Request for Statement of Interest (SOI) for American Spaces, Professional Empowerment Program Workshop Facilitator | AF HAR FY22 04

Opportunity Information: Apply for AF HAR FY22 04

The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe, through its Public Diplomacy (PD) Section, is seeking statements of interest (SOIs) from qualified individuals to serve as workshop facilitator(s) for the American Spaces Professional Empowerment Program (PEP). The overall aim is to improve employability and career readiness for Zimbabwean youth under 35, including university students and young professionals, by strengthening practical soft skills such as professional communication, resume writing, interviewing, and persuasive communication for career development.

This opportunity uses a two-step application process. First, applicants submit a short, focused SOI of about 1 to 2 pages that clearly explains their program idea and intended objectives; it is explicitly not a full proposal. The embassy will review eligible SOIs, and only selected applicants will be invited to submit a more detailed full proposal in the second stage. Full proposals then undergo a separate merit review before final funding decisions are made.

Funding supports the delivery of up to 25 professional skills-building workshops and related presentations delivered in partnership with the PD Section and American Spaces partners across Zimbabwe. The facilitator will work with the PD Section to build a schedule of sites and audiences and deliver a two-part career preparedness workshop series that is adapted from the American Spaces Entrepreneur Incubator curriculum developed by the Smithsonian Institution. Core topics include resume development, job interview techniques, and broader professional communication skills. Workshops may take place at American Spaces as well as at universities, community organizations, and other venues selected in coordination with the PD Section. In addition to the standard series, the facilitator may also create and deliver extra career preparedness presentations if agreed upon with the PD Section and field-based American Spaces coordinators.

The facilitator role is operational and end-to-end. Responsibilities include coordinating directly with host venues on dates, logistics, and participant numbers; preparing promotional multimedia products; printing or otherwise producing participant materials and handouts; developing or adapting digital slide decks; and coordinating audiovisual requirements with each location. After each session, the facilitator must also complete monitoring and evaluation tasks by conducting an audience analysis and submitting a program report using a reporting template developed jointly with the PD Section.

The program is geared toward specific priority audiences, including emerging voices and key influencers, youth leaders ages 18 to 25 (including those interested in studying in the United States), university students and other higher education audiences, and alumni of U.S. government-funded public diplomacy programs. The embassy indicates a preference for facilitators who are themselves alumni of a U.S. government-funded Public Diplomacy exchange program and who bring roughly 3 to 5 years of workshop facilitation experience, strong written and oral communication skills, and demonstrated experience working with youth. The role also requires flexibility to deliver evening sessions and virtual programming, the ability to work with minimal supervision, and strong analytical writing skills for reporting and evaluation.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as a Department of State grant issued by the U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe, under funding opportunity number AF HAR FY22 04. It falls under an education activity category (CFDA 19.040). The anticipated award ceiling is $13,000, with up to two awards expected. The original closing date for SOI submission was March 15, 2022 (with a creation date of February 10, 2022). Eligibility is broadly categorized as "Others," with further clarification referenced in the full announcement.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Statement of Interest (SOI) for American Spaces, Professional Empowerment Program Workshop Facilitator" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 10, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 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 $13,000.00 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 AF HAR FY22 04

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