Opportunity Information: Apply for 72067424RFI00006
USAID/Southern Africa has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather input that will help shape the design of a new skills development activity called Sustainable Skills for a Just Transition (SS4JT). This is not a traditional grant solicitation announcing funding amounts or requesting full proposals; instead, it is an information-gathering step meant to inform how USAID structures a future activity. The overall purpose is to better connect South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates to real employment opportunities, especially in communities and industries affected by the shift away from coal and toward cleaner energy.
The SS4JT concept is centered on Mpumalanga, a province that has been closely tied to coal-related economic activity and is therefore at the heart of South Africa's broader “Just Energy Transition” discussions. USAID signals that the activity should support innovative, specialized training programs for green occupations, but with an important emphasis: the focus is on green jobs in non-energy sectors, along with the entrepreneurial skills needed to create or grow businesses that fit a diversifying economy. In practice, this points to skills and career pathways that can absorb both young people entering the labor market and workers who may be displaced as coal-linked jobs decline, while also strengthening local economic resilience beyond a single industry.
A key theme is alignment with, but also expansion beyond, the Government of South Africa's Just Energy Transition (JET) Investment Plan, specifically its skills-related priorities. USAID indicates that it wants to co-design an activity that responds to that national plan while also broadening the scope to strengthen the TVET system itself. That includes improving the skills development pipeline and building institutional capacity at TVET colleges so they can continuously adjust to evolving labor market needs. The underlying idea is that the transition will not be a one-time shift; qualifications, technologies, and employer demands will keep changing, so the training ecosystem must be adaptable and capable of updating programs over time.
The intended results described in the RFI go beyond training delivery. USAID is looking at how TVET graduates actually move into jobs, suggesting a strong interest in job placement linkages, employer partnerships, work-integrated learning models, and other mechanisms that reduce the gap between graduating and earning income. The activity is also framed as supporting economic diversification in Mpumalanga, meaning training programs should connect to sectors that can realistically grow in the region and offer sustainable livelihoods. At the same time, USAID highlights quality-of-life improvements and job creation in communities most affected by the energy transition, reinforcing the “just transition” principle that economic and social costs should not fall disproportionately on workers and towns dependent on coal.
From the opportunity listing details, the issuing office is USAID South Africa (Pretoria), and the posting is categorized under Education with an “Other” instrument type and “Other” opportunity category, which fits an RFI rather than a grant competition. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, indicating that a broad range of organizations and stakeholders could provide information, such as training providers, employers, industry bodies, NGOs, workforce development specialists, and others with relevant expertise. The RFI closing date was April 8, 2024, and the listing shows an expected number of awards as one and an award ceiling of zero, both of which are consistent with an RFI stage where USAID is not yet committing to funding or issuing multiple awards.
In short, USAID/Southern Africa is collecting market and stakeholder input to design a future workforce and systems-strengthening effort in Mpumalanga that helps TVET institutions deliver relevant, future-facing skills, expands green and diversified employment pathways outside the energy sector, supports entrepreneurship, and enables youth and transitioning coal workers to navigate a changing skills and qualifications landscape while maintaining momentum in their careers.Apply for 72067424RFI00006
- The South Africa USAID-Pretoria in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information for USAID Southern Africa to Strengthen Sustainable Skills for a Just Transition Activity Design" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is Sustainable Skills for a Just Transition (SS4JT)?
SS4JT (Sustainable Skills for a Just Transition) is a USAID/Southern Africa concept for a new skills development activity. The idea is to strengthen skills pathways and employment outcomes for South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, especially in areas and industries affected by the transition away from coal and toward cleaner energy.
2) Is this announcement a grant solicitation or a funding opportunity?
No. The notice described is a Request for Information (RFI). It is an information-gathering step intended to help USAID shape and design a future activity. It does not announce funding amounts and it does not request full proposals.
3) What is the purpose of the RFI?
The purpose of the RFI is to gather input from the market and from stakeholders to inform how USAID structures a future skills development and systems-strengthening activity. The emphasis is on connecting TVET graduates to real employment opportunities and improving how the skills pipeline responds to changing labor market needs.
4) Where is the activity expected to focus geographically?
The SS4JT concept is centered on Mpumalanga, a province closely tied to coal-related economic activity and therefore central to South Africa's broader Just Energy Transition discussions.
5) What kinds of beneficiaries or participant groups are envisioned?
