John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase II) Somalia: Complete Information on Notice of Funding Opportunity

By Masha 20 July 2023 Fellowships 0 Comments

Introduction: John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase II) Somalia, The U.S. Department of State and the esteemed U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu are thrilled to announce an open competition, inviting organizations to submit their innovative applications for a transformative project. This initiative aims to create a more inclusive society by amplifying the voice of marginalized and minority communities, fostering their active participation in public life.

This project presents a unique opportunity for organizations to make a lasting impact, enabling them to drive positive change and promote social equity. By empowering marginalized voices, we seek to cultivate a society that celebrates diversity and embraces the valuable contributions of every individual.

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Table of Contents

John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase II) Somalia

Background

Phase I of the John Lewis Minority Fellows Program was one of the first affirmative action fellowships for minority communities in Somalia, specifically South West State (SWS). The Program has been subsequently replicated by another organization; expanding the fellowship to the remaining four Federal Member States.

John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase II) Somalia Goals

Projects should increase the participation of marginalized and minority communities in public life. The proposed project builds upon the successes and lessons learned from our ongoing John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase I), funded through the FY 2020 ESF (ARDF.)

Projects under Phase II of the John Lewis Minority Fellows Program should boost the participation of marginalized and minority communities in public life through two mutually reinforcing objectives:

Objective 1: Cultivate and deepen professional skill set of marginalized and minority fellows, through the recruitment of two cohorts of eight fellows each to serve in the Federal Parliament of Somalia and/or executive bodies, line ministries, and the assembly of South West State (SWS,) as well as international and local NGOs.
Objective 2: Expand political inclusion in Somalia through the provision of professional development experiences for young Somalis from marginalized and minority communities seeking careers in government, NGOs, and the private sector through work experiences in the aforementioned institutions and capacity building experiences provided via the project.

Funding Information

Total Funding: $400,000.00 USD (FY2022 Economic Support Fund (ESF))
Period of Performance: 18-24 months.

John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase II) Somalia Expected Results

Specific results could include, but are not limited to, the following:

Successful fellowship experiences for 16 fellows from Somalia’s marginalized and minority communities to serve in the Federal Parliament of Somalia and/or executive bodies, line ministries, and the assembly of SWS, well as local and international NGOs.
Improved understanding and buy-in from key Somali government stakeholders, as well as local NGOs, on the value of greater political inclusion of members of marginalized and minority groups in public service, aiding in the country’s stability through government representation that fully reflects the diversity of its citizens.
Fellows report gaining skills relevant for working in a professional environment.
Fellows are exposed to high-level speakers and mentors to guide them.
Fellows are able to create a network among themselves and view their group as a future resource to help them and feel confident tapping into fellows from previous program and using them as mentors.

John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase II) Somalia Main Activities

To achieve the goals and expected results, the project should include the following:

Through collaboration with U.S. Embassy Mogadishu’s Political-Economic Section, recruit of 16 fellows, with six male fellows and ten female fellows, from Somalia’s marginalized and minority communities to serve in the Federal Parliament of Somalia and/or executive bodies, line ministries, and the assembly of SWS as well as international and local NGOs.
By leveraging Embassy networks and relationships, work to secure the fellows placements in the Federal Parliament of Somalia and/or executive bodies, line ministries, and the assembly of SWS, as well as in local and international NGOs.
Plan and execute a two- to three-day training experiences for fellows training them on note taking, office communication, and information technology skills to prepare them for their placements.
Provide day-to-day mentoring of fellows in their placements in the Federal Parliament of Somalia and/or executive bodies, line ministries, and the assembly of SWS, as well as in local and international NGOs.
Host keynote speaker events and networking opportunities for fellows as appropriate and as opportunities allow.
Track fellows’ experiences in their placements and provide U.S. and Somali government stakeholders with compelling qualitative case studies of how fellows demonstrably contributed to the country’s governance through greater political inclusion.
Plan and execute at least two professional development training sessions for fellows within the period of performance, organized by the awardee in collaboration with U.S. Embassy Mogadishu’s Political-Economic Section, with high-level speakers to provide fellows with experiences to augment their work in their placements. Provide fellows with inspiring experiences to motivate them to pursue long-term employment in public service roles.
Track fellows’ onward experiences after their placements conclude; provide employment data of the fellows in the Somali government, NGOs, and the private sector as a result of their experiences and capacity building in the project.
Monitor and evaluate fellows’ experiences by drawing on administrative data, as well as qualitative and quantitative data, via semi-structured interviews and Likert Scale surveys with fellows, and provide a business case for a longer-term fellows program with countrywide coverage.

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John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase II) Somalia Eligibility Information

U.S. Embassy Mogadishu welcomes applications from U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations subject to section 501(c) (3) or 501(c) (6) of the U.S. tax code; foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO); Public International Organizations; Foreign Public Organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses.

John Lewis Minority Fellows Program (Phase II) Somalia Eligibility Information

Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the Merit Review Panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.

Reference Website for John Lewis Minority Fellow Program

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