Deadline: 27-Feb-23
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM) Market Systems Development activity.
The purpose of the TLM Market Systems Development Activity is to strengthen the market system for TLMs and increase the quantity, quality, affordability, and accessibility of books and other reading materials (physical and digital) in schools, homes, and communities. By working to improve systems and the capacity of key actors along the book supply chain, such as MINEDUC and the private sector, while simultaneously strengthening linkages between these actors, and stimulating consumer demand, this Activity will ensure a more sustainable base for literacy development nationwide.
This three-year, $6 million Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM) Market Systems Development Activity uses a market systems development approach to bring together stakeholders, identify points of leverage, and optimize the market’s functionality to strengthen the book supply chain in Rwanda and address the “business side of literacy”.
Core Problems
The TLM Market Systems Development Activity addresses three core problems:
- the Government TLM procurement system is not systematic, and it is not informed by sufficient data, leading to irregular supply of TLMs to schools;
- local suppliers are not fully equipped to respond to varying Government of Rwanda (GoR) and consumer demand for quality and inclusive books and other learning materials; and
- the children’s book consumer market is untested and largely untapped, particularly outside of Kigali.
Funding Information
Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $6,000,000 in total USAID funding over a three-year period.
Target Beneficiaries
The TLM Market Systems Development Activity will pursue a strong relationship building and partnership approach to target:
- the relevant GoR entities, such as MINEDUC and REB which have responsibility for the provision of TLM in Rwandan schools, and MYCULTURE which supports the development of a culture of reading in Rwanda;
- the private sector, specifically the RCBO, the Rwanda Book Industry and its affiliated associations of writers, publishers, printers, and booksellers, and other enterprises and coordination groups (such as Soma Rwanda) involved in the TLM market system, and
- actors within distribution and retail channels to reach consumers, primarily private schools and parents/households.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualified applicants may be U.S. private voluntary organizations (U.S. PVOs) and/or U.S., Rwandan or other non-U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or private, non-profit organizations (or for-profit companies willing to forego profits), including universities, research organizations, professional associations, and relevant special interest associations. Public International Organizations (PIOs) and faith-based and community organizations are also eligible for the award. In support of the Agency’s interest in fostering a larger assistance base and expanding the number and sustainability of development partners, USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
For more information, visit USAID.