Supporting Youth Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Jordan | PAS JOR FY22 004

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Supporting Youth Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Jordan (PAS JOR FY22 004)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Embassy in Amman (U.S. Department of State) titled "Supporting Youth Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Jordan" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAS JOR FY22 004). It invites eligible nonprofits to propose and run a program that supports youth in Jordan who have come into contact with the law, especially those recently released from juvenile detention centers or prisons.

2) What is the main purpose of the program being funded?

The intent is to pilot or scale an approach that meaningfully supports formerly incarcerated youth as they transition back into their communities. The program is meant to address barriers that often lead to isolation, stigma, and repeat involvement with the justice system, with an emphasis on both wellbeing and employability.

3) Who is the target population for the program?

The program is focused on formerly incarcerated youth in Jordan, with particular attention to young people recently released from juvenile detention centers or prisons. The described age range for the target group is 15 to 30.

4) What outcomes is the Embassy trying to achieve?

Based on the announcement, the program is intended to increase the chances that participants can stabilize their lives after release, reconnect with family and community in healthier ways, and build skills needed to become productive members of society. A key aim is to support successful re-entry and reduce recidivism (repeat involvement with the justice system).

5) What are the core program focus areas?

The opportunity emphasizes a dual focus:

• Wellbeing: strengthening social and emotional supports for formerly incarcerated youth.
• Employability: improving practical job and career readiness.

The Embassy signals that strong proposals should blend psychosocial support with tangible pathways to education, training, and employment.

6) What are the priority programming areas highlighted in the notice?

Two priority areas are specifically highlighted:

1. Community-based psychosocial and mental health interventions: support for recently released youth and their families, potentially including structured counseling, peer support, and family engagement to reduce stigma, rebuild trust, and strengthen social cohesion.
2. Life skills development and career training: tailored opportunities for formerly incarcerated youth aimed at successful re-entry and reduced recidivism, including employability skills and workplace readiness, and potentially employer engagement or job placement supports if they fit the target group and local labor market realities.

7) Does the program need to involve families and communities, or only the individual youth?

The notice explicitly points to interventions that support youth and their families, and it frames reintegration as a community challenge rather than something placed entirely on the individual. Programs are expected to address stigma and social reintegration barriers in the community context.

8) Is collaboration required, or can an organization run the program on its own?

The opportunity emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration rather than stand-alone services. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate across a range of actors (central and local government entities, law enforcement, civil society organizations, religious community actors, academic institutions, and private sector partners). This indicates a preference for coordinated approaches that align services, improve referrals, reduce duplication, and build local ownership.

9) What kinds of partners does the Embassy encourage applicants to coordinate with?

The notice encourages coordination with:

• Central and local government entities
• Law enforcement
• Civil society organizations
• Religious community actors
• Academic institutions
• Private sector partners

10) Is there a required communications or media component?

Yes. Proposals are required to include a digital media plan designed to amplify program results and extend impact beyond direct participants. The Embassy specifically mentions approaches such as podcasts or webisodes that share participant testimonials.

11) What is the purpose of the required digital media plan?

The purpose is described as going beyond visibility. It is meant to support public awareness and prevention by helping communities better understand reintegration challenges, humanizing affected youth, and potentially discouraging future offending by highlighting credible stories of change and support.

12) Does the notice say anything about ethics or privacy in media activities?

While the notice does not provide detailed rules, it notes that proposals would likely be expected to handle testimonials ethically, protecting participant privacy and safety while communicating outcomes and lessons learned in an accessible way.

13) What type of award will be used for this opportunity?

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies a more active partnership and oversight role by the funder during implementation compared to a standard grant.

14) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?

The notice states that up to two awards are anticipated.

15) What is the maximum funding amount available per award?

The award ceiling listed in the notice is $500,000.

16) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

The funding activity category is listed as community development.

17) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 19.021.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as stated in the opportunity description.

19) When was the opportunity posted and when was it originally due?

The notice was created on June 16, 2022, and the original closing date was August 4, 2022.

20) What does the Embassy mean by "pilot or scale" in this context?

Based on the wording in the notice, the Embassy is open to funding either a new approach being tested (a pilot) or an expansion of an existing approach (scale), as long as it meaningfully supports rehabilitation and reintegration for the target youth population.

21) What kinds of services could fit under the psychosocial and mental health priority area?

The notice provides examples such as structured counseling, peer support, and family engagement, with a focus on reducing stigma, rebuilding trust, and strengthening social cohesion after incarceration.

22) What kinds of services could fit under the life skills and career training priority area?

The notice points toward practical training, employability skills, workplace readiness, and potentially employer engagement or job placement supports, as long as these are tailored to formerly incarcerated youth and aligned with local labor market realities.

23) Is the program limited to youth released from juvenile detention centers only?

No. The notice highlights a focus on youth who have come into contact with the law, with particular attention to those recently released from juvenile detention centers or prisons.

24) What does the notice suggest about addressing stigma and community acceptance?

Stigma is identified as a major barrier that can contribute to isolation and repeat involvement with the justice system. The notice emphasizes community-based psychosocial interventions, family engagement, and a digital media component that can help communities better understand reintegration challenges and humanize affected youth.

25) What would make a proposal "strong" according to the opportunity description?

Based on the notice language, a strong proposal would reflect the real-world complexity of reintegration by blending psychosocial support with tangible pathways to education, training, and employment, and by coordinating with multiple stakeholders to build a supportive ecosystem around participants and their families.