Based on the description, the activity is intended to support both (a) young people entering the labor market through TVET pathways and (b) workers who may be displaced as coal-linked jobs decline, with the goal of enabling smoother transitions into new employment and livelihood opportunities.
6) What is meant by a "Just Transition" in this context?
The RFI frames the work around the idea that economic and social costs of the energy transition should not fall disproportionately on workers and communities that depend on coal-related industries. In practice, that points to job creation, quality-of-life improvements, and economic diversification in the communities most affected.
7) What sectors or types of jobs does SS4JT emphasize?
USAID signals interest in innovative and specialized training programs for green occupations, with an important emphasis on green jobs in non-energy sectors. The concept also highlights entrepreneurial skills to help people create or grow businesses in a diversifying economy.
8) Does SS4JT focus on green jobs only within the energy sector?
No. The description specifically emphasizes green jobs in non-energy sectors, alongside entrepreneurship and broader diversification pathways beyond a single industry.
9) How does SS4JT relate to South Africa's Just Energy Transition (JET) Investment Plan?
The RFI indicates that USAID wants the activity to align with, and also expand beyond, the Government of South Africa's JET Investment Plan, particularly its skills-related priorities. This suggests USAID is looking for an approach that supports national priorities while also strengthening the TVET system more broadly.
10) Is the activity focused only on delivering training courses?
No. The intended results described go beyond training delivery. The RFI highlights the need to improve how TVET graduates move into jobs, including stronger job placement linkages, employer partnerships, and work-integrated learning models that reduce the gap between graduation and earning income.
11) What is meant by strengthening the "TVET system" in this RFI?
The RFI points to building institutional capacity at TVET colleges so they can continuously adjust to evolving labor market needs. The underlying idea is that qualifications, technologies, and employer demands will keep changing, so the training ecosystem must be adaptable and able to update programs over time.
12) What types of approaches does USAID appear interested in for connecting graduates to employment?
The RFI signals interest in mechanisms such as job placement linkages, employer partnerships, and work-integrated learning models, all aimed at closing the gap between completing training and securing income-generating work.
13) How does SS4JT connect to economic diversification in Mpumalanga?
The activity is framed as supporting economic diversification in Mpumalanga, meaning training programs should align with sectors that can realistically grow in the region and provide sustainable livelihoods, strengthening local resilience beyond coal-linked industries.
14) Who is issuing the RFI?
The issuing office is USAID South Africa (Pretoria), under USAID/Southern Africa.
15) What is the opportunity category and instrument type shown in the listing?
The posting is categorized under Education, with an "Other" instrument type and an "Other" opportunity category. That categorization is consistent with an RFI rather than a traditional grant competition.
16) Who is eligible to respond to this RFI?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted. This indicates a broad range of organizations and stakeholders could provide input, such as training providers, employers, industry bodies, NGOs, workforce development specialists, and others with relevant expertise.
17) Does the listing indicate that USAID will make awards under this RFI?
The listing shows an expected number of awards as one and an award ceiling of zero, which is consistent with an RFI stage where USAID is not committing to funding or issuing multiple awards.
18) Is there a stated funding amount or award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listing shows an award ceiling of zero, which aligns with the RFI nature of the posting (information gathering rather than a funded award at this stage).
19) What was the closing date for the RFI?
The RFI closing date was April 8, 2024.
20) What is the main "problem" SS4JT is trying to address?
Based on the description, the core challenge is improving the connection between TVET training and real employment outcomes, especially in communities affected by the coal transition. That includes ensuring skills remain relevant as the labor market changes and creating credible pathways into diversified, sustainable jobs and livelihoods.
21) What outcomes does USAID appear to care about besides training completion?
The RFI emphasizes outcomes such as successful transitions into employment, stronger employer linkages, practical work-integrated learning opportunities, job creation, improved quality of life in affected communities, and stronger institutional capacity within TVET colleges to adapt over time.
22) Does the RFI suggest the activity should support entrepreneurship?
Yes. The concept explicitly includes entrepreneurial skills needed to create or grow businesses that fit a diversifying economy, alongside specialized training for green occupations.
23) Why is adaptability a key theme in the RFI?
USAID highlights that the transition will not be a one-time shift: qualifications, technologies, and employer demands are expected to keep evolving. The RFI therefore emphasizes a training ecosystem that can continuously update programs and remain responsive to labor market needs.
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