenyans, including those living with disabilities, could greatly improve their employability and attract opportunities that could advance their socio-economic wellbeing as well as that of the country.

In cooperation with the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, this award will develop and implement a program on Inclusive Work Readiness and organize a Tech Opportunities Summit to be held in-person at the five American Spaces in Nairobi (2), Lamu, Mombasa, and Nakuru. Specifically, the implementer should be able to, at a minimum, conduct the following activities:  

• Develop a workshop series of 10-12 modules (with one or more sessions per module) to include topics such as: job seeker visibility, CV/Resume and application letter writing, navigating applicant tracking systems, networking, interviewing skills, salary negotiation, career growth mapping, and job retention among other relevant skills. Content can be original or re-purposed but must be copyright- and royalty-free and may include content freely available from U.S. government websites. 
• Publish workshop-related content on availed platforms for participant access and to review progress.
• Recruit a minimum of 250 target audience participants across all five locations. A minimum of 150 of the recruited participants are expected to successfully complete the workshop series.
• Facilitate in-person and/or virtual workshops or sessions at all five locations covering the pre-packaged modules. Include expert guest speakers as needed and appropriate. (Venues are available free-of-charge; grant proposal should include any workshop materials, refreshments, and travel expenses anticipated. Ideally, there would be at least one in-person session at each of the five locations.)
• Collaborate with the U.S. Embassy Kenya to organize an inclusive Tech opportunities Summit (1 day) with speakers at a venue to be provided [No venue cost for implementer.]
• Build in time for U.S. Embassy speakers to address the target audiences periodically.
• Provide all workshop series resources in a manner that can be easily replicated by PDS for future iterations of the program.
• Ensure program is inclusive, accessible, and accommodates persons with disabilities.
• Consider sustainability and follow-on activities for participants to network with others, share the newly acquired knowledge, and/or maintain their new skills.
• Document program activities and testimonials to provide materials for PD Tools and Embassy social media entries for each program. Templates to be provided.
• Develop clear monitoring and evaluation to produce evidence-based results. This will provide a way to gauge public perception, sustainability, and scalability.

Participants and Audiences:

Kenyans ages 18-35 who are unemployed or under-employed looking to improve their employability across different fields including the dynamic tech space. Special consideration for persons with disabilities.