About

The Public Diplomacy (PD) Section of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) is inviting proposals to design and implement a program to bridge the frequently-noted “skills gap” of Palestinian new college graduates, by fostering partnerships between universities, faculty advisors, syndicates, professional associations, and other private and public sectors institutions.

Universities, faculty advisors, syndicates, professional associations, and other private and public sectors institutions are invited to team up in creating and implementing a viable strategy to prepare the workforce of the future by developing a sustainable capability and educational institutions for continuous upskilling and modernize selected universities to support their desire to become worldclass institutions.

Goals

• This program must be designed to implement activities that advance the applicant’s goals and the U.S. OPA-PD mission, including but not limited to:

  • Building Palestinian institutions, both governmental and non-governmental, that effectively address the needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people;

  • Building a prosperous Palestinian economy, led by a thriving private sector, that provides equitable and inclusive economic opportunities and improves daily life for Palestinians.

Objectives

• Working primarily at the local level and using an evidence-based approach, all proposed projects must aim to advance the OPA-PD mission goals stated above, contain a substantive American element, and achieve at least two of the following specific objectives:

  • Universities develop and begin to implement a strategic plan to upgrade their education models to better prepare students for the labor market as evidenced by a new cocurricular program, designed by faculty to facilitate better access to employment for their students.

  • Palestinian faculty and staff gain new knowledge, skills, and resources to design and implement curricular and co-curricular programs that better support their students' future employment and labor market needs.

  • Development and implementation of integrated courses and academic programs; identify, develop, and implement appropriate and affordable technology platforms; and improve curriculum and pedagogy through universal design for learning.

  • Improved research and innovation capacity: development and implementation of comprehensive university plans to improve faculty and student research and innovation which may include strategic partnerships with U.S. higher education institutions. This objective should also explore and support opportunities for the selected universities to generate and apply research to address local and national challenges.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 12 to 24 months

• Number of awards anticipated: one award

• Award amounts: $200,000

• Total available funding: $200,000

Participants and Audiences

• Primary participants in the engagement are universities, administrators, faculty advisors, syndicates, professional associations, medium and large businesses, industries representatives and other private and public sectors institutions.

Priority Region

• West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.

Eligibility

• Eligible primary applicants for grant funding must be Palestinian or American not-for-profit nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), associations, non-profit higher education institutions, or non-profit social enterprises based in West Bank, Gaza and/or East Jerusalem.

Post Date: June 10, 2024