Request for Concept Papers
Community of Practice Learning Grants
Date of Solicitation: November 24, 2014
Submission Deadline: January 9th, 2014
Purpose:
Workforce Connections (WC) seeks to bring together a dedicated community of practice focusing on
youth workforce development, providing opportunities for USAID staff, implementing organizations, and
a broader set of stakeholders to exchange knowledge and disseminate evidence of positive and less
positive results. Connections will create a “big tent” community, within which there will be more tightly
facilitated working groups around specific themes of interest.
As part of this activity, Workforce Connections will issue 3-6 grants related in the following areas:
systems thinking, labor market assessment tools, and soft skills. The goal is to elicit bottom-up learning
initiatives from implementers and practitioners in the workforce development arena. The concept papers
called for below are to qualify for small grants which can be used for research, tool development and/or
testing, or other learning initiatives.
Areas of Interest:
The learning grants will target DC and field-based networks and implementers. Workforce Connections
has identified the following grant mechanisms, to be awarded via a competitive process: (1) design,
refinement, and testing of labor market assessment tools; (2) activities to incorporate systems thinking
into workforce development programming, and (3) modest research and learning activities related to soft
skills, job placement outcomes, and/or talent development1. Grantees in all categories will be encouraged
to explain how they are supporting youth engagement and professional development for young staff and
consultants.
Below is a brief description of each of the grant topic areas.
Labor market assessments (LMA): Based on a “wiki-style” review of existing LMA tools begun by
Workforce Connections and open to further additions, COP participants are invited to propose the design
of new tools, and/or the refinement and testing of existing tools, to be conducted in counties/regions
where they already have projects, or aspire to begin new workforce projects. Applicants are invited to
submit a concept for a labor market assessment tool that would be included in the toolkit in development
by Workforce Connections. The tool framework will be introduced at the Workforce Connections Labor
Market Assessment event on November 25th, 2014 at FHI 360 Conference Center in Washington, DC.
The materials and presentations will be available online following the event, and can also be requested
from WorkforceConnections@fhi360.org. Once posted, the information can be found on the Workforce
Connections Design Space.
1
Calls for grant applications related to job placement outcomes and/or talent development will be issues
at a later date.
FHI 360 1825 Connecticut Ave, NW | Washington, DC 20009 USA
T 1.202.884.8000 | F 1.202.884.8400 | www.fhi360.org
Applying systems thinking to workforce development: Based on a “wiki-style” review of existing
systems models and tools begun by Workforce Connections and open to further additions, COP
participants are invited to propose activities to incorporate systems thinking, models, and tools into
workforce development programming. These systems tools can also contribute to the set of LMA tools
described above.
Soft skills measures: Based on a review of soft skills research begun by Workforce Connections and
their partner, ChildTrends, COP participants will be invited to propose testing and application activities
related to improving the evidence on soft skills measurement for workforce development programs.
Documents for referece include: Scan and Review of Youth Development Measurement Tools,
ChildTrends Soft Skills Research
Available Funds:
In the topic areas of Labor Market Assessment and Systems Thinking, concept papers for amounts of
$50,000 to $100,000 will be considered.
In the topic area of Soft Skills Research, concept papers for amounts of $30,000 to $60,000 will be
considered.
Concept Paper Process:
1) Applicants must submit concept papers to Workforce Connections by the closing date below.
Applications must be submitted in English and be in either Word or PDF format
2) A review panel selected by Workforce Connections will select concept papers submitted by and
will recommend allocation of funds according to the results of that process
3) Workforce Connections will contact the applicant of the selected concept papers to develop a full
application
4) Selected recipients will have to comply with FHI 360 Grant requirements
Evaluation Criteria
The following criteria will be used in reviewing concept papers.
I.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPLICANT (20 points)
a. Knowledge in subject of concept paper and history of work in the area
b. Previous experience in project management or managing activities related to those
proposed in the concept paper
c. A clear understanding of the workstream landscape and existing literature, studies, work
and examples of the workstream
d. A clear set of objectives and an orientation in line with proposed activities
II.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION (50 points)
III.
a. Show a clear link between the described need and the proposed activities
b. Describe the impact of the proposed project on existing USAID programs, activities or
strategies
c. Define who will benefit from the project
d. Provide an activity schedule that is well-defined and realistic
e. Describe planned activities or approaches to develop young staff and consultants’ skills
f. Cost share will be required for learning grants. List the amount that will be offered in cost
share and the source
SPECIFIC EVALUATION BASED ON TOPIC OF CONCEPT PAPER (30 points):
FHI 360 1825 Connecticut Ave, NW | Washington, DC 20009 USA
T 1.202.884.8000 | F 1.202.884.8400 | www.fhi360.org
Labor Market Assessments:
a. Explain how the proposed (new or adapted) tool delivers better evidence and/or analysis
than existing tools
b. Discuss how this improved analysis will lead to better programming outcomes
c. Outline the methodology and technology which will be used
Systems Thinking:
a. Explain how using a systems lens will improve outcomes in youth workforce
development
b. Discuss potential challenges with using a systems lens
Soft Skills Measurement:
a.
Identify the skills definitions or frameworks you typically use in your work (i.e.
foundational, technical, soft or non-cognitive, competencies, etc.) Please give
definitions and, to the extent possible, sources
b.
Explain what skills you propose to measure and how
c.
Explain, once you have a measurement, who you expect it would be useful to and
for what
Concept Paper Submission:
To apply, please send application materials to Workforce Connections at
workforceconnections@fhi360.org by 5 pm, January 9th, 2014. Any questions or requests for
clarification need to be submitted in writing to Workforce Connections at
workforceconnections@fhi360.org by 5pm, December 15th, 2014.
FHI 360 1825 Connecticut Ave, NW | Washington, DC 20009 USA
T 1.202.884.8000 | F 1.202.884.8400 | www.fhi360.org