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The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to manage the FY 2024 Organizational Components of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. The FLEX program advances the U.S. foreign policy goals of engaging youth populations and building civil society by providing in-person, academic-year exchanges, and building lasting ties between foreign and U.S. high school students and the communities that host them. The program consists of two exchange programs: (1) the “FLEX inbound” program that brings international high school students to the United States, and (2) the “FLEX Abroad” program that sends American high school students to select FLEX countries. The FY 2024 Organizational Components cooperative agreement will fund the recruitment, selection, orientation, travel, liaison activities with natural parents, and alumni support. This award will also fund the placement and support of American participants abroad. NOTE: Placement and support of the international students coming to the United States will be conducted under separate awards through the FLEX Placement Components. The relationship and interactions among award recipients is explained further under section A. Program Description in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

The Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program is an applied research and development program that seeks to actualize a diverse future STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and ICT (information and communication technologies) workforce that is prepared to meet pressing local, societal, and global challenges. Because STEM and ICT careers increasingly rely on technologies and computing, the ITEST program funds projects that engage youth, from pre-kindergarten through high school, and pre-K-12 educators in equitable, innovative technology learning and education experiences within and across STEM disciplines in formal or informal settings. These projects build youths’ interest and knowledge in STEM careers, and they prioritize the full inclusion of all groups to include those that have been underrepresented, underserved, or excluded from STEM educational opportunities. This ensures that NSF is better postured to leverage the full spectrum of diverse talent across the country. This solicitation calls for a Resource Center for the ITEST program. The Resource Center will support diverse, multi-sector stakeholders in actualizing the three pillars of ITEST: (1) strategies for equity in STEM education, (2) partnerships for career and workforce preparation, and (3) innovative use of technologies in teaching and learning. It is expected that this Resource Center will facilitate individual and collective dialogue, reflection, and action relative to these pillars, while supporting stakeholders in the conceptualization, actualization, and communication of ITEST projects.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service) is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. We are the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of these important natural resources for the American public. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s origins date back to 1871 when Congress established the U.S. Fish Commission to study the decrease in the nation’s food fishes and recommend ways to reverse that decline. The FWS is committed to building and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the ethic, age, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, and language diversity of contemporary America. The FWS operates a variety of programs that promote wildlife conservation and public land management under the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC) through engagement, employment, and education of our nation’s diverse youth and veterans. FWS programs operating under the Public Lands Corps Act have been designated as covered programs under Justice40 (Executive Order 14008). The FWS strives to meet the Federal Government’s goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal Investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The categories of investment are: climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation of reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure. The Public Lands Corps (PLC) Program is authorized by Congress under Title 16 USC Sec. 1721-1726; Public Law 109-154, Public Lands Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005 (amends the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993), and all subsequent amendments. Guidance authorizes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to (1) establish PLC Programs (2) certify participants who meet the PLC eligibility requirements for the PLC non-competitive hiring authority status, and (3) ensure consistent program standards throughout the FWS. The purpose of the FWS PLC Programs is to provide work and education opportunities for youth (defined as ages 16-30 inclusive, and up to age 35 for veterans) participants in the areas of natural and cultural resource conservation, development, and scientific research. Participants perform work on our nation’s public lands by providing additional, unique capacity designed to boost the impact of the FWS for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the American people. The PLC FWS Youth Corps Program allows the FWS to establish partnerships with Partner organizations (Partners), generally defined as “qualified youth or conservation corps,” using financial assistance/cooperative agreements or MOUs, to employ the next generation of conservationists in paid PLC projects and internships. Partners must be designated as an official member of the FWS Youth Corps in order to certify Participants. FWS Youth Corps application information is available in the attachments to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The purpose of this NOFO is not to establish new partnerships. See Full Announcement for additional information and application instructions. Unsolicited partnership applications or projects that are not collaboratively developed between an existing FWS Youth Corps member and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be returned as ineligible. ***Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from a FWS PLC programs are requested to consult with a local FWS office BEFORE developing or submitting an application (see FWS Youth Program Contacts included in the Related Documents of this announcement or visit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov) to locate a FWS office in your area. ***Unsolicited Partnership applications submitted through Grants.gov will be returned as ineligible. See Related Documents for application instructions for FWS Youth Corps.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Brasília, Brazil / Bureau of WHA of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to implement the 2025 Brazil Youth Ambassadors program. