REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Posting Date: September 25, 2014 Questions and Comments Due Date: Sunday October 5, 2014 23h59pm, Washington, DC Time Opportunity Number: RFI-306-14-000100 Opportunity Category: Other Agency Contact:
[email protected] Point of Contact: Naseer Sardari
[email protected] Dear Partners: This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information about capabilities and market information from potential applicants regarding an education project in Afghanistan. This RFI is issued for the purpose of Requesting Comments to the concept for a new project/activity and seeks information from companies and organizations that have the capacity, proven track record, and interest in the design and implementation of effective early grade reading and access to basic education programs. The information obtained may be used in the design of a future education activity that addresses both early grade reading and access to education. All activities under the proposed project will take place in Afghanistan. USAID is looking for responses that take into consideration the culture, norms and context of Afghanistan. Early Grade Reading and Access to Education Component Description Term: five years (basic education funds) Managing Office: Office of Social Sector Development, Education, Afghanistan Proposed Mechanism: To be determined (Contract or Cooperative Agreement) Geographic Scope: To be determined Link to other USAID Projects: N/A USAID/Afghanistan Missions Education program, in alignment with Afghanistans National Priority Program Cluster 2 Education for All, USAID Education Strategy and the USAID/Afghanistans Strategy for Transformation, supports measurable, consequential gains in three areas: education systems strengthening, access to education, and quality of reading instruction. The proposed project aims to provide students in grades one and two with evidence-based reading instruction that will ensure that they can read grade level text after two years of school. The activity will draw on 30 years of international research and half a decade of USAID experience in early grade reading to work with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to: 1) offer students technically-sound early grade reading material, 2) train teachers to use that material for instruction in class, 3) provide teachers with high-quality coaching in the implementation of early grade reading instruction, 4) mobilize communities in support of improved access to school and reading instruction, 5) assist the MoE to upgrade its processes for assessing early grade reading achievement, and 6) conduct high-level policy dialogue with the MoE to support procedures and guidelines for schools and teachers which align with best practices in reading instruction and school management. With regards to enhancing access to formal MoE schools and bringing children who dropped out or are permanently absent back into school, the integrated early grade reading and access to education activity will focus on applying evidence-based approaches to sustainably increase access to education and will showcase these approaches for eventual scale-up by the MoE. Under this mechanism, efforts to address critical access barriers to education in Afghanistan, especially for girls, include community awareness campaigns, small-scale rehabilitation activities (boundary wall and/or toilets), and school safety measures. USAID/Afghanistan is soliciting comments from companies and organizations with relevant development experience that will help the likelihood of success for early grade reading and access to education in Afghanistan. Please consider the following: Ensure comments are concise and specific to information included within the description above. In addition to general comments, please respond the following questions: 1. What efforts have been taken in the past in terms of improving early grade reading in Afghanistan? What were the results and lessons learned from these efforts? 2. What efforts would be needed in terms of creating demand for and increasing access to the formal MoE schools? What can be done to improve student retention? 3. What efforts would be needed to increase the number of girls enrolled and regularly attending school? 4. What efforts would be needed to engage parents and communities in oversight and accountability of education at local and provincial levels? 5. How can USAID engage with other private and public institutions to leverage funds for improved access and quality of education? 6. How can USAID support MoE to sustain and scale up successful early grade reading and access interventions? 7. As activities are being implemented, how can USAID improve capacity at provincial and district levels as well as, communication between central and provincial and local levels? 8. Given the challenges of insecurity and lack of infrastructure, what efforts can be made to effectively monitor and measure impact of interventions? Issuance of this RFI does not constitute a Request for Applications. USAID/Afghanistan intends to issue either a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Applications (RFA) in the near future. This notice does not constitute an obligation or endorsement by USAID to proceed with the Early Grade Reading and Improved Access Project. Responses to this RFI are not binding on the U. S. Government and do not obligate USAID to issue a Solicitation (RFP or RFA), nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of comments. Responses will be treated as information only and will not be used as an application. This RFI can be downloaded from grants.gov. Interested stakeholders who are not able to retrieve the RFI from the Internet can request a copy from
[email protected]. The request for comments will be open from the date of publication of this RFI, through October 5, 2014, 23h59pm, Washington, DC Time (October 6, 2014, 8h29 a.m. Kabul, Afghanistan Time). Comments should be submitted electronically only to:
[email protected], no later than October 5, 2014, 23h59pm, Washington, DC Time. Thank you for your interest in USAID programs, we look forward to receiving your comments.