DOT 2024 Going Beyond Project for African Youth 2024

Join the movement to empower young women and men in Africa with entrepreneurial skills and digital literacy! The Going Beyond project is a five-year collaboration between Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) and the Mastercard Foundation, empowering over 300,000 youths, particularly young women (70%), in Africa to lead transformational change. 

The Going Beyond project aims to scale DOT’s evidence-based, peer-to-peer model and will be implemented in four African countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.

DOT is now seeking youth-led organizations (YLOs) and youth-serving organizations (YSOs) from Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia to partner with us in delivering locally appropriate and culturally relevant digital inclusion and enterprise growth programs over the next four years.

• Table of Content
• About Ddigital Opportunity Trust
• Going Beyond Project
• Aim and Benefits of Going Beyond Project
• Requirements for Going Beyond Project Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Going Beyond Project
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Ddigital Opportunity Trust

DOT is a youth-led movement of daring social innovators who have the tools, knowledge, and networks to create opportunities and transform their own communities. We support youth to become innovators and leaders, and to create and apply digital solutions that have positive impact in their communities.

Going Beyond Project

Aim and Benefits of Going Beyond Project

• Resource Access: Gain access to financial, material, and intellectual resources that enhance your organization’s ability to impact their community.
• Capacity Enhancement: Receive training and development opportunities that build organizational capacity and expertise in youth development.
• Network Expansion: Join a wider network of like-minded organizations, sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices to amplify impact.

Requirements for Going Beyond Project Qualification

• A youth-led,  youth-serving organization or Women-led Organization (WLO)

In Youth-Led Organizations, young people are the principal decision makers. Adults may be involved in the organization but they are not the principal actors. Meanwhile, Youth-serving Organizations are entities that focus on the development, support, and empowerment of young people. These organizations provide various services, resources, and opportunities designed to meet the needs of youth and help them achieve their full potential, but may or may not be led by young people.

Women-led Organization (WLO) (WLOs are governed or directed by women, or whose leadership is principally made up of women – demonstrated by over 70% or more occupying senior leadership positions.)

• Legally registered and operating in Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Tanzania, or Zambia
• A track record of 2+ years in operation and at least 1 completed project
• An organizational bank account and audited books of accounts for at least 2 years
• A dedicated team members willing to invest time and effort in capacity strengthening and organizational development
• Experience in youth entrepreneurship and livelihoods programming
• Experience in gender inclusive youth mobilization and empowerment, and demonstrated commitment to gender equality, women’s rights, and economic and digital inclusion of marginalized young people. . 
• Willingness to enter a multi-year partnership opportunity 

Interview date, Process and Venue for Going Beyond Project

Timelines

• September 3, 2024: Application process opens
• September 30, 2024: Application process closes at 5 pm EDT
• October 1 – 30, 2024: Virtual Due Diligence process with shortlisted applicants 
• November 1 – 30, 2024: In-person Due Diligence visits with shortlisted applicants 
• December 15, 2024: Applicants notified of selection decisions 
• January 1 – 30, 2025: Contracting with selected applicants
• February 15, 2025: Partner onboarding begins

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Interested in learning more about the project and application process? Please email us at  [email protected] to express your interest in attending an information session on Thursday, Sept 12th, 2024 from 8:00 to 9:00 am EDT. 

Kindly include the names and titles of the individuals from your organization who wish to participate, and we will send a personalized invitation with further details. Please submit any questions to [email protected]  by Tuesday September 10th. Questions received after this date may not be addressed in the information session.

In order to ensure this is a fair and accessible selection process, please connect with us should you require any accommodations throughout the process (e.g. for the virtual information session, application form information, using the submission platform) feel free to reach out at:  [email protected] 

For more details, visit DOT website.