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region: WHA / Brazil Program Objectives: Mission Brazil seeks for institutional assistance to support the development and implementation of the Brazil portion of the 2025 Youth Ambassadors program for up to 46 selected students and 2 adult program assistants. The Youth Ambassadors exchange program offers outstanding, yet underprivileged, high school students from the public education system a short-term full immersion in U.S. culture and society, as well as skill-building opportunities for the 21st Century work environment. Awarded students visit the capital of the United States, attend meetings with public and private institutions, visit schools and social projects, participate in training sessions to help improve communication skills, leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, and innovation, as well as to develop a creative action plan to help address a key issue in their respective communities. Since its inception in 2003, Mission Brazil’s Youth Ambassadors program (YAP) has evolved from a small exchange program for a dozen high school students to Brazil’s internationally recognized – and hemisphere-wide replicated – flagship youth engagement initiative. The YAP brand is easily recognizable throughout the country and reaches audiences from the dense urban centers of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to the most remote parts of rural Brazil. Beyond the exchange itself, this program has become the catalyst for the Mission to build on strategic and lasting partnerships with the government of Brazil by pursuing complementary policy goals in the areas of education, English language teaching, strengthening civil society, as well as by keeping the U.S. as the top destination for Brazilians interested in studying abroad. As a result of its positive impact, since 2010, State Department started funding the program throughout Latin America. Embassy Brazil complements the funding to provide this unique exchange opportunity for more Brazilian students. Our share of the program should allow the implementing organization to: Implement and administer the online application process, Assist the Embassy in the broad dissemination of information about the program, Screen and pre-select Brazilian candidates for a final revision and selection by the Embassy, Book and purchase participants' in-country travel, Book and purchase participants’ round-trip international tickets – everyone on the same flights both ways, Purchase travel insurance during pre-departure orientation in Brazil, as well as for the day of the group’s return to Brazil and their return flights back home, Provide travel allowance (in dollars) for participants to cover minor incidental expenses during the program, Coordinate all logistical aspects related to the pre-departure orientation (venue set-up & equipment, promotional materials, ground transportation, lodging, meals and incidental expenses, transfer in-out, airport support, etc.), In collaboration with the Embassy, develop and implement comprehensive content and assign specialists for the pre-departure orientation sessions, Design and implement a three-month post-program initiative to assist participants in their reentry, and as they try to implement the action plans developed during the exchange program in the U.S. Participants and Audiences: This funding opportunity aims at supporting the full and positive participation of up to 46 Brazilian public high school students selected for the 2025 Youth Ambassadors program, as well as two (02) adult program assistants selected from the pool of Embassy’s Partner Institutions spread all over the country. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 1 year (including development, implementation, and post-program reentry and follow-on initiative) Number of awards anticipated: One award (dependent on amounts) Type of Funding: FY-2024 – Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds Anticipated program start date: January 14, 2025 IMPORTANT: This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in one year or less. NOTE: The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under this award beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis – for up to two (02) additional years – subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION Eligible Applicants are U.S. and overseas-based Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Educational Institutions and other qualified organizations that have proven record of extensive experience working with Brazilian youth, familiarity with the Brazilian culture and society, and who can comprehensively respond to the NOFO and be able to mobilize in a short period of time. The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations, Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing possibilities when it helps increase community and stakeholder engagement in the project are welcome, however, it will not be considered a deciding factor. Other Eligibility Requirements To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov, as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. IMPORTANT: Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION Address to Request Application Package: Application forms required below are available at the U.S. Embassy website and grants.gov Content and Form of Application Submission: Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible: Content of Application Please ensure: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity, All documents are in English, All budgets are in U.S. dollars, All pages are numbered, All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The following documents are required: 1. Mandatory application forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance --individuals) at XXXX SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at www.grants.gov 2.Summary Page:  Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. 3.Proposal (12 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. Introduction to the Organization applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate. Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. 4.Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. 5. Attachments: 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program. Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner, If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file. Official permission letters, if required for program activities. 6.Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registrations: All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications. The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee. 7.Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than April 27, 2024 8.Funding Restrictions The Embassy does not pay for the following: Publication of materials for distribution within the U.S. Administration of a project that will make a profit. Expenses incurred before or after the specified dates of award period of performance (unless prior written approval received) Projects designed to advocate policy views or positions of foreign governments or views of a particular political faction, Alcoholic beverages, Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any associated costs are unallowable, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized either in the approved budget for the Federal award or with prior written approval of the Federal awarding agency, Land, Construction. The Embassy may make conditions and recommendations on proposals to enhance proposed programs. Conditions and recommendations are to be addressed by the applicant before approval of the award. To ensure effective use of U.S. Embassy Brasília-Brazil funds, conditions or recommendations may include requests to increase, decrease, clarify and/or justify costs.

The Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families' Family and Youth Services Bureau announces the anticipated availability of funds under the General Departmental Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (GDSRAE) Program. The purpose of the GDSRAE Program is to fund projects to implement sexual risk avoidance education that teach participants how to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity. The services are targeted to participants that reside in areas with high rates of teen births and/or are at greatest risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The goals of GDSRAE are to empower participants to make healthy decisions, and provide tools and resources to prevent pregnancy, STIs, and youth engagement in other risky behaviors. Successful applicants are expected to submit program plans that agree to: use medically accurate information referenced to peer-reviewed publications by 1) educational, scientific, governmental, or health organizations; 2) implement sexual risk avoidance curricula and/or strategies with an evidence-based approach integrating research findings with practical implementation that aligns with the needs and desired outcomes for the intended audience; and 3) teach the benefits associated with self-regulation, success sequencing for poverty prevention, healthy relationships, goal setting, and resisting sexual coercion, dating violence, and other youth risk behaviors such as underage drinking or illicit drug use without normalizing teen sexual activity.

The YouthPower 2 Annual Program Statement (APS) provides a vehicle for engaging with youth-led and youth-serving organizations, among others, and systems to generate cross-sectoral, positive youth development outcomes. The APS disseminates information to prospective Applicants so they may develop and submit Concept Notes in response to the addenda and ultimately to be considered for USAID funding. This APS describes and provides: ▪ The types of activities for which Concept Notes and Applications will be considered; ▪ Available funding, process, and requirements for submitting Concept Notes and Application; ▪ The criteria for evaluating Concept Notes and Application; and ▪ Relevant documentation and resources. More specifically, the YouthPower 2 (YP2) APS is designed to provide a vehicle to engage with, among others, youth-led and youth-serving organizations and systems broadly and creatively, to support cross-sectoral, positive youth development outcomes. The YP2 APS is not a Request for Applications (RFA). Rather, the YP2 APS requests Concept Notes in response to addenda published under this APS. Based on the submitted Concept Note(s) in response to active addenda under this APS, USAID will determine whether to request a Full Application from an eligible organization. Concept Note(s) and/or Full Application to the APS will not be accepted. USAID’s DDI Bureau Center for Education and supporting Bureaus anticipate awarding multiple grants and/or cooperative agreements as there is no predefined minimum or maximum number of awards. Please search grants.gov for current active addendum opportunity under the YP2 APS titled "Women and Youth Creating Our Future Activity" (72047221R00007) with a closing date of August 25,2021.

