U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe’s Public Diplomacy Section: Grant for American Spaces Professional Empowerment Program Facilitators

The Public Diplomacy (PD) Section at the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe announces an open competition for individuals to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to implement the American Spaces Professional Empowerment Program (PEP) Workshops to strengthen professional preparedness, job interview skills and persuasive communications to enhance career development skills and increase employability for Zimbabwean youth under 35 years, including university students and young professionals.

Please carefully follow all instructions below.

The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise 1 – 2 page statement of interest designed to clearly communicate program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decision are made.

Program Objectives: Funding will support the American Spaces Professional Empowerment Program (PEP) to strengthen and develop career preparedness skills and employability possibilities for emerging audiences in Zimbabwe, including youth under 35 years, young professional and university students.

The American Spaces PEP workshop facilitator(s) will be responsible for all aspects of delivering up to 25 professional skills-building workshops, presentations and other programs in partnerships with the PD section and American Spaces partners in Zimbabwe. In consultation with the PD Section, the PEP facilitator will develop a schedule of program sites and audiences to deliver a two-part, soft-skills career preparedness workshop series adapted from the American Spaces Entrepreneur Incubator curriculum developed by the Smithsonian Institution. The program includes resume writing, job interview techniques and other professional communications skills. Utilizing workshop materials, handouts and digital presentations, the PEP facilitator will deliver these workshops for Zimbabwean youth at American Spaces in Zimbabwe and universities, community organizations and other venues as determined by the PD Section. The PEP Facilitator may also develop and deliver additional career preparedness presentations as mutually agreed upon with the PD section and American Spaces coordinators in the field.

The PEP facilitator will coordinate directly with each hosting venue to determine the scheduling and number of participants. Additionally, the PEP facilitator will prepare all multi-media products to promote the events; produce copies all program materials, handouts and digital presentations for delivery; and coordinate audio visual needs with each hosting venue. After each program, the PEP facilitator will conduct a program evaluation and audience analysis in the form of a program report utilizing a template to be developed in partnership with the PD section.

Participants and Audiences:

·        Emerging Voices – key influencers;

·        Youth leaders (ages 18-25) and youth interested in studying in the United States;

·        University students, and other higher education institutions (HEIs); and

·        Alumni of U.S. government-funded Public Diplomacy programs.

The ideal individual must possess the following attributes:

·        Should be an alumni of a U.S. government-funded Public Diplomacy exchange program;

·        3 – 5 years’ experience in facilitating workshops and programs;

·        Excellent oral and written communication skills;

·        Demonstrated experience working with youth;

·        Flexibility with providing evening workshops and virtual programs;

·        Able to work with minimum supervision; and

·        Strong analytical writing skills.

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT IS ATTACHED