USAID seeking Applications for Delivering Quality Education in Migrant Receptor Communities in Colombia

Deadline: 11 May 2020

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), USAID/Colombia’s Venezuelan Response and Integration Office Development invites interested Applicant(s) to submit a Concept Note(s) that aim to improve education systems and expertise to achieve the Government of Colombia’s goal of providing sustainable and inclusive quality education to all school-aged children in Colombia, especially when there are unexpected “shocks” to the system.

Activities supported through this Amendment will focus on strengthening school systems in municipalities and areas impacted by the influx of Venezuelan migrants and Colombian returnees (receptor communities), and to diversify and broaden USAID’s partner base.

Objectives

In order to source new ideas and a diverse set of partners in this effort, USAID invites eligible organizations to submit Concept notes for partnering with USAID to achieve shared development objectives by increasing the capacity of the Colombian education system to provide access to quality education for all children in communities that have been impacted by the Venezuelan migration. USAID/Colombia is open to all types of alliance ideas and implementing models that will increase school-aged children in receptor communities’ access to and participation in quality education. Concept notes will be evaluated on the ability of the submitting organizations to define the challenges faced by the education system in receptor communities, and how the proposed program will overcome these challenges to allow greater participation and performance of students in the formal education system.
USAID/Colombia will consider Concept notes that focus on the following levels of schooling:
- preprimary (ages 0-5);
- primary (ages 6-10); and
- secondary (ages 11-16).
Concept notes may propose programming that focuses on one, two or all three of these levels of schooling.
Successful Concept notes will define barriers and propose programming that achieves the following objectives:
- Safe Spaces: Increased availability of, and access to, safe spaces for children ages 0-5. Safe spaces may include day-care services. Concept notes may include elements that build children’s pre-literacy and prenumeracy skills.
- Absorption and Retention: Increased absorption and retention of primary school-aged children into quality, and formal school systems. Here, formal school systems refer to those accredited by the Colombian Government.
- Pathways to Participation: Increased participation of out-of-school youth, meaning youth who are not accessing formal schooling or training, in accredited learning programs. These Concept notes should establish pathways for youth to access and remain in a quality-formal school system, and/or obtain the academic skills needed to access vocational or economic empowerment programs or training. Where appropriate, proposed interventions should articulate their link to the Positive Youth Development approach for effectively engaging youth, families and community partners.

Note: The focus of this funding opportunity is to increase traditional schooling outcomes and that vocational programs will not be considered. However, activities(s) awarded this APS should coordinate with existing vocational programs to provide pathways to vocational training to support the engagement of all youth in productive activities.

Thematic Areas

Illustrative examples of thematic areas for engagement include, but are not limited to:

Social-emotional learning
Flexible education models
Safe spaces for learning
Continuity of operations
Conflict resolution
Teacher training for integrating migrants into their classroom
Management training for school administrators
Accelerated learning programs
Community participation
Resource generation for increased academic services and infrastructure

Targeted Geography and Populations

Concept notes must focus on the following illustrative list of targeted urban areas which encompass receptor communities with large, settled migrant populations and opportunities for socio-economic integration:

Bogota
Medellin
Cali
Cucuta
Barranquilla
Cartagena
Santa Marta
Riohacha
Bucaramanga

Eligibility Criteria

Local Entities must:
- Be legally organized under Colombian law;
- Have its principal place of business or operations in Colombia;
- Be majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Colombia; and
- Be managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Colombia.
Direct Awards to New and Underutilized Locally Established Partners (LEP)
- Have maintained continuous operations in country for at least five years and materially demonstrate a long-term presence in a country through adherence or alignment to the following:
  - Local staff should comprise at least 50% of office personnel,
  - Maintenance of a dedicated local office,
  - Registration with the appropriate local authorities,
  - A local bank account, and
  - A portfolio of locally-implemented programs.
- Have demonstrated links to the local community, including:
  - If the organization has a governing body or board of directors, then it must include a majority of local citizens;
  - A letter of support from a local organization to attest to its work; and
  - Other criteria that an organization proposes to demonstrate its local roots