Call for Proposals: Supporting Adolescent Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme in Nepal

Deadline: 27-Jun-25

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched the call for proposals to support Adolescent Girls’ Education (SAGE) in the Madhesh Province.

Objective

• The primary objective of the partnership is to provide alternative learning opportunities to out of-school girls aged 8 to 14 years through the alternative education package (ALP) developed and approved by the Government of Nepal in collaboration with local governments and community learning centers (CLCs), with the goal of enhancing their foundational literacy, numeracy, and life skills. The initiative also seeks to facilitate their re-enrollment in formal education at age-appropriate levels.
• This partnership will develop the SAGE programme into a scalable and affordable model that local governments can replicate to reach a larger number of out-of-school girls in a sustainable manner, continue learning and strengthening human capital development of older adolescents by providing them with skills and linking entrepreneurship, including digital skills, and employment opportunities with local labor markets.
• The partnership will also strengthen collaboration between the provincial and local governments and other development partners supporting the Madhesh province with alternative education opportunities for out-of-school children and adolescent girls.
• Specific Objectives:
  • Objective 1: Increased access to education and life-skills opportunities including digital solutions for in-school and out-of-school adolescent girls through non-formal and formal education programmes.
  • Objective 2: Enhanced capacity of provincial and local governments, community learning centers (CLCs), mother schools, teachers, parents and communities to promote and ensure equitable access, participation, retention and learning outcomes for adolescent girls from the disadvantaged and marginalized communities.
  • Objective 3: Strengthen referral pathways between the SAGE programme and other skills development opportunities for older adolescent girls by linking with the CLC platforms and learning to earning approaches.

Sectors and Areas of Specialization

• Education
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Out-of-school education
  • Skills development for adolescents

Duration

• October 2025-December 2027 (27 months)

Geographic Focus

• Nepal
  • Madhesh

Expected Results

• 100 SAGE classes established and operational across 20 local governments of the Madhesh province (where feasible integrated into existing CLCs).
• At least 1,800 (18 participants x100 classes) out-of-school adolescent girls between 8-14 years enrolled in the SAGE classes, complete their six months learning and get re-enrolled in schools for their further education.
• At least 10 facilitators skilled to support the implementation of different online learning to earning courses for older adolescent girls both in and out of school, creating a model that can be replicated by the government.
• At least 75 adolescent girls, both in and out-of-school, gain enhanced digital skills and complete online learning to earning courses, with half of them accessing employment opportunities through linkages with TVET, life skills training, and local livelihood programmes.

Eligibility Criteria

• To qualify for the next stage of the selection process, the potential implementing partner organization and its personnel must meet the following criteria:
  • Professional Competencies: Demonstrated capacity in coordination, advocacy, and networking with provincial and local governments, Community Learning Centers (CLCs), schools, and other development partners.
  • Sectoral Expertise: Up-to-date knowledge of the education sector in Nepal, with substantial experience in non-formal education and life skills programming, preferably within Madhesh Province.
  • Planning and Governance Experience: Proven experience in participatory planning processes at the community, ward, local government, and provincial levels.
  • Adaptability and Innovation: A proactive approach with the ability to deliver results through innovative strategies, particularly in contexts affected by emergencies or fragility.
  • Multi-sectoral Collaboration: A strong commitment and demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple sectors.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.