REQUEST FOR APPLICATION

For IREX

Issuance Date:          October 5th, 2022 

Closing Date: October 21st, 2022

Closing Time: 5:00pm EAT

Subject: Request for Application (RFA) Number 01

Girls Learning Through Technology (GLTT)

Reference: Issued Under an International Research and Exchange Board (IREX)

This Request for Application outlines the information required by the applicant for the development and submission of a proposal for consideration.  The potential applicant is expected to review, understand, and conform with specifications contained in this RFA.  Failure to do so will be at the applicant’s own risk.

All reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the sub-grant program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards may be charged under the sub-grant.

This RFA is being issued and consists of this cover letter and Schedule A.

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of GLTT/IREX nor does it commit GLTT/ IREX to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. The application is submitted at the risk of the applicant.  All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense.

Thank you for your interest in GLTT and IREX activities.

Sincerely,

Alexis Field

Program Officer GLTT/IREX

SCHEDULE A

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

IREX – International Research and Exchange Board

GLTT – Girls Learning Through Technology

CBC – Competency-Based Curriculum

TOT – Training of Trainers

TPD – Teacher Professional Development

STEM – Science, Technology Engineering & Mathematics

CSO – Curriculum Support Officer

USD – US Dollars

LTPT – Learning Through Play and Technology

RFA – Request for Application

 SECTION I: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION:

a.      The GLTT project is funded by The Stone Family Foundation and implemented by IREX in Kilifi County. GLTT uses a technology-based approach to support girls’ education and development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills in low-tech schools through evidence-based practices and research. The project is working to develop digital literacy capacity of teachers and their ability to use creative coding using Scratch and Makey Makey in tech labs to deliver CBC and apply gender responsiveness to engage girls in ICT.

IREX invites interested local organizations to submit an application to partner with IREX in implementing GLTT by providing support during Tech Training of Trainers (ToTs), Teacher Professional Development (TPDs), Tech and Gender inclusive Coaching Sessions and development of tech lab activities. Please see program description and Scope of Work description in Section IV.

b.      Program Purpose: The end goal for GLTT is to increase girls' attendance, improve the quality of their learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, and develop digital literacy skills.

c.      SECTION II: AWARD INFORMATION:

1. The expected duration of IREX’s support or the period of performance is November 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023. IREX expects to award one subaward in the amount of $15,000-$20,000 USD. GLTT/IREX reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.

SECTION III: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

1. The applicant / application must meet the following requirements

• Be officially registered and working in compliance with all applicable civil and fiscal regulations, including, but not limited to pertinent local laws and status.
• Be officially registered as a legal entity and working in compliance with all applicable local laws.
• Ability to implement the program activities as detailed in Section IV Program Description and Scope of Work in order to meet the projects objectives and principles
• Contain expected outcomes and results consistent with and linked to the project’s objectives
• Applicant is not a debarred organization

1. Types of Sub-Awardees Eligible:

• Non-US Nongovernment Organizations (Non-US NGOs)
• Community Based Organization (CBOs)
• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
• Professional Associations
• Universities

Cost share is not required.

Section IV. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND SCOPE OF WORK

A.     Program Description and Purpose

Project objectives:

The aim of the GLTT project is to develop the capacity of teachers in low-tech schools to use technology to deliver the CBC and to apply gender-responsive and practical labs to engage girls in ICT. The overarching goal is to create high-tech schools in which teachers have the confidence and capacity to use ICT regularly in their teaching and female students have improved learning outcomes in STEM subjects and increased digital literacy skills. The outcomes of the GLTT project and corresponding research will deepen stakeholders’ (e.g., government institutions, implementing organizations, donors, teachers, and researchers) knowledge on effective ways to mainstream ICT into the curriculum and improve girls’ learning outcomes in STEM subjects. The GLTT project will build on IREX’s KPLAY project, making it both cost-effective and scalable, as the findings from GLTT are fed back into the KPLAY’s programming and plans for scale-up. 

Target population:

The GLTT will be implemented with Grade 4 teachers and girls across 15 randomly selected public primary schools within Kilifi County, a coastal tourist destination. Kilifi is one of the most marginalized counties with the highest girls’ dropout rates in the country and lowest levels of access to ICT.

Project Outcomes:

The goal of GLT