Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 641 14 000004
Apply for RFA 641 14 000004
- The Ghana USAID Accra in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID Partnership for Education LEARNING" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 9, 2014 and posted on Apr 28, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 16, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $71,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $71,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
USAID/Ghana announced a planned Request for Applications (RFA) for a major education activity called USAID Partnership for Education LEARNING (often shortened to "Learning"). The opportunity is structured as a five-year cooperative agreement focused on one central outcome: improving early grade reading performance across Ghana at national scale. The activity is designed to reach roughly 2.8 million children in the foundational years of schooling, specifically Kindergarten 1 (KG1) through Primary 3 (P3), recognizing that literacy gains in these early grades are strongly tied to long-term school success.
The core purpose of the Learning activity is to directly support Ghana's Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in strengthening child learning outcomes, with an emphasis on reading. A key strategy is helping Ghana more effectively implement its mother tongue bilingual instruction policy, which aims to build literacy first in familiar local languages while supporting the transition to English. The activity is also expected to apply proven early literacy methods, including approaches previously known under Ghana's National Literacy Acceleration Program (NALAP), and align with major elements of the draft Ghana Reading Action Plan. In practical terms, the grant is meant to move beyond small pilots and help the government system consistently deliver effective early grade reading instruction at scale.
By the end of the five-year period, the successful applicant is expected to have worked collaboratively with MOE, GES, and other relevant education institutions to strengthen several building blocks of early literacy improvement. These include upgrading reading curriculum and standards so they are clearer, more coherent, and better aligned with evidence-based reading development; improving teacher capacity by providing early grade teachers with training, ongoing support, and practical tools for reading instruction; and expanding the availability of teaching and learning materials, such as classroom resources and age-appropriate reading content. The activity also places importance on community engagement, reflecting the idea that family and community support for reading can reinforce what children learn in school and increase time spent reading outside the classroom. Another major expectation is strengthening the systems that support education delivery, particularly basic education data systems and teacher human resource management systems, so that decision-making, deployment, supervision, and monitoring of teacher performance and student learning can improve.
USAID indicates that the implementer should not work in isolation, but instead build strong coordination and "synergies" with other USAID-supported companion activities under the broader USAID Partnership for Education and related education efforts in Ghana. This signals an expectation that the recipient will align technical approaches, share data and learning, avoid duplication, and help USAID and the Government of Ghana get more impact from multiple, parallel investments.
In terms of funding and competition details, USAID anticipated a total life-of-project budget of about $71,000,000 over five years, subject to the availability of funds, with an award ceiling of $71,000,000 and an award floor listed as $0. Only one award was expected. The opportunity falls under the Education activity category and is listed under CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial USAID involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants would need to contribute resources toward the project in addition to USAID funding.
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition was open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the final RFA. The notice provided key dates: the pre-solicitation was posted April 28, 2014, with USAID expecting to post the full RFA on or about May 16, 2014. The listed closing date for submissions was July 16, 2014. The funding opportunity number is RFA-641-14-000004, and the opportunity was issued by USAID/Ghana in Accra. For access issues or questions, the notice included a contact person: Fatoumata Camara (fcamara@usaid.gov) with the listed phone number.
FAQs: USAID/Ghana - USAID Partnership for Education LEARNING (Planned RFA)
1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The planned opportunity is for a major education activity called USAID Partnership for Education LEARNING, often shortened to "Learning".
2) Who is issuing the opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by USAID/Ghana, based in Accra, Ghana.
3) What type of award is expected?
USAID anticipated making a five-year cooperative agreement award.
4) What does "cooperative agreement" mean in this context?
The notice indicates the instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means there will be substantial USAID involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
5) What is the central goal of the Learning activity?
The activity is centered on one primary outcome: improving early grade reading performance across Ghana at national scale.
6) What grades and learners are expected to be reached?
The activity is designed to reach roughly 2.8 million children in the foundational years of schooling, specifically Kindergarten 1 (KG1) through Primary 3 (P3).
7) Why does the activity focus on the early grades?
The notice highlights that literacy gains in the early grades are strongly tied to long-term school success, which is why KG1 to P3 is the primary target range.
8) Which Government of Ghana institutions are intended to be supported?
The activity is intended to directly support the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), along with other relevant education institutions, to strengthen child learning outcomes with an emphasis on reading.
9) What instructional policy is the activity expected to strengthen?
A key strategy is supporting Ghana's implementation of its mother tongue bilingual instruction policy, which aims to build literacy first in familiar local languages while supporting the transition to English.
10) What literacy approaches or frameworks are referenced in the notice?
The activity is expected to apply proven early literacy methods, including approaches previously known under Ghana's National Literacy Acceleration Program (NALAP), and align with major elements of the draft Ghana Reading Action Plan.
11) Is the program intended to be a small pilot or national scale effort?
The notice indicates the grant is meant to move beyond small pilots and help the government system consistently deliver effective early grade reading instruction at scale.
12) What major areas of work (building blocks) are expected over the five-year period?
By the end of five years, the implementer is expected to have worked collaboratively with MOE, GES, and other institutions to strengthen several building blocks, including:
- Reading curriculum and standards (making them clearer, more coherent, and aligned with evidence-based reading development)
- Teacher capacity (training, ongoing support, and practical tools for early grade reading instruction)
- Teaching and learning materials (classroom resources and age-appropriate reading content)
- Community engagement (supporting family and community involvement to reinforce reading and increase time spent reading outside the classroom)
- Education delivery systems strengthening, especially basic education data systems and teacher human resource management systems (to improve decision-making, deployment, supervision, and monitoring of teacher performance and student learning)
13) What is meant by coordination and "synergies" with other USAID efforts?
USAID expects the implementer to coordinate with other USAID-supported companion activities under the broader Partnership for Education and related education efforts in Ghana. The notice signals expectations to align technical approaches, share data and learning, avoid duplication, and contribute to greater overall impact from parallel investments.
14) What is the anticipated total budget and project length?
USAID anticipated a total life-of-project budget of about $71,000,000 over five years, subject to availability of funds.
15) What are the award ceiling and award floor?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $71,000,000 and an award floor of $0.
16) How many awards did USAID expect to make?
The notice states that only one award was expected.
17) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The notice states that cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants would need to contribute resources in addition to USAID funding.
18) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition was open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the final RFA.
19) What is the activity category and CFDA listing?
The opportunity falls under the Education activity category and is listed under CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
20) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-641-14-000004.
21) When was the pre-solicitation posted?
The pre-solicitation was posted on April 28, 2014.
22) When was the full RFA expected to be posted?
USAID expected to post the full RFA on or about May 16, 2014.
23) What was the listed closing date for submissions?
The listed closing date for submissions was July 16, 2014.
24) Who can be contacted for access issues or questions?
The notice lists Fatoumata Camara as the contact person. Email: fcamara@usaid.gov. A phone number was also included in the notice.
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