Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0010739
The Economic Empowerment in Dakhla and Laayoune Regions opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0010739) is a discretionary U.S. government grant program, issued by Assistance Coordination, that aims to address two connected problems in the Dakhla and Laayoune regions: a narrow, undiversified economy and unequal access to the labor market. The underlying concern is that the local economy depends heavily on a small set of sectors (agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, tourism, and phosphate mining). When a region relies so much on a few resource-driven industries, private sector development can stagnate, job pathways can become limited, and there can be a growing sense of distance between citizens and government, especially when public revenue feels tied more to natural resources than to a broad tax-and-citizen relationship. In practical terms, the opportunity is designed to widen participation in economic life and strengthen the conditions for more inclusive, locally grounded growth.
The grant prioritizes programs that directly serve underserved communities, specifically including women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PWD). Applicants are expected to propose activities that build real employability and economic independence, typically through a mix of soft skills and job skills, paired with entrepreneurship training. Soft skills may include workplace communication, teamwork, problem-solving, professionalism, and job readiness, while job skills can include vocational or market-relevant technical competencies. Entrepreneurship support is meant to help participants translate training into income generation, whether by starting new micro or small businesses, improving business planning, understanding basic finance, marketing, customer service, and navigating local market opportunities. Proposals that take an innovative approach or can credibly deliver concrete, measurable outcomes, such as participants obtaining jobs or launching businesses, are viewed more favorably. The opportunity also signals that applicants may reference relevant prior experience, which suggests that evidence of past results, proven methodologies, and contextual understanding of similar workforce or human development programs can strengthen an application.
A key feature of this opportunity is that it is not only about individual training outcomes, but also about reinforcing civil society and local civic engagement through economic empowerment. The stated rationale is that an informed and empowered population can make incremental progress that accumulates over time, especially when participants gain the professional confidence and organizational capacity to engage in local decision-making. By improving economic conditions and increasing the ability of associations and businesses to organize, the project also aims to make it easier for local groups to approach officials on issues that matter to them, including questions of resource allocation and gender equity. In other words, the program frames workforce development and entrepreneurship as a pathway not just to income, but to stronger community voice and more responsive local governance.
Structurally, the funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which usually implies a more hands-on relationship with the funding agency than a standard grant, often with closer coordination or substantial involvement in how the project is implemented. The activity category is Employment, Labor and Training (CFDA 19.500). The award ceiling is $500,000, and the agency anticipates making 2 awards, indicating a competitive process with a limited number of funded projects. The original closing date listed for applications is 2024-05-17, and the opportunity was created on 2024-03-18.
Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and foreign organizations. Eligible applicant types include non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, private institutions of higher education, public international organizations, and small businesses, with an emphasis on those that have functional and regional experience related to education and human development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This eligibility scope suggests the funder is open to a range of implementers, from NGOs and universities to private sector actors, as long as they can credibly deliver skills training and entrepreneurship support tailored to underserved populations in Dakhla and Laayoune and can demonstrate the capacity to achieve tangible employment or enterprise outcomes.Apply for DFOP0010739
- The Assistance Coordination in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Economic Empowerment in Dakhla and Laayoune Regions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.500.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-17. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Economic Empowerment in Dakhla and Laayoune Regions (DFOP0010739)
What is the Economic Empowerment in Dakhla and Laayoune Regions opportunity?
It is a discretionary U.S. government grant program (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0010739) issued by Assistance Coordination. The program is designed to expand economic participation and improve access to employment and income generation in the Dakhla and Laayoune regions by supporting workforce development and entrepreneurship activities, especially for underserved communities.
What problems is this grant intended to address?
The opportunity targets two connected issues: (1) a narrow, undiversified regional economy and (2) unequal access to the labor market. It is framed as a way to reduce over-reliance on a limited set of resource-driven sectors and to create broader, more inclusive pathways to jobs and livelihoods.
Which economic sectors are highlighted as dominant in the local economy?
