Through this Project, USAID/Malawi aims to create new partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in efforts to amplify the Missions work in support of higher education. USAID expects MSIs to lead the development of the Concept Papers response in collaboration and partnership with relevant Malawi university and non-university tertiary institutions, the private sector, and organizations with capacity to technically offer training for a cadre of students described in Section A of the RFA. The Missions drive in seeking New Partnerships Initiatives (NPIs) and in support of partner countries progress to self-reliance, achieve sustainable and resilient results, and catalyze more effective partnering for impact shall entail that the lead MSI is a prime for the first two years, where focus is on building cooperative agreement grant administrative, financial and reporting compliance in lead local sub-partner, who will graduate into a prime Contractor in Year 3 of the project implementation.Based on the submitted Concept Paper, USAID/Malawi will invite selected applicants with Concept Papers meeting minimum criteria under this funding opportunity to participate in a co-creation workshop. Following the co-creation, selected finalists will further be requested to submit full applications. To be competitive under this funding opportunity, Concept Papers and applications must be fully responsive to all directions under the funding opportunity except when specifically noted otherwise.
