Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0007747
The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) and its Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), offered a discretionary grant opportunity focused on inclusive economic growth in Dakhla, Laayoune, and surrounding areas. The program is designed to expand economic opportunity for groups that often face higher barriers to employment and entrepreneurship, specifically women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWD). The central idea is to help these target populations build practical pathways into the local economy through training and support that translates into real, measurable outcomes.
A competitive proposal under this opportunity would center on workforce and employability development, combining soft skills (such as communication, teamwork, workplace readiness, professionalism, and interview preparation) with job skills that are aligned to local labor market needs. A distinguishing feature of this particular project is the required English-language component; while MEPI has supported economically focused work in the past, this opportunity is described as the first in this context to explicitly include English training as part of the package for beneficiaries. Applicants are encouraged to think about how English instruction can directly improve employability, workplace performance, access to better-paying roles, or the ability to engage with broader markets and clients.
The Department of State signaled a preference for proposals that are innovative and results-oriented. That means projects that can credibly lead to concrete outcomes like participants securing jobs, obtaining internships or apprenticeships, improving income, or launching and sustaining small businesses would be viewed more favorably. Strong proposals would likely connect training to real employer demand, include mechanisms for placement or referrals, and offer practical bridges to work such as mentorship, employer engagement, job matching, or support for entrepreneurship (for example, business fundamentals, market analysis, customer acquisition, and basic financial management). The opportunity also notes that applicants may reference relevant past experience to demonstrate capacity to implement similar programs effectively, but it is not framed as a continuation of previous awards.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, the opportunity was published under Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0007747 with an anticipated single award. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies a closer working relationship with the U.S. government during implementation than a standard grant. The award ceiling was listed at $450,000, and the program area aligns with Employment, Labor and Training under CFDA 19.500. Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity was created on March 8, 2021, with an original application closing date of May 9, 2021.
Overall, this grant competition aimed to fund one strong implementer to deliver a targeted economic empowerment program in the Dakhla and Laayoune region that blends employability and job-specific training with English-language learning, prioritizes inclusion of women, youth, and PWD, and produces tangible employment or entrepreneurship outcomes rather than only completing training activities.Apply for SFOP0007747
- The Department of State, Assistance Coordination in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Economic Empowerment in Dakhla, Laayoune, and the Surrounding Regions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.500.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 08, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 09, 2021. (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 $450,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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