U.S. State Dept Seeks Programs for Employment in Pakistan
Summary
The U.S. Department of State is seeking proposals for programs to build sustainable employment pathways in Pakistan, specifically in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This initiative aims to develop a skilled workforce for U.S. companies, counter terrorist recruitment, and strengthen U.S.-Pakistan partnerships. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and educational institutions.
What changed
The U.S. Department of State, through its Embassy in Islamabad, has announced an open competition for programs focused on workforce integration in conflict-affected areas of Pakistan. The initiative seeks to create sustainable employment pathways for graduates of public schools and madrassahs in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, aligning their skills with the needs of U.S. industries. This program is intended to protect U.S. commercial interests, counter terrorist recruitment by providing viable economic alternatives, and strengthen the U.S.-Pakistan partnership, particularly in the mining and minerals sector.
Eligible entities, including non-profit organizations and educational institutions (both U.S. and foreign), are invited to submit proposals. Successful applicants will be responsible for assessing skill gaps, developing and delivering training programs with local vocational institutions, facilitating internships and job placements, and advocating for the replication of successful courses with provincial and national governments. The notice provides contact information for inquiries and lists several supporting documents for potential applicants, including organizational information sheets, monitoring plan templates, and risk assessment forms.
What to do next
- Review program requirements for workforce integration in Pakistan
- Assess eligibility criteria for non-profit and educational institutions
- Prepare and submit proposals according to program guidelines
Source document (simplified)
Workforce Integration in Conflict Areas
Agency: U.S. Mission to Pakistan
Assistance Listings: 19.501 -- Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Last Updated: March 26, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov
Description
The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Islamabad announces an open competition to implement a program to build sustainable pathways to employment in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This project directly protects U.S. commercial interests in Pakistan, counters terrorist recruitment, and strengthens the U.S.-Pakistan partnership. Past research indicates that the regions of Pakistan with the highest poverty rates correlate closely with the regions with the highest number of terrorist incidents, the weakest public school systems, and the highest concentration of madrassahs per capita. These same regions are also home to the largest concentration of critical mineral deposits where American mining companies are trying to invest. By developing employment skills for public school and madrassah graduates aligned with the needs of U.S. industry, this project builds a trained workforce for U.S. companies operating in the region, creates viable economic alternatives to financial incentives offered by terrorist groups, and positions the United States as a preferred partner in the mining and minerals sector. Successful proposals will assess graduate skill gaps and employer needs, develop and deliver employment training along with local vocational-technical institutions, facilitate placement of graduates into internships and jobs, and advocate with the provincial and national government to replicate and scale successful courses.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Nonprofit
- Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
Additional information
The following organizations are eligible to apply: 1. Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations (both U.S. and foreign) 2. Public and private educational institutions (Not-for-profit, both U.S. and foreign)
Grantor contact information
Description
Grants Management Team
U.S. Embassy Islamabad
051-2014000
For Inquiries
Documents
Download all
| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 04.ApplicantOrganizationalInformationSheet.docx | Attachment 04. Applicant Organizational Information Sheet | Mar 26, 2026 08:51 AM UTC |
| Attachment05-MEPMP_Template.docx | Attachment 05. M&E PMP Template | Mar 26, 2026 08:54 AM UTC |
| 13RISK~1.XLS | Risk Assessment and Monitoring Plan | Mar 26, 2026 09:06 AM UTC |
| WorkforceIntegrationinConflictAreas_NOFO-1.pdf | NOFO - Workforce Integration in Conflict Areas | Mar 26, 2026 09:04 AM UTC |
| 14.MonitoringPlan_Template.docx | Monitoring Plan Template | Mar 26, 2026 09:06 AM UTC |
| 18.NotionalDisbursement_Schedule.xlsx | Notional Disbursement Schedule | Mar 26, 2026 08:13 AM UTC |
| 06.DetailedDOSBudgetTemplate.xlsx | Attachment 06. Detailed Narrative Budget | Mar 26, 2026 08:53 AM UTC |
Link to additional information
--
Closing: May 15, 2026
Application process
This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov
Award
$300,000
Program Funding
1
Expected awards
$200,000
Award Minimum
$300,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
SCAISB-26-CA-002-02242026
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
No Funding instrument type:
Cooperative agreement
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
-- Category of Funding Activity:
Business and commerce
Education
Other
Category Explanation:
- Countering Violent Extremism
History
Version:
1
Posted date:
March 26, 2026
Archive date:
June 14, 2026
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