Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006331
The Tomorrow's Leaders College-to-Work Pipeline Pilot (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006331) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity, issued through the Assistance Coordination office and aligned with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). It is a discretionary funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement, which typically means the government expects to remain actively involved during implementation rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The overall purpose is to respond to two connected challenges facing youth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): persistent high unemployment and the resulting pressure to emigrate in search of better career prospects. By improving pathways from higher education into real employment, the program aims to strengthen job readiness and promote youth leadership while creating more concrete incentives for employers to hire.
The core idea of the pilot is to build a practical "college-to-work" pipeline for participants in the Tomorrow's Leaders (TL) ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on employer engagement. Rather than focusing only on classroom learning or short-term training, the opportunity calls for partnerships across the private sector, public sector, and nongovernmental organizations to encourage employers to expand employment opportunities and to better prepare young people for leadership in the workplace. A central performance target described in the announcement is the annual placement of 40 TL graduates into jobs, indicating that measurable employment outcomes are a key metric of success. The program is therefore designed not only to develop skills and readiness, but also to translate that preparation into actual hiring and retention outcomes.
In terms of funding, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $3,000,000 and anticipates making one award, suggesting a single lead implementer would manage the pilot at scale, likely coordinating a network of partners across one or more MENA countries. The activity category is Employment, Labor and Training, and it is associated with CFDA number 19.500, which is commonly used for Department of State assistance programs. The opportunity was created on December 20, 2019, with an original closing date of February 21, 2020, which places it within a specific funding cycle but still provides a useful snapshot of U.S. government priorities and program design for youth employment initiatives in the region.
Eligibility is noted as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full text of the announcement, which usually signals that a range of organizations may apply depending on the Department of State's specific criteria (for example, certain nonprofits, educational institutions, consortia, or other qualified entities). Overall, the grant opportunity is positioned as a targeted pilot meant to connect education to employment more effectively, mobilize employers as active partners, and produce clear job placement results for young graduates, while also contributing to longer-term goals of youth stability, opportunity, and leadership development across MENA.Apply for SFOP0006331
- The Department of State, Assistance Coordination in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tomorrow's Leaders College-to-Work Pipeline Pilot" 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 Dec 20, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 21, 2020. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is called the Tomorrow's Leaders College-to-Work Pipeline Pilot.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0006331.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity.
Which office is issuing the opportunity?
It is issued through the Assistance Coordination office.
Is this opportunity connected to a specific Department of State initiative?
Yes. It is aligned with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement.
What does a "cooperative agreement" imply for implementation?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates the government expects to remain actively involved during implementation, rather than providing funds with minimal involvement.
What problem is the pilot trying to address?
The pilot is designed to respond to two connected challenges facing youth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): persistent high unemployment and the resulting pressure to emigrate in search of better career prospects.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The purpose is to improve pathways from higher education into real employment by strengthening job readiness, promoting youth leadership, and creating more concrete incentives for employers to hire.
What is the core concept behind the pilot?
The core idea is to build a practical college-to-work pipeline for participants in the Tomorrow's Leaders (TL) ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on employer engagement.
Is the pilot mainly focused on classroom learning or training workshops?
No. The opportunity emphasizes building a pipeline to real employment outcomes and does not focus only on classroom learning or short-term training.
What kinds of partnerships does the opportunity call for?
It calls for partnerships across the private sector, public sector, and nongovernmental organizations to encourage employers to expand employment opportunities and better prepare young people for leadership in the workplace.
How important is employer engagement in this pilot?
Employer engagement is central. The design places strong emphasis on mobilizing employers as active partners in expanding opportunities, hiring, and supporting successful workplace outcomes.
Are measurable employment outcomes required?
Yes. The announcement highlights measurable employment outcomes, including job placement and retention, as key metrics of success.
What specific job placement target is mentioned?
A central performance target described is the annual placement of 40 Tomorrow's Leaders (TL) graduates into jobs.
Does the pilot focus only on getting someone hired, or also on longer-term outcomes?
Based on the description, the program is designed to translate preparation into actual hiring and retention outcomes, not just short-term readiness activities.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $3,000,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity anticipates making one award.
What does anticipating one award suggest about implementation?
It suggests a single lead implementer would likely manage the pilot at scale, potentially coordinating a network of partners across one or more MENA countries.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Employment, Labor and Training.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.500.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 20, 2019.
What was the original closing date listed for the opportunity?
The original closing date was February 21, 2020.
What geographic region is the pilot focused on?
The pilot focuses on youth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Who is the pilot intended to serve?
It is intended to support participants in the Tomorrow's Leaders (TL) ecosystem, with an emphasis on supporting graduates as they move from college into employment.
Is the program intended to influence employers as well as job seekers?
Yes. The program aims to create incentives and partnerships that encourage employers to expand employment opportunities and hire TL graduates.
What is listed for eligibility?
Eligibility is noted as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full text of the announcement.
What does "Others" mean in the eligibility field?
In this context, it generally signals that a range of organizations may apply depending on the Department of State's criteria, with details provided in the full announcement text.
What types of applicants might fit under the eligibility description provided?
The description suggests eligibility may include a range of qualified entities such as certain nonprofits, educational institutions, consortia, or other organizations, subject to the specific criteria in the full announcement.
Is this opportunity described as a pilot?
Yes. It is explicitly positioned as a targeted pilot to test and demonstrate a stronger education-to-employment pipeline model.
What broader outcomes does the program aim to support beyond employment?
In addition to employment outcomes, the program is described as contributing to longer-term goals of youth stability, opportunity, and leadership development across MENA.
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