HELIX Addendum - Employment Pathways for Youth | 72061522APS00002

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72061522APS00002

The HELIX Addendum - Employment Pathways for Youth (Funding Opportunity Number 72061522APS00002) is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development in Kenya (USAID/KEA, USAID-Nairobi). It invites organizations to submit concept notes under the Higher Education for Leadership, Innovation and Exchange (HELIX) program framework, specifically focused on strengthening employment pathways for youth. The opportunity sits within the education funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 98.001, indicating it is part of USAID's broader foreign assistance programming.

USAID plans to support the selected work through a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means the awardee should expect substantial involvement from USAID during implementation (for example, technical collaboration, shared planning, or iterative refinement of activities and results). The solicitation was created on May 26, 2022, and originally closed on June 27, 2022, setting a roughly one-month window for applicants to prepare and submit their concept notes. The funding size is significant, with an award ceiling of $4,000,000, and USAID anticipates making two awards, suggesting competitive selection and a program design that may fund a small number of relatively robust projects rather than many small ones.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the note that applicants must consult the addendum's additional eligibility information for clarification. In practice, this type of eligibility language often signals that multiple organization types may be allowed to apply (such as universities, nonprofits, private sector entities, consortiums, or local partners), but that there are specific conditions or preferences described in the addendum that could affect who can apply and how teams must be formed. The central action requested in the announcement is submission of concept notes, meaning USAID is likely using a staged application process where initial submissions outline the proposed approach, target population, partnerships, and anticipated outcomes before inviting a smaller group to develop full proposals.

At its core, the addendum targets youth employment outcomes through the lens of higher education, leadership development, innovation, and exchange. While the public notice does not detail specific technical requirements, it clearly ties proposed efforts to the HELIX platform and directs applicants to the addendum document for the full scope, priorities, and submission instructions. The overall intent is to catalyze practical, education-linked pathways that help young people transition into work, improve employability, or access better employment opportunities, with USAID providing up to $4 million per award and expecting two total awards under this call.

• The Agency for International Development, Kenya USAID-Nairobi in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HELIX Addendum - Employment Pathways for Youth" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 26, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 27, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 72061522APS00002

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