The purpose of the Uzbekistan Youth Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship Activity is to equip youth who are in grades 8 -11 with the necessary skills as they prepare to enter Uzbekistan’s economy as skilled employees or entrepreneurs. In order to achieve the Activity’s purpose, the Uzbekistan Youth Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship Activity will focus on achievement of the following intermediate results: i) improved quality of school-based economics and entrepreneurship programs; ii) improved quality of afterschool entrepreneurship, soft skills and work readiness programs; and iii) strengthened enabling environment to support and engage youth.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage research applications to develop and pilot test the effectiveness and implementation of family navigator models designed to promote early access, engagement and coordination of mental health treatment and services for children and adolescents who are experiencing early symptoms of mental health problems. For the purposes of this FOA, NIMH defines a family navigator model as a health care professional or paraprofessional whose role is to deploy a set of strategies designed to rapidly engage youth and families in needed treatment and services, work closely with the family and other involved treatment and service providers to optimize care and monitor the trajectory of mental health symptoms and outcomes over time. Applicants are encouraged to develop and pilot test the navigator models ability to promote early access, engagement and coordination of mental health treatment and services for children and adolescents as soon as symptoms are detected. Of interest are navigator models that coordinate needed care strategies, determine the personalized match to the level of needed service amount, frequency and intensity, and harness novel technologies to track and monitor the trajectory of clinical, functional and behavioral progress toward achieving intended services outcomes. This FOA is published in parallel to a companion R01 (Currently Temp-11229)

Reissue of PAR-18-428.The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage research applications to develop and test the effectiveness and implementation of family navigator models designed to promote early access, engagement and coordination of mental health treatment and services for children and adolescents who are experiencing early symptoms of mental health problems. For the purposes of this FOA, NIMH defines a family navigator model as a health care professional or paraprofessional whose role is to deploy a set of strategies designed to rapidly engage youth and families in needed treatment and services, work closely with the family and other involved treatment and service providers to optimize care and monitor the trajectory of mental health symptoms and outcomes over time. Applicants are encouraged to develop and test the navigator models ability to promote early access, engagement and coordination of mental health treatment and services for children and adolescents as soon as symptoms are detected. Of interest are navigator models that coordinate needed care strategies, determine the personalized match to the level of needed service amount, frequency and intensity, and harness novel technologies to track and monitor the trajectory of clinical, functional and behavioral progress toward achieving intended services outcomes. This FOA is published in parallel to a companion R34

Through this Opportunity Youth Addendum, USAID/Dominican Republic aims to provide a vehicle for engaging with youth-led and youth-serving organizations, among others, and systems to generate cross-sectoral, positive youth development outcomes. As a New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) opportunity, USAID/Dominican Republic also seeks to support partner countries’ progress to self-reliance, achieve sustainable and resilient results, and catalyze more effective partnering for impact. This Addendum disseminates information to prospective Applicants so they may develop and submit Concept Notes in response and ultimately to be considered for USAID funding.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. We are the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of these important natural resources for the American public. The Service's origins date back to 1871 when Congress established the U.S. Fish Commission to study the decrease in the nation’s food fishes and recommend ways to reverse that decline. Today, we are a diverse and largely decentralized organization, employing about 8,000 dedicated professionals working out of facilities across the country, including a headquarters office in Falls Church, Virginia, and eight regional offices representing the 12 Unified Interior Regions. A variety of programs within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS, Service) and the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS, Refuge System) are focused on engaging diverse youth in wildlife conservation and public land management. The Service enters into cooperative agreements with member organizations of the FWS Youth Corps to engage with youth and veterans in projects under the Authority of the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC). The current list of FWS Youth Corps member organizations, application information for organizations interested in partnering with the FWS Youth Corps, and program contact information is available at: Youth U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov) FWS Public Lands Corps Act Overview The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partners with qualified youth and veteran serving organizations or qualified Conservation Corps with the organizational capacity and unique qualifications necessary to work collaboratively with the FWS to develop projects under the Public Lands Corps Act. The purpose of the PLC is to provide work and educational opportunities for youth in the areas of natural and cultural resource conservation, development, and scientific research. Youth perform work on our nation’s public lands that cannot be carried out by Federal agencies at existing personnel levels. The PLC