The description notes that the regional economy depends heavily on agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, tourism, and phosphate mining.
Why does economic diversification matter in this opportunity?
The opportunity indicates that when a region relies heavily on a small set of industries, private sector development can stagnate and job pathways can be limited. It also suggests this dynamic can contribute to a sense of distance between citizens and government when public revenue feels tied more to natural resources than to a broader tax-and-citizen relationship.
What kinds of activities are prioritized for funding?
Priority is given to programs that directly serve underserved communities through employability and economic independence activities. This typically includes a mix of soft skills training, job/technical skills training, and entrepreneurship training intended to translate skills into employment or income generation.
Who are the priority beneficiaries?
The grant prioritizes programs that directly serve underserved communities, specifically including women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PWD).
What are examples of "soft skills" mentioned or implied by the opportunity?
Soft skills examples provided include workplace communication, teamwork, problem-solving, professionalism, and job readiness.
What are "job skills" in the context of this opportunity?
Job skills are described as vocational or market-relevant technical competencies. The intent is that participants gain practical skills aligned with local labor market needs.
What does the opportunity mean by entrepreneurship support?
Entrepreneurship support is described as helping participants turn training into income generation, such as starting new micro or small businesses. The opportunity references support areas like business planning, basic finance, marketing, customer service, and navigating local market opportunities.
What outcomes are viewed favorably in proposals?
Proposals that credibly deliver concrete, measurable outcomes are viewed more favorably. Examples referenced include participants obtaining jobs or launching businesses.
Does the opportunity value innovation?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that proposals taking an innovative approach are viewed more favorably, especially when paired with credible plans to achieve measurable outcomes.
How important is an applicant's prior experience for this grant?
The opportunity signals that applicants may reference relevant prior experience. This implies that evidence of past results, proven methodologies, and contextual understanding of similar workforce or human development programs can strengthen an application.
Is this grant only about training individuals?
No. While training and employability outcomes are central, the opportunity also frames economic empowerment as a way to reinforce civil society and local civic engagement, supporting more inclusive and locally grounded growth over time.
How does economic empowerment relate to civic engagement in this program?
The stated rationale is that an informed and empowered population can make incremental progress that accumulates over time. By improving economic conditions and increasing the ability of associations and businesses to organize, the project aims to make it easier for local groups to approach officials on issues such as resource allocation and gender equity.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
What does a Cooperative Agreement imply compared to a standard grant?
The opportunity notes that a Cooperative Agreement usually implies a more hands-on relationship with the funding agency than a standard grant, often with closer coordination or substantial involvement in how the project is implemented.
What is the activity category and CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The activity category is Employment, Labor and Training, and it is listed under CFDA 19.500.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $500,000.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making 2 awards, indicating a competitive process with a limited number of funded projects.
When was this opportunity created and what is the listed application closing date?
The opportunity was created on 2024-03-18. The original closing date listed for applications is 2024-05-17.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and foreign organizations.
What types of organizations are eligible applicant types?
Eligible applicant types include non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, private institutions of higher education, public international organizations, and small businesses.
Is there a regional experience preference?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes applicants that have functional and regional experience related to education and human development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Where are the intended project locations?
The opportunity is focused on the Dakhla and Laayoune regions.
What kind of implementers does the funder appear open to supporting?
The eligibility scope suggests openness to a range of implementers, including NGOs, universities, private sector actors, and small businesses, as long as they can credibly deliver skills training and entrepreneurship support tailored to underserved populations in Dakhla and Laayoune and demonstrate the capacity to achieve tangible employment or enterprise outcomes.
What is the overall theory of change described in the opportunity?
The program frames workforce development and entrepreneurship as a pathway to income and employability, while also strengthening civil society, improving organizational capacity, and supporting community voice and more responsive local governance.
Who is the issuing entity for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by Assistance Coordination.
What is the funding opportunity number for reference?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0010739.
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