Ghana Youth Activity | 72064124APS00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72064124APS00001

USAID/Ghana is offering a discretionary funding opportunity called the Ghana Youth Activity (Funding Opportunity Number 72064124APS00001) under the YouthPower 2 Annual Program Statement. The award will be made as a Cooperative Agreement in the education-related funding activity category (CFDA 98.001). The opportunity is restricted to local entities, meaning it is intended for a Ghanaian organization to lead and implement the activity, rather than an international prime applicant.

The purpose of the Ghana Youth Activity is to back a youth-led and locally-led program that helps Ghanaian youth drive their own social, economic, and civic progress. USAID is looking for a program that improves youth employability, expands youth access to essential services, and strengthens civic engagement. The addendum emphasizes that the local implementer should be capable of independently identifying needs and designing or adapting interventions that are new, meaningful, and high-impact, rather than simply repeating standard programming.

A central expectation is that the proposed program reflects a Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach. In practical terms, this points to programming that treats young people as active partners and leaders, builds on youth assets and strengths, and creates supportive environments across families, communities, institutions, and systems. It also suggests integrated work across economic opportunity, social supports, and civic participation, with young people playing real roles in decision-making, implementation, and feedback loops.

USAID/Ghana notes that the activity will be shaped by youth demographic trends in Ghana and by evidence from earlier USAID-funded efforts, with particular attention to results and lessons learned from northern Ghana. Applicants are encouraged to design interventions that respond to what has worked, what has not, and what remains a gap, rather than approaching the work as a blank slate. The opportunity also encourages coordination and complementarity with other donor-funded initiatives and with efforts led by the Government of Ghana, so that the activity reinforces existing systems, avoids duplication, and increases the likelihood that gains will last after the award ends.

Another major theme is learning and adaptive management. USAID is explicitly prioritizing programs that build in ongoing learning, use data and stakeholder feedback to make timely adjustments, and can demonstrate how evidence will be gathered and applied throughout implementation. This implies a strong focus on monitoring, evaluation, and collaboration with youth and local stakeholders to refine approaches over time.

The total potential funding is up to $15,000,000 (award ceiling), and USAID anticipates making one award. The opportunity was created on May 24, 2024, and the original closing date was July 26, 2024.

• The Ghana USAID-Accra in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ghana Youth Activity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-26. (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 $15,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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