KEM (Maya-K’iche’ word that means “weaving”) STRENGTHENING ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUTH AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE | 72052021RFA00008

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72052021RFA00008

The KEM opportunity (a Maya K-iche word meaning "weaving") is a USAID/Guatemala funding call focused on increasing meaningful participation of youth and Indigenous Peoples in development and decision-making across Guatemala, from the community level up through municipal, regional, and national spaces. The central idea behind the opportunity is to "weave" together stronger relationships, skills, and platforms so that young people and Indigenous communities are not just consulted occasionally, but are consistently able to influence development priorities, public services, and policies that affect their lives. The program is framed to align with USAID guidance on youth inclusion and Indigenous rights, and it emphasizes practical engagement that results in stronger local development outcomes, especially in areas hit hardest by COVID-19 impacts.

USAID is looking for concept proposals that contribute to four main objectives. First, applicants should propose listening and learning activities that help USAID and partners better understand youth and Indigenous perspectives, while also building the ability of youth and Indigenous participants to engage effectively in development processes. This part is explicitly tied to USAID's Youth in Development Policy and USAID's Policy on Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, meaning the work should reflect rights-respecting approaches, inclusive participation, and capacity building that goes beyond one-time workshops. The expectation is that interventions will strengthen both the channels for participation (forums, dialogues, feedback mechanisms) and the skills needed to use those channels well (leadership, advocacy, communication, organizing, and engagement with institutions).

Second, proposals are expected to support implementation of USAID/Guatemala's Indigenous Peoples' Engagement Strategy (noted as available in Spanish). In practical terms, this means the activity should not operate as a standalone project with unrelated goals, but instead should reinforce and advance USAID/Guatemala's existing approach for partnering with Indigenous Peoples. Concepts should show how proposed actions will translate that strategy into real engagement, such as improving how institutions consult with Indigenous communities, strengthening culturally appropriate participation methods, or addressing barriers that prevent Indigenous representation in local and national development processes.

Third, the opportunity prioritizes strengthening collaboration between the Government of Guatemala (at both local and national levels) and Indigenous Peoples' Authorities. This support is meant to align with the government's La Ruta, Reunion entre Pueblos initiative (referred to as La Ruta) and related efforts that aim to build partnerships among government, Indigenous authorities, civil society, and the private sector. The intended result is improved coordination and trust, leading to better services and quality of life in predominantly Indigenous regions. This suggests that USAID is interested in concepts that can bridge institutions and communities, improve joint planning, facilitate dialogue, and help different actors work together more effectively, especially where relationships may be strained or where coordination has historically been limited.

Fourth, USAID is seeking approaches that strengthen the capacity of youth and Indigenous organizations to advance local development, with particular attention to communities most affected by COVID-19. This points toward organizational strengthening and resilience work, such as improving governance, management, strategic planning, community outreach, partnership building, and the ability to design and carry out local initiatives. The COVID-19 emphasis indicates that USAID expects applicants to consider pandemic-related setbacks, such as economic disruption, education interruptions, health system strain, and increased vulnerability for marginalized groups, and to propose ways youth and Indigenous organizations can respond and recover while continuing to participate in development planning.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Guatemala (USAID-Guatemala City). It is an earmark opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement funding instrument, which typically implies substantial involvement by USAID during implementation, including collaboration on priorities, learning, and adaptation. The funding opportunity number is 72052021RFA00008, the CFDA number listed is 98.001, and the activity category is Community Development. The posting indicates an award ceiling of $2,000,000 and an expected number of awards listed as 50. The opportunity was created on May 26, 2021, with an original closing date of July 28, 2021. Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, implying that a range of organizations may be able to apply depending on the specific eligibility language.

Overall, KEM is essentially a participation-and-partnerships grant designed to strengthen the voice, influence, and organizational capability of youth and Indigenous Peoples, while also improving how government and Indigenous authorities collaborate through structured initiatives like La Ruta. Concepts are expected to be grounded in listening, learning, and rights-respecting engagement, and to translate inclusion into concrete improvements in local development planning and service outcomes, particularly in Indigenous regions and communities facing intensified challenges following COVID-19.

• The Agency for International Development, Guatemala USAID-Guatemala City in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "KEM (Maya-K’iche’ word that means “weaving”) STRENGTHENING ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUTH AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE" 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 May 26, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2021. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 72052021RFA00008

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