Call for EOIs: Scaling Middle Level ALP/NFE Programs in Primary Level Schools (Pakistan)

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is inviting applications to scale middle-level Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) and Non-Formal Education (NFE) programs in primary schools across Sindh. The initiative plans to introduce second shifts to ensure equitable access to education for marginalized out-of-school children and adolescents (OOSC/A), especially girls and dropouts.

This education-focused project aims to increase enrollment at the early childhood education (ECE), primary, and middle school levels, with a specific focus on girls. It also targets a reduction in the number of out-of-school girls and seeks to improve foundational literacy and numeracy among Grade 3 students in languages like English, Sindhi, Urdu, and in numeracy and socio-emotional learning (SEL).

A key element of the project is enhancing teachers’ skills in foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN). Adolescent girls enrolled in the ALP/NFE programs will also benefit from initiatives focused on life-skills, livelihood training, leadership development, and climate action. Adolescent Champion Clubs will be established to help girls become Young Champions, developing their entrepreneurial mindsets and leadership abilities to contribute to economic growth and sustainable development.

UNICEF has allocated an indicative budget of 800,000 for this initiative. Through this, they expect to provide access to ALP/NFE programs to 3,600 adolescent girls. These girls will also receive gender-appropriate WASH facilities, health and hygiene sessions, and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) support. Education kits and supplies like school-in-a-box, student learning kits, teacher guides, and textbooks will be distributed.

Facilitators will be trained in the NFE curriculum, classroom management, health, hygiene, MHM, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and inter-personal communication (IPC). Members of Village Education Committees (VECs) will also be engaged to raise awareness about their roles and responsibilities in supporting educational activities and safeguarding practices.

Additional interventions include site assessments for second-shift NFE programs, community engagement sessions addressing child protection, inclusion, nutrition, GBV, and more. Adolescent Champion Clubs will receive standardized training from UNICEF, and regular coordination meetings with district education offices will be conducted.

The project also includes staff training on project implementation, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and social behavior change (SBC). UNICEF will provide localized messaging on adolescent nutrition and organize high-level workshops to document good practices in NFE and promote scalability through government partnerships.

This program will be implemented in Sindh, Pakistan.