Ethiopian Leadership Institute RFI-663-22-000006-ELI.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Activity Title: USAID/Ethiopia’s Ethiopian Leadership Institute (ELI)

Reference Number: RFI-663-22-000006-ELI

Release Date: March 30, 2022

Response Date: May 27, 2022, 17:00 Ethiopia Time

Dear Interested Parties:

The United States Agency for International Development Mission in Ethiopia (USAID/Ethiopia) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) from all interested stakeholders to explore potential areas of innovative partnership and collaboration with the broad community of private sector actors, public institutions, academia, Ethiopian diaspora groups, non-governmental organizations, and development partners to co-establish and co-manage an Ethiopian Leadership Institute (ELI). Information is also welcome from international organizations designing and implementing similar activities.

USAID/Ethiopia considers private sector engagement (PSE) as an enormous opportunity to advance shared goals with the private sector. Partnerships permit cost-sharing, which leads to greater investments and, therefore, greater impact and sustainability. This is articulated in our PSE activities, in the emergence of

USAID’s PSE Hub, and in USAID’s transformational PSE Policy, presented as an “Agency-wide call to action, and a mandate to work hand-in-hand with the private sector to design and deliver [USAID’s] development and humanitarian programs across all sectors.” We have seen firsthand how, together, USAID and the private sector can combine resources, networks, technical expertise, and technologies to kick start innovation, unlock new markets, generate additional public and private financing, and accelerate progress on shared challenges threatening companies and communities alike. Finally, partnerships can capitalize on the strengths of each stakeholder, with USAID sharing programming knowledge and skills and the private sector partner bringing financial resources, business expertise, and innovative approaches.

This RFI is issued solely to gather market insights, innovative ideas, best practices, and co-investment opportunities. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NOFO). This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to issue a solicitation. Furthermore, USAID/Ethiopia is not seeking proposals or applications at this time. If a solicitation is issued, it will be announced on Grants.gov or SAM.gov at a later date. It should be noted that responding to this RFI will not give any advantage to any organizations in any subsequent procurement.

BACKGROUND:

USAID is committed to helping its partner countries achieve their development objectives and ensuring that U.S. taxpayer investments produce sustainable and long-term development outcomes. The current context in Ethiopia presents unique challenges and opportunities for USAID to support the country to lead its own development journey.

https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/private-sector-engagement https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/private-sector-engagement/PSE-at-USAID/PSE-Hub https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/private-sector-engagement/PSE-at-USAID/PSE-Hub https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/usaid_psepolicy_final.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/usaid_psepolicy_final.pdf

USAID/Ethiopia intends to lead the establishment of an international caliber Ethiopian Leadership Institute

(ELI) focused on multiple facets of leadership for Ethiopian public and private sector leaders. ELI will provide transformational leadership training and long-term professional development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring, to applicants demonstrating leadership potential. Providing leadership training and robust professional development opportunities will grow the cadre of private and public sector leaders capable of invigorating and advancing Ethiopia’s efforts to reach lower-middle income status.

As a founding member, USAID will draw in partners that commit/donate resources and technical expertise so that ELI will be self-sustaining after USAID’s initial seed investments. USAID seeks to catalyze international and domestic interest in a world-class facility focused on delivering broad-based, transformational leadership curricula attuned to and aligned with the private sector needs within Ethiopia.

To address the impending youth bulge, the curricula will provide programs focused on the soft-skill needs of men and women entering the private and public sectors for the first time. The ELI faculty will consist of national and international professionals with diverse experience and knowledge in leadership pedagogy.

ELI course offerings will be designed to cultivate and improve the core leadership skills of participants.

ELI will offer on-the-job training, mentoring, coaching, and networking opportunities to participants to enhance career advancement.

While USAID’s catalytic investment will help set up and launch the initiative, USAID anticipates that its operations and ongoing support will be funded and managed by private sector institutions and resources.

The private sector will lead this institute, in partnership with local and international stakeholders, to pilot innovative, high-quality leadership training and methods to strengthen local leadership capacity, systems, and networks, testing the theory that increasingly capable local leaders can advance their own economic and career development, and impart leadership skills and knowledge in their economic sphere. Through this activity, USAID will continue to work together with the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) to further advance its capacity and commitment to plan, finance, and implement programs that sustainably address these locally-led development priorities. To accomplish this, USAID will draw on the expertise and resources of the GOE, the U.S. Government, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society organizations, and other partners.

USAID/Ethiopia is interested in responses to the following specific questions. Respondents are encouraged to review the questions and include answers to the most relevant questions in their submissions.

Respondents do not need to respond to all of the questions listed below.

1. As originally envisioned, USAID plans to only provide seed funds. How do we best engage and partner with the private sector and other resource partners to co-finance and co-design the ELI initiative in a sustainable way?

2. USAID is focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility. How can we best target marginalized groups for these programs?

3. How can USAID and the private sector combine resources, networks, technical expertise, and technologies to accelerate progress on the leadership challenges threatening companies and communities alike?

4. How can we better engage the diaspora to provide transformational leadership training and long-term professional development opportunities in the country, specifically mentoring and coaching?

How can diaspora communities act as advisors or thought leaders? How do we engage the diaspora's wealth of skills, capital, and networks? What enabling role can they best play?

5. Should universities or think tanks be involved in this initiative? If so, how? Are there international partners or donors that USAID should approach in this space?

6. With regards to outreach, where should USAID focus its efforts? Please provide suggestions and if available, points of contact of potentially interested parties.

7. Are there any other topics or main themes not listed above that USAID should address or consider in developing this leadership Institute?

Please ensure your comments are concise and specific. Responses must, at a minimum, contain the following:

1) Primary point of contact (name, title, phone number, and email address)

2) Contact information (telephone, website, and address) of your organization

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI by email attachment on the closing date and time shown at the top of this letter to tgebremedhin@usaid.gov and cc caddis@usaid.gov . The subject line of the email must read ELI.

USAID/Ethiopia is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information, answer questions, or provide feedback to respondents concerning any information submitted. Please note that issuance of this

RFI does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the

Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of responses.

We appreciate your interest in USAID/Ethiopia's initiatives, and we look forward to your comments.

Sincerely, /ss/

Alula Abera

Contracting/Agreement Officer mailto:tgebremedhin@usaid.gov mailto:caddis@usaid.gov