allows the Service to enter into partnerships using a financial assistance/cooperative with partner organizations to employ youth in PLC projects and internships. PLC participants who complete program requirements will be eligible for non-competitive appointment to Federal positions for which they qualify. Eligible partner organizations must: Be a State or local government entity, the governing body of any Indian tribe, a nonprofit organization, or an accredited institution of higher education. Be members of the FWS Youth Corps. Have financial policies and procedures that reflect generally accepted accounting principles Have risk management policies that reflect industry standards and are proactive and thorough in mitigating and managing risk to PLC Participants. Have a contract or financial assistance agreement with the Service that clearly identifies both organization’s roles and responsibilities for implementing the PLC program, or have documentation (e.g. organizational charter or similar documentation) that they have performed conservation work on Federal, State, tribal, local or private lands and utilized young people between the ages of 16 and 30 years of age, and Veterans up to age 32. Provide liability insurance. Provide workers compensation insurance through the partnering organization or the state. (The FECA covers all civilian Federal employees except for non-appropriated fund employees. There is additional special legislation which provides potential coverage to Peace Corps and VISTA volunteers; Federal petit or grand jurors, volunteer members of the Civil Air Patrol, ROTC, Job Corps, YCC, and non-Federal law enforcement officers under certain circumstance involving crimes against the US. And of course, FWS volunteers have certain coverage dependent on VSA's.) Contribute a minimum of 25% of the total costs of the project or internship program either as direct funds or qualified in-kind services unless the project is carried out on Indian or Hawaiian homelands. Additionally, these organizations must have an established program that: Offers meaningful, full-time, productive work for PLC Participants in a natural or cultural resource setting. Provides a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education training, and support services. Provides PLC Participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States. Provides PLC Participants with a living allowance, stipend, or wages. Former Public Land Corps participants may be granted non-competitive hiring status for permanent competitive positions within the Department of the Interior, provided both they and the partner organization meet the above requirements. Non-competitive hiring status is granted through an approved FWS process. The former PLC participant also must be selected from a non-competitive selection certificate and appointed within two years of the candidate’s completion of PLC service qualifying him/her for the non-competitive hiring authority. PLC and Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Goals This special hiring authority provides the FWS with an opportunity to help meet the agency's goal of building a diverse and inclusive workforce. The FWS is committed to building and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the ethnic, age, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and language diversity of contemporary America. Diversity means having many different elements, ideas and qualities. We define workforce diversity as the differences that influence personal perspectives of individuals in that workforce – not just those differences based on ethnicity, gender, color, age, race, religion, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation, but also differences in communication style, career path, life experience, educational background, geographic location, income level, marital status, military experience, parental status, and other variables that influence personal perspectives. Inclusion is about recognizing, respecting, and valuing differences that influence personal perspectives. These unique perspectives make us react differently, solve problems differently, and see different opportunities. Superior organizational performance requires employing people with a diversity of thought. Equal employment opportunity: The Service has an ongoing obligation under equal employment opportunity laws, executive orders, and other standards to prevent discrimination on the bases of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, retaliation/reprisal, disability, sexual orientation, parental status, and genetic information; we are also obliged to eliminate barriers that impede free and open competition in the workplace. We conduct an annual self-assessment to monitor progress and identify areas where barriers may exclude certain groups. In conducting this assessment, we compare our internal participation rates with corresponding rates in the relevant Civilian Labor Force (CLF) as points of reference. Equal employment opportunity is focused on equality and equal access, and is primarily concerned with protected classes. Even with these protections, it is important to treat every individual with respect and to embrace differences in the workplace. In this way, equal employment opportunity is distinct from diversity. FWS Public Lands Corps Act Programs PLC projects must be developed in collaboration with a FWS program, refuge, or field office. FWS Programs that enter into cooperative agreements under the Authority of the Public Lands Corps Act include but are not limited to the following: FWS Youth Corps Under the Authorization of the Public Lands Corps Act, FWS Youth Corps, collaboratively develops projects with PLC FWS Youth Corps member organizations to provide experiential, education, and employment program opportunities for youth between the ages of 16-30 and veterans 35 and younger to address resource conservation, community engagement, environmental education, facility and trail maintenance, invasive species management, and recreation access needs. Department of the Interior Personnel Bulletin (PB) 17-03 establishes the policy and procedures for providing former members who served a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service