Kumaliza Maphunziro a Sekondale “Completing Secondary Education” Program (Malawi)

Deadline Date: October 22, 2024

 Donor Name: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

 Grant Size: More than $1 million

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/356406

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Kumaliza Maphunziro a Sekondale “Completing Secondary Education” Project.

Goal and Objective

• The overall goal of the Kumaliza Project is to increase graduation rates and skills for secondary school students attending the 105 CDSSs built with USG funding in rural areas.
• This youth-focused project aims to empower its participants economically and as leaders in their communities. It connects youth to decision-making spaces and employs strategies to make them key stakeholders and drivers of change locally, regionally, and nationally. Additionally, Kumaliza Project participants are equipped with skills and knowledge to access health services, including SRH, mental and psychosocial support, and HIV prevention and treatment, while promoting healthy behavior.
• Objective: Offer students in USG-built CDSSs the support they need to achieve economic, gender, health, and academic goals, while also enhancing pathways for their referral to higher education or career advancement.

Approach

• The Kumaliza Project will collaborate with service providers across sectors such as health, education, community development, and the private sector to map available services in each community and address any identified gaps. 
• The project will integrate with cross-sectoral programming, gender and climate resilience efforts, and incorporate Positive Youth Development principles. 
• Additionally, the project will partner with the USAID Youth Council in order to apply principles of meaningful beneficiary or youth engagement in designing, implementing, and evaluating activities. 
• An effective approach for the Implementing Partner (IP) involves leveraging the illustrative activities provided in the program description to enrich current interventions. By fostering a proactive mindset towards addressing identified gaps, IPs can cultivate potential solutions with scalability in mind. Actively seeking out opportunities for information, communication, and technology-based solutions for those schools with access to electricity and connectivity is also advantageous.

Funding Information

• USAID intends to provide up to$12,000,000 in total USAID funding.

Period of Performance

• The anticipated period of performance is 4 years.

Geographic Focus

• The Kumaliza Project will be carried out in the 105 CDSSs constructed with USG support, situated in rural areas across 29 education districts. The project aims to collaborate with other secondary schools in the region, potentially extending benefits to additional schools and communities beyond the 105 CDSSs through the implementation of the secondary education expansion strategy002E

Expected Results

• Head teachers and school governance bodies, including school boards and mother groups, are empowered to advocate for the school’s needs. 
• Teachers receive training in counseling and psycho-social skills to enable them to better support students. 
• Early warning systems for dropout are in place, and teachers provide mentorship linked to their designated roles, including serving as focal points for school activities, guidance, counseling, and school health and nutrition teacher induction.
• Parents engage with counseling and support services to encourage students’ interest in school. 
• Decreased dropout rates resulting from financial difficulties.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Applicants 
  • Eligibility for this NOFO is not restricted.
  • USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
  • Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of federal law.
• Cost Sharing or Matching
  • No cost share is anticipated for this award. Private sector leveraging is encouraged.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.