Deadline: 15-Apr-23
The Education Development Center (EDC) requests applications from qualified Philippine HEIs or a consortium of Philippine HEIs for the grants program entitled “Education Research Grant Supporting the Philippine Department of Education Alternative Learning System (O2-ALS Research Grant)” that will enable them to advance the knowledge on DepEd ALS, ensure that policy and program decisions on ALS are informed by properly interpreted evidence and allow them to contribute towards an evolving research culture among ALS stakeholders.
Being implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), local government units (LGU), the private sector, and the higher education sector in the Philippines, the Opportunity 2.0 program aims to provide quality education, skills, and employment opportunities to Filipino out-of-school youth from 15 to 24 years old in 15 cities across the country. EDC’s work on the Opportunity 2.0 program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development(USAID); organizations/institutions submitting applications in response to this Request for Applications (“RFA”) have no relationship with USAID underthe terms of this RFA or any resultant grant. All communicationsregarding this RFA must be directed to EDC.
Funding Information
- Subject to the availability of funds, the O2-ALS Research Grant provides the Grantee/s with an amount of Php 3,000,000.00 to conduct the research. The duration of the grant under this RFA is for up to 18 months.
Outcomes
- The HEI which intends to apply for the O2-ALS Research Grant must achieve the following programmatic outcomes:
- Support implementation of the ALS Research Agenda of the DepEd BAE;
- Advance the role of HEIs in utilizing their research expertise to maximize opportunities for evidence-based policy-making and decision-making activities on ALS Programming that will help achieve key youth development objectives; and
- Assist in establishing a vibrant research culture on ALS by enabling various stakeholders to continuously contribute to the growing knowledge on ALS.
Grant Programmatic and Geographic Focus
- EDC, through the USAID O2-ALS Grant, will support Philippine HEI/s to conduct a nationwide tracer study, across the 17 Philippine regions (including BARMM), on ALS Programming. It is preferred that part of the sample sites where the nationwide tracer study is conducted in as many of the fifteen (15) sites covered by USAID O2 as possible, as a result of the Applicant’s rigorous sampling method: Angeles City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Cotabato City, Davao City, General Santos City, Iligan City, Iloilo City, Isabela City, Legazpi City, Pasig City, Quezon City, Tagbilaran City, Valenzuela City, and Zamboanga City.
Eligibility Criteria
- HEI/s may apply for the grant must fulfill the minimum requirements stated:
- A public or private Higher Education Institution (HEI) legally registered to operate in the Philippines;
- Has successfully demonstrated a strong track record in education research;
- Preferably has been able to implement programs and activities for a minimum of five (5) years with USAID or other international funders;
- Submit a letter of commitment from leadership (Signed by both the HEIs’ Research Office Head and the HEI’s President or Head of Institution);
- Be financially stable and have adequate financial resources (or the ability to obtain such resources) as required during the performance of the award;
- Has the necessary management systems and ability to meet required management standards, including the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements of the grant;
- Does not appear or is not included in the following lists:
- Active exclusion list of the US Government’s System for Award Management
- Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons List of the U.S. Treasury for the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
- United Nations Security Council terrorist designation list
- Submit all required documents listed in the RFA Checklist
Ineligible
- For purposes of clarity, the following are NOT eligible to avail of the grant:
- An individual;
- A government entity (except higher education institutions);
- Political parties, groupings, or institutions or their subsidiaries and affiliates;
- Organizations that advocate, promote, or espouse anti-democratic policies or illegal activities;
- Faith-based organizations whose objectives are for discriminatory and religious purposes, and whose main objective of the grant is of a religious nature; and
- Any person or entity who appears on any of the following lists:
- System for Award Management (SAM) Excluded Parties List
- The US Treasury’s OFAC List
- The United Nations (UN) list; and
- The US State Department Terrorism List.
For more information, visit DepEd x Opportunity 2.0.
