Young Leaders Program | SFOP0008115

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0008115

The Young Leaders Program (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0008115) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC). It is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of State expects to have an active role in working with the selected recipient during implementation rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The program sits in the education activity category (CFDA 19.600) and is designed to advance inclusive economic growth in Tunisia by investing directly in people who face barriers to full participation in the economy.

At its core, the opportunity is looking for proposals that build practical pathways into employment and economic opportunity for specific, often under-served groups: women and girls, religious and ethnic minorities, youth, and people with disabilities (PWD). Strong proposals are expected to be intentional about who they serve and how they remove obstacles those communities commonly face, whether those are skills gaps, limited access to networks and mentors, discrimination in hiring, or lack of accessible training environments. The emphasis on inclusion is central, so competitive projects should show how recruitment, training delivery, and placement or advancement activities will be accessible and equitable for the target populations.

The program expects beneficiaries to gain a mix of soft skills and job skills, paired with English language training. Soft skills typically include workplace communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, time management, interview readiness, and professional conduct. Job skills can include technical or sector-specific competencies tied to real labor market demand in Tunisia, such as digital skills, business services, entrepreneurship basics, or other employability-focused training aligned with local employer needs. English training is positioned as a practical employability tool, especially for participants seeking roles in international-facing sectors, remote work, or companies that use English in professional settings. A competitive proposal would normally spell out how these components fit together into a coherent participant journey, rather than being separate, disconnected trainings.

NEA/AC signals a preference for projects that bring something new to the table or that can show concrete, measurable results. Proposals that include clear professional development outcomes such as internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning placements, or structured employer engagement are viewed favorably because they translate training into real workplace exposure and a stronger chance of hiring. Scholarship outcomes are also specifically called out as desirable, suggesting the program is open to supporting pathways into further education or credentialing when that is tied to employability and inclusion goals. In practice, that means applicants should define what success looks like in measurable terms, for example: numbers trained, levels of English proficiency gained, certifications earned, internships completed, job placements, wage increases, business startups, or sustained employment after a defined period.

The opportunity anticipates a single award with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $3,000,000. The posting indicates this is not a follow-on award, so it is intended as a stand-alone project rather than an extension of an earlier grant. Applicants are encouraged to reference relevant past experience, which implies that implementers should demonstrate credibility in running workforce development, education, youth leadership, inclusion, or similar programs, ideally with evidence of results and the ability to operate effectively in Tunisia.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the exact eligibility details referenced as being in an additional information field in the full notice. Practically, that category often includes a range of entities such as NGOs, non-profits, educational institutions, and possibly for-profit or quasi-governmental organizations depending on the specific eligibility language in the full announcement. The notice was created on May 27, 2021, with an original application deadline of July 9, 2021, indicating a defined competition window for submission.

Overall, the Young Leaders Program is best understood as a workforce and leadership pipeline effort for Tunisia that combines employability skills, English language instruction, and tangible career-launching opportunities, with a strong requirement that programming be inclusive and intentionally designed for communities that are frequently left out of economic growth.

• The Department of State, Assistance Coordination in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Young Leaders Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.600.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 27, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 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 $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).

Apply for SFOP0008115

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