Opportunity Information: Apply for OPAPDFY23006
The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (U.S. Mission to Jerusalem), announced a discretionary funding opportunity called "Promoting market-driven skills for Palestinian university graduates" (Opportunity Number OPAPDFY23006). The program is designed to help recent graduates and students who are about to graduate from Palestinian universities build the kinds of employability skills the modern labor market expects. The focus is on both soft skills and technical skills, with an emphasis on practical, market-driven preparation that improves participants' readiness to secure jobs and succeed in the workplace.
The opportunity is structured as either a grant or a cooperative agreement, meaning the funder may expect a more active partnership and ongoing involvement depending on the award instrument used. The funding activity areas span education, community development, and business and commerce, reflecting the program's intent to connect training outcomes to real economic opportunity and private-sector needs. The program is intended to operate in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and/or Gaza, which are identified as the priority regions for implementation.
Only certain types of organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include U.S. and Palestinian non-profit NGOs, as well as non-profit higher education institutions. The eligibility language also includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the original notice). In practice, this means the competition is aimed at mission-driven organizations and academic institutions that can credibly deliver workforce development programming and maintain partnerships with universities and employers.
Program design is expected to align with the U.S. OPA Public Diplomacy mission and broader goals for Palestinian development. The solicitation highlights two core outcomes the project should support: first, strengthening Palestinian institutions, governmental and non-governmental, so they can better respond to the needs and aspirations of Palestinians; and second, contributing to a more prosperous Palestinian economy driven by a thriving private sector, with equitable and inclusive economic opportunities that improve daily life. In other words, the program is not only about training individuals, but also about reinforcing the wider ecosystem that connects education to employment, including institutional capacity and private-sector engagement.
A central requirement is substantive engagement with American people, institutions, ideas, and ideals. This is a public diplomacy priority, and it signals that proposals should incorporate meaningful U.S.-Palestinian exchange or collaboration elements rather than treating the U.S. connection as a minor add-on. Depending on the applicant's approach, this could translate into involvement from American experts, partnerships with U.S. universities or professional organizations, mentorship links with U.S. professionals, joint workshops, speaker series, or other structured activities that strengthen American-Palestinian relationships and create pathways for future cooperation.
Financially, the opportunity had an award ceiling of $200,000 and anticipated making one award. The opportunity was posted on May 19, 2023, with an original application deadline of July 21, 2023. The program is associated with CFDA number 19.021. Overall, the grant aims to produce employment-relevant skills gains among Palestinian university graduates while also advancing institutional strengthening, private-sector-led economic development, and sustained people-to-people engagement tied to the United States.Apply for OPAPDFY23006
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jerusalem in the business and commerce, community development, education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting market-driven skills for Palestinian university graduates" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.021.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 19, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 21, 2023. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Promoting market-driven skills for Palestinian university graduates."
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is OPAPDFY23006.
Which U.S. government entity is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (U.S. Mission to Jerusalem).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to help recent graduates and students about to graduate from Palestinian universities develop employability skills that align with modern labor market expectations, improving readiness to secure jobs and succeed in the workplace.
Who is the program intended to serve?
The primary intended participants are recent graduates of Palestinian universities and students who are about to graduate.
What types of skills does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes both soft skills and technical skills, with a practical, market-driven focus intended to improve job readiness and workplace success.
How does the opportunity connect training to economic outcomes?
The solicitation frames the activity areas across education, community development, and business and commerce, reflecting an intent to link training outcomes to real economic opportunity and private-sector needs.
Where is the program expected to operate?
The program is intended to operate in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and/or Gaza, which are identified as the priority regions for implementation.
What type of award will be made (grant or cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity may be awarded as either a grant or a cooperative agreement.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement in this context?
The solicitation notes that a cooperative agreement may involve a more active partnership and ongoing involvement by the funder, depending on the award instrument used.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. and Palestinian non-profit NGOs and non-profit higher education institutions. The eligibility language also includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the original notice).
Is this competition aimed at for-profit organizations?
Based on the eligibility categories provided, the opportunity is aimed at non-profit organizations and academic institutions rather than for-profit entities.
What kinds of organizations are the best fit to apply?
The notice indicates the competition is intended for mission-driven organizations and academic institutions that can credibly deliver workforce development programming and maintain partnerships with universities and employers.
How should the program align with U.S. OPA Public Diplomacy goals?
Program design is expected to align with the U.S. OPA Public Diplomacy mission and broader goals for Palestinian development, including both workforce outcomes and public diplomacy priorities.
What outcomes does the solicitation highlight?
The solicitation highlights two core outcomes: (1) strengthening Palestinian institutions (governmental and non-governmental) so they can better respond to the needs and aspirations of Palestinians; and (2) contributing to a more prosperous Palestinian economy driven by a thriving private sector, with equitable and inclusive economic opportunities that improve daily life.
Is the program only about training individuals?
No. The notice frames the program as supporting individual skills gains while also reinforcing the wider ecosystem connecting education to employment, including institutional capacity and private-sector engagement.
What does "substantive engagement with American people, institutions, ideas, and ideals" mean for applicants?
The solicitation identifies substantive engagement with American people, institutions, ideas, and ideals as a central public diplomacy requirement, indicating proposals should incorporate meaningful U.S.-Palestinian exchange or collaboration elements rather than treating the U.S. connection as a minor add-on.
What are examples of acceptable U.S.-Palestinian engagement activities mentioned in the notice?
The notice suggests possible approaches such as involvement from American experts, partnerships with U.S. universities or professional organizations, mentorship links with U.S. professionals, joint workshops, speaker series, or other structured activities that strengthen American-Palestinian relationships and create pathways for future cooperation.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $200,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making one award.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 19, 2023.
What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was July 21, 2023.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.021.
What are the main themes or sectors covered by the activity areas?
The funding activity areas span education, community development, and business and commerce.
What overall impact is this program aiming to achieve?
The program aims to produce employment-relevant skills gains among Palestinian university graduates while also advancing institutional strengthening, private-sector-led economic development, and sustained people-to-people engagement tied to the United States.
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