REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Tackling Youth Displacement: Education, Employment, and Enterprise
With the generous sponsorship of the Consulate General of The Kingdom of the Netherlands
Project/Award Period: October 2025 to September 2026
Deadline for applications: July 30th, 2025
Introduction
The Atlanta Global Studies Center (AGSC) invites proposals addressing global youth displacement, underemployment, and social enterprise—anchored in the legacy of Atlanta’s civil rights movement and its relevance to global and local communities. This initiative seeks to foster collaborative research, and professional development to create global and local partnerships with the potential to transform the lives of young people throughout the world and societies at large. The core objective of this initiative is to examine themes of displacement and forced migration of youth throughout the world, particularly those who are from socially excluded or economically vulnerable populations who are seeking employment opportunities away from home, or fleeing conflict, violence, and/or environmental causes. This initiative aims to explore innovative solutions, including policies that provide systemic change through education, job creation, wellness, and social enterprise, and social stability.
About the Atlanta Global Studies Center
AGSC is an interdisciplinary center which supports language learning and international studies through research, curriculum enhancement, and professional development. Amongst other initiatives, AGSC hosts and coordinates the Atlanta Global Research and Education Collaborative (AGREC). Since its inception in 2020, AGREC has grown into a partnership between eight universities in Greater Atlanta—Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Emory University, Agnes Scott College, Spelman College, Kennesaw State University, Clark Atlanta University, and Atlanta Metropolitan State College—creating a dynamic network of scholars, practitioners, and community leaders dedicated to addressing global challenges.
Objectives and Selection Criteria
The proposals should explore the ways in which education, business, and communities can collectively contribute to sustainable pathways that address systemic economic inequities and advance social justice. Proposals should have a connection drawing upon Atlanta’s legacy of transformation and leadership in the civil rights movement. Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate a clear vision for longer-term, scalable programs and study aimed at improving the lives of youth, particularly in low- and middle-income countries or marginalized communities. Competitive proposals will specify both specific outputs that will result from the grant, as well as how these or other undertakings made possible by the grant will be used in future efforts to scale the research or program.
Awards and Project Timeline
• Proposal Deadline: July 30, 2025
• Award Notification: August 30, 2025
• Funding Disbursement: September 30, 2025
• Project Completion: Academic Year October 2025 to September 2026
To make the most of existing funding and in consideration of an objective of the current grant to lead to competitive, larger scale external funding applications in the future, this grant is not eligible for institutional overhead (indirect costs/ F&A). Grant funds may not be used for salary, wages, or course buyouts for individuals affiliated with the primary applicant’s institution, nor for equipment or materials for use at the primary applicant’s institution.
Target Audience and Eligibility
• This call for proposals is open to members of the academic community in Atlanta, including researchers, faculty, and institutions eager to collaborate on impactful global and local initiatives in partnership with a community partner such as a business, nonprofit, youth-led groups or organizations.
• Primary applicants should have a current affiliation with an academic institution in the greater Atlanta area and may include faculty, graduate students. • Each project therefore should involve at least one Atlanta university and one partner institution or organization within or outside the United States.
• Evidence of collaboration/partnerships should be supported with a formal letter of support for the project. The inclusion of additional partners is strongly encouraged.
• Project teams should demonstrate the capacity to address both the local and international dimensions of youth displacement and related challenges. A direct connection to the Netherlands is not required for project eligibility.
Key Activities and Deliverables
● Field Research: Studies that will produce new knowledge and insights into youth displacement and solution strategies, highlight the ecosystem that supports youth, and demonstrate a tangible, positive impact on young people’s lives
● Policy and Advocacy Efforts: Reports with current and proposed policy changes to address systemic issues of youth displacement through strategies such as education, employment, and other targeted solutions.
● Community Action Projects: Activities designed to leverage academic insights, community assets, and local knowledge, with the potential to make a tangible and positive impact on young people’s lives, both locally and abroad.
Application Materials and Process
a. Narrative [3-5 pages, single space, APA format].
Please address each of the following in the narrative.
o Project Description and Relevance to the theme of this call.
o Multi-Disciplinary and Multi-Institutional Approach
o Strength and Equity of Partnership
Contributions/roles of each team member
o Impact on Youth and their futures
potential significance and expected impact of the proposed project
expected outcomes /results (e.g., # of participants, % change, skills development)
deliverables
How does the project promote innovative solutions, including policies that provide systemic change through education, job creation, wellness, and social enterprise, and social stability?
o Longevity
How will the outcomes of the project continue to be realized after the funding?
o Feasibility
How likely can project activities and outcomes be achieved considering the limits of time and funding?
b. Project timeline
c. Detailed Budget
d. CVs of the PIs and Co-PIs (Include CVs of any additional team members if applicable. CVs of community members are NOT required)
e. Letter of Support
Please note that Project Timeline, Budget, CVs, and Letter of Support will not count toward the page limit of the narrative. Please submit the application as one PDF file to this link by the deadline for full consideration of the award.
A special thank you to the advisory committee
Please note that this advisory committee has strong representation from Atlanta, as the initiative originates there and is guided by Atlanta’s legacy in the civil rights movement. As the initiative grows, we plan to expand and diversify the advisory committee accordingly.
• Obse Ababiya, Associate Director, Emory Global Engagement, Emory University
• Jacob Veerman, Consul General of The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Atlanta GA
• April Ripley, President, Georgia Council for International Visitors, International Women Associates
• Vanessa Ibarra, Founder, The Shared World
• Waleed Shamsid-Deen, Ambassador, Special Envoy: Trade & Investment Sierra Leone President/CEO, Supreme Foods Worldwide.
• Tim'm T. West, Executive Director, LGBTQ+ Institute & Culture Connections Consultant, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• Barbara A. Harrison, Senior Director, External Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, The King Center
• Bronson Elliott Woods, Assistant Pastor of Global Missions & Outreach Ministries, Ebenezer Baptist Church
• Zeina Shuhaibar, Deputy Director, The Global Opportunity Youth Network, The Aspen Institute
• Lakshitha Saji Prelis, Director, Children & Youth Programmes, Search for Common Ground, Co-Chair, Global Coalition on Youth, Peace & Security, Senior Fellow of Collaborative for Global Children’s Issues.
• Stephen O’Connell, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Emory University
• Anne Elisabeth Courrier, Associate Professor in Public Law, University of Nantes, France and AI Ethics Liaison, Emory Center for Ethics
• Sam Cherribi, Director, Emory Development Initiative
• Ken Kungania, Chair, Board of Directors, National African Student Association
Further Information:
Should you have any questions, please contact the AGSC Leadership Team: Dr. Ethan Trinh, Georgia State University at ttrinh16@gsu.edu and Dr. Stuart Minson, Georgia Tech at stuart.minson@gatech.edu. We look forward to receiving your proposal.