during PLC qualifying projects, including 120 hours in direct support of Federally managed public lands/facilities, with a non-competitive hiring status certificate for permanent competitive positions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Directorate Fellows Program (DFP)Under the authorization of the Public Land Corp Act, Resources Assistant Program, the Department of the Interior established policy for bureaus to implement the Direct Hire Authority, Resources Assistant Internship Program (DHA/RAIP) in 2012. The key requirements of the program are: (1) students must be enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs; and (2) mandated targeted recruitment to ensure the full representation of women and participants from historically Black, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander and Native American schools or other schools with diverse student populations; and (3) design a rigorous project for a minimum of least 11-weeks for candidates selected to participate in the program. FWS branded the DHA/RAIP, Directorate Fellows Program (DFP), and designed it with the intent of creating a pipeline of diverse talented individuals who would qualify and be eligible for hiring into permanent entry level science positions. The FWS, DFP was implemented in 2014 with a focus on recruiting diverse students pursuing biological science, natural resources management or related degrees that support FWS conservation mission. The FWS, DFP has provided a cohort of well-qualified, motivated folks who are eligible for direct hiring authority. Since its inception, the DFP has provided 11-week rigorous fellowships for hundreds of students with exemplary talent, approximately 200 of whom have joined our workforce so far. Hispanic Access Foundation (HAF) has been selected through a directed Request for Information (RFI) as uniquely qualified to implement the Directed Fellows Program in FY 2022. In addition, several organizations have been selected through a directed RFI to provide recruitment support for the Directorate Fellows Program. Applications from qualified partner organizations for collaborative agreements to support DFP will be submitted through this announcement through GrantSolutions. Public Lands Transportation Fellows Program (PTLF) The Public Lands Transportation Fellows program (PLTF) provides fellowships to outstanding graduates in a transportation-related field to work directly with staff of Federal Land Management Agencies on key visitor transportation issues. The PLTF program began in 2012 and was modeled after the very successful Transportation Scholars program managed by the National Park Foundation (NPF) that serves the National Park Service (NPS). The PLTF program gives recent graduates (sometimes current students) in a transportation related engineering, planning, or resource management program a unique opportunity for career development and public service. Successful applicants are placed at a federal land unit facing a transportation issue to facilitate a transportation planning or implementation project. A fellow is assigned to work directly with staff at a unit or headquarters/region/field office. The assigned projects help the land units develop transportation solutions that preserve valuable resources and enhance the visitor experience. The program has three goals, which are to: Encourage emerging transportation professionals to pursue their career serving federal lands. Provide much needed transportation expertise to FMLA units and regions to help them address critical transportation issues. Support the development, implementation and evaluation of viable alternative transportation for visitors to FLMA’s. The Public Lands Transportation Fellows program is a collaborative agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana State University Western Transportation Institute. Youth Conservation Corps The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a summer youth employment program that engages young people in meaningful work experiences on public lands while developing an ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. YCC programs are generally 8 to 10 weeks long. Participants are paid the minimum wage for a 40-hour work week. Most YCC opportunities are non-residential programs that provide paid daytime work. The Service anticipates entering into cooperative agreements with multiple organizations to accomplish crew-based YCC projects in fiscal year 2022. Collaborative projects must be submitted through GrantSolutions prior to the Application Due Date of this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Youth Conservation Corps U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov) Career Discovery Internship Program Founded in 2008, the Career Discovery Internship Program (CDIP) was created in partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to help prepare the next generation of wildlife professionals and managers by: Introducing culturally and ethnically diverse college freshman and sophomores to conservation careers in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service); Giving field staff the experience of working with culturally and ethnically diverse employee; and Increasing the diversity of the applicant pool for conservation based jobs. These internships provide a diverse group of youth with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. Interns are paid a living wage and, in some cases, are also provided with room and board for the duration of their service. CDIP interns are assigned to Service field stations for a summer of hard work and experiential education. Before beginning their assignment, interns attend a week-long training and orientation program. During this time, interns receive a variety of training units including an introduction to the Service and SCA, cultural and intergenerational awareness training, mentor/mentee training to name a few. The interns also engage in simulations and Service challenges designed and facilitated by Service and SCA staff. Interns also meet their designated mentor for the summer, who is a Service employee. Service challenges are usually management issues common to daily life on a Service field station, with topics considering public relations, invasive species, and resource conservation. The interns close their week with a presentation on their solutions to these challenges. CDIP project applications must be submitted in GrantSolutions prior to the Application Due Date of this Notice of Funding Application. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service CDIP Student Conservation Association CDIP

