Deadline: 6-Aug-24
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Bridging Education Solutions for Transformation (BEST) Activity.
Purpose
- The long-term purpose of the BEST activity is to improve learning outcomes and necessary skills of students, particularly the most marginalized groups so that they remain in primary schools and effectively transition to lower secondary education. The overarching objective of BEST is to introduce the most cost-effective education solution to improve Khmer literacy and “Read-to-Learn” abilities among grade 4 students.
Funding Information
- USAID intends to award one Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide up to $3 million in total USAID funding (including the opportunity module) over a three-year period.
Result Framework
- Overarching Objective: To introduce the most cost-effective education solution to improve Khmer literacy and “Read-to-Learn” abilities of grade 4 students, in particular the most marginalized populations.
- Specific Objective 1: To revise core textbook for Khmer grade 4 and develop essential and practical literacy packages for grade 4.
- IR1: Core textbook for Khmer grade 4 revised and supplementary teaching and learning materials for literacy grade 4 developed for classroom and extracurricular activities.
- Sub IR 1.1: A situational analysis and a robust teachers’ and students’ capacities and needs assessment conducted to inform the revision of grade 4 Khmer textbook and the design of the supplementary teaching and learning packages.
- Sub IR 1.2: Core textbook for Khmer grade 4 revised and effective supplementary teaching and learning materials packages for literacy of grade 4 developed, tested and refined.
- Sub IR 1.3: A concrete approach and innovative tools for extracurricular activities to reinforce grade 4 students’ skills developed, tested and refined.
- IR1: Core textbook for Khmer grade 4 revised and supplementary teaching and learning materials for literacy grade 4 developed for classroom and extracurricular activities.
- Specific Objective 2: To improve teachers’ competencies in teaching literacy in target primary schools.
- IR 2: Teachers in target schools are more capable to teach literacy in classrooms and support extracurricular activities.
- Sub IR 2.1: Teacher training and teacher mentoring programs for teachers to use the newly created materials are developed, tested and refined.
- Sub IR 2.2: Teachers and mentors in the target schools receive capacity building and acquire skills necessary to implement the new literacy packages.
- Sub IR 2.3: Teachers in the target schools are supported to demonstrate new skills and practices in their classrooms through ongoing mentoring and performance monitoring.
- IR 2: Teachers in target schools are more capable to teach literacy in classrooms and support extracurricular activities.
- Specific Objective 3: To produce and disseminate evidence that supports the MoEYS’ efforts to scale-up successful practices.
- IR 3: The MoEYS adopted the revised textbook for Khmer grade 4 and the literacy packages in grade 4 for scale-up.
- Sub IR 3.1: Clear documentation of lessons learned, challenges, opportunities, and results of the core targeted interventions.
- Sub IR 3.2: A consolidated and realistic costing model with recommendations on scaling up effective literacy models developed.
- Sub IR 3.3: A robust and reliable evaluation of the effectiveness of the core targeted interventions led by MoEYS.
- IR 3: The MoEYS adopted the revised textbook for Khmer grade 4 and the literacy packages in grade 4 for scale-up.
Geographical Scope
- This activity focuses on education interventions that benefit grade 4 students in three different groups/categories: 1) the most marginalized students living in remote areas; 2) students in schools that represent the majority of school context in Cambodia; and 3) students in a small number of schools that are positioned to use education technology. BEST will develop and justify a sampling frame and strategy that will permit a robust evaluation of the proposed interventions within available resources. BEST must consult with MoEYS in identifying the final target schools for BEST interventions. In addition, the activity will also support the MoEYS to test the revised textbook which may occur in the same or different schools/geographic areas. A specific number of schools and geographic areas for testing textbook will need to be defined in consultation with MoEYS as part of the work plan development, following the award.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility for this NOFO is restricted to local organizations. Applications will not be considered from any other type of organization. Only the prime applicant is subject to the eligibility requirement.
- Only local organizations as defined below are eligible for award. USAID defines a “local entity” as an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:
- is legally organized under the laws of;
- has as its principal place of business or operations in; and
- is
- majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and
- managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance.
- USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
- Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.