Pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the United States Government, as represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau of Latin America and the Caribbean, Office of Regional Sustainable Development (USAID/LAC/RSD) is announcing the LAC Regional Higher Education Scholarships for Youth Workforce Development Addendum to the Higher Education for Leadership, Innovation, and Exchange (HELIX), New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) Annual Program Statement (APS). No. 7200AA20APS00009. See (1) LAC Regional Higher Education Scholarships for Youth Workforce Development Addendum; and (2) Attachment 1 Concept Note Template HELIX APS Addendum located in the “RELATED DOCUMENTS" tab for specific details.

The purpose of this new LAC Regional Higher Education Scholarships for Youth Workforce Development Activity is to increase the access, retention, and completion of market-relevant quality higher education and training for youth from disadvantaged populations, and to improve their opportunities for employment. In doing so, the Activity will help mitigate growing divides in higher education exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ultimate goal of the Activity is to have a cadre of young professionals with the academic competencies, soft skills, behaviors, and attitudes that enable them to participate in society as productive workers and responsible citizens.