This program supports initiatives with the primary goal of developing peacebuilding, interethnic and intercommunity exchange, collaboration, and community/relationship building among members of different ethnic group. We are seeking projects and initiatives that enable young people to build ties and understanding through activities related to a particular theme while cohabitating for at least 4 consecutive nights in a camp setting. Essential to the projects is that they use the camp to clearly develop increased understanding and community among the ethnically and geographically diverse peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Proposals should engage youth who have had no prior access to similar initiatives, belonging to at least one of two specific age ranges: a. ages 10-17 or b. ages 18-25. The Embassy welcomes all innovative proposals aimed at accomplishing these goals.

This program supports initiatives with the primary goals of peacebuilding, reconciliation, interethnic and intercommunity exchange, collaboration, and community/relationship building among members of different ethnic groups. We are seeking projects and initiatives that clearly develop increased understanding, appreciation, and cooperation among the ethnically and geographically diverse communities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Proposals should engage youth, belonging to at least one of two specific age ranges: a. ages 10-17 or b. ages 18-25. The Embassy welcomes all innovative proposals aimed at accomplishing these goals.

Issue Date: January 26, 2022 Deadline for Questions: February 9, 2022 Phase 1 Closing Date: February 28, 2022 Closing Time: 2:00 PM Juba Time Subject: Notice of Funding Opportunity Number 72066822RFA00001 Program Title: South Sudan Integrated Youth Engagement Activity Federal Assistance Listing Number: 98.001 Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Ladies/Gentlemen: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the South Sudan Integrated Youth Engagement Activity (IYEA). Eligibility for this award is not restricted. USAID intends to make one (1) award to the applicant who best meets the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this NOFO subject to a risk assessment. Applicants should review Section D.8 regarding Funding Restrictions. Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements and selection process. To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this NOFO and meet eligibility standards in Section C of this NOFO. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be amended. It is the responsibility of the applicant to regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity and to ensure that the NOFO has been received from the internet in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance. Please be aware that this NOFO utilizes a multi-tiered review process with several selection phases: Phase 1: Applicants will submit an Initial Application. Based on USAID’s evaluation of the Initial Application, up to four (4) Applicants will be selected to proceed to Phase 2. Phase 2: Selected applicants from Phase 1 will be invited to participate in oral presentations of their proposed technical and management approaches. Oral presentations will be conducted virtually. Based on USAID’s evaluation of the Oral Presentation, one applicant will be selected to proceed to Phase 3. Phase 3: One applicant whose proposal best meets the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the selection criteria contained herein will be selected as the Apparently Successful Applicant and will be requested to submit a full application, including a program description that will be incorporated into the resulting Cooperative Agreement. USAID may not award to an applicant unless the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements detailed in Section D.5.B(3). The registration process may take many weeks to complete. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to begin registration early in the process. Please send any questions to the point(s) of contact identified in Section D. The deadline for questions is shown above. Responses to questions received prior to the deadline will be furnished to all potential applicants through an amendment to this notice posted to www.grants.gov. Issuance of this notice of funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in preparation or submission of comments/suggestions or an application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense. Thank you for your interest in USAID programs. Sincerely, Alexis McGinness Agreement Officer

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a regional project that enables young people to proactively engage in democratic processes, including policy development and decision-making, and the protection of human rights in Bangladesh and Nepal. DRL’s goal is to increase youth mobilization to foster inclusion and participation in policy development and decision making at all levels of government. The bureau seeks proposals that empower youth to become agents of positive change within their own communities and strengthen young people’s knowledge of basic principles of leadership, transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and civic participation, enabling them to engage more fully with their local governments and communities. The program objectives are: 1) youth and youth-led organizations have increased leadership skills and strengthened networks to engage more meaningfully in decision-making processes and implementation of policies that impact youth and their communities; and 2) youth and youth-led organizations are empowered to advance and protect fundamental freedoms, acting as catalysts to increase awareness of governance issues among young people and other community members.

In support of its CDCS goal, USAID/Tanzania has planned this integrated cross-sectoral youth activity following Positive Youth Development principles to increase the empowerment, productivity, and community engagement of youth, in particular of out-of-school youth aged 15-25. Adolescents and young adults in this age range are on the cusp of their working lives and parenthood and are most poised to benefit from skills-based interventions. This activity will integrate efforts from USAID’s traditional areas of intervention: health, education, democracy and governance, and economic growth to ensure youth are accessing the resources and opportunities that will help them become full actors in their own well-being. This activity will support a holistic youth-centered approach to youth development that is shaped and led by youth and that provides the skills development, resources, and support that youth need to thrive.

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. Mentoring is a prominent strategy for delinquency prevention and victimization recovery that offers at-risk youth structured support from older or more experienced mentors to provide positive role models and promote resilience. With this solicitation, NIJ seeks applications for rigorous youth mentoring research and evaluation projects to address one or more of the following research priorities: (1) increasing the capacity for achieving broad, population-level impacts; (2) understanding how mentoring can advance change mechanisms promoting positive youth development; (3) examining program participation long-term effects; and (4) optimizing program effectiveness through iterative cycles of development paired with rigorous evaluation feedback. Applications proposing research involving partnerships with mentoring, juvenile justice, or other agencies, should include a strong letter of support, signed by an appropriate decision-making authority from each proposed, partnering agency. A letter of support should include the partnering agency’s acknowledgement that de-identified data derived from, provided to, or obtained through this project will be archived by the grant recipient with the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) at the conclusion of the award. Applicants and their potential partners are encouraged to review the NACJD’s policies and protections at (NACJD). If selected for award, grantees will be expected to have a formal agreement in place with partnering agencies by January 1, 2023. That formal agreement must include a provision to meet the data archiving requirements of the award. In the case of partnerships that will involve the use of federal award funds by multiple partnering agencies to carry out the proposed project, only one entity/partnering agency may be the applicant (as is the case with any application submitted in response to this solicitation); any others must be proposed as subrecipients.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to manage the FY 2022 Overseas Components of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. The YES program advances the U.S. foreign policy goals of engaging youth populations and building civil society by providing in-person, academic-year exchanges, and building lasting ties between foreign and U.S. high school students and the communities that host them. The program consists of two exchange programs: (1) the “YES inbound” program that brings international high school students to the United States, and (2) the “YES Abroad” program that sends American high school students to select YES countries. The FY 2022 Overseas Components cooperative agreement will fund the recruitment, selection, orientation, travel, liaison activities with natural parents, and alumni support. This award will also fund the placement and support of American participants abroad. Note: Placement and support of the international students coming to the United States will be conducted under separate awards through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Placement Components. The relationship and interactions among award recipients is explained further under section A. Program Description in the NOFO. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for cooperative agreements for the FY 2022 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Placement Components. The YES program advances the U.S. foreign policy goals of engaging youth populations and building civil society by providing physical, academic-year exchanges, and building lasting ties between foreign high school students and the communities that host them. The YES program will provide scholarships for international high school students to live in the United States for an academic year (a semester for Malaysian participants) and attend a U.S. high school. In turn, these students will expose U.S. citizens to the culture and traditions of people in their home countries. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to identify host schools; vet, select, and monitor host families; and place and monitor a portion of the students participating in the YES program during the 2023-24 academic year. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a project that strengthens responsible youth engagement in the media and free flow of information in Hungary.