KIX call for proposals: GPE KIX regional observatories on education system resilience: FAQ
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Please refer to the detailed call document for comprehensive information about the call and its requirements.
A webinar, hosted in English, French, and Spanish, took place on June 5, 2024 (7:30am – 8:30am EDT) to answer questions about this call for proposals. A recording is available for all 3 languages and can be found here.
The observatory initiative
1. Where can I learn more about the research that informed the project and the call?
You can learn more about it by reading the scoping study that was produced to inform the project and the call.
2. How is the GPE KIX Observatory on Education System Resilience initiative different from the GPE KIX COVID-19 Observatory?
The original project focused on collecting, synthesizing and sharing evidence about education-related policy and practice responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in GPE partner countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The project was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new project builds on the insights from the original project and expands its geographic reach from GPE partner countries in Africa to those in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. It will focus on generating and sharing evidence about meanings and practices of education system resilience and future potential disruptions, both positive and negative, to the education sector in GPE partner countries. You can learn more about the original project here.
3. How is the Observatory call different from other recent KIX calls for applied research projects?
Recent KIX calls on data systems and data use, gender equality and social inclusion at school, early childhood care and education, teacher professional development, and education in emergencies and fragile, conflict and violence-affected contexts aimed to fund projects to conduct applied research in support of scaling the impact of promising or proven innovations to address education priorities and issues in GPE partner countries. These were scaling research-related calls. The Observatory call, in contrast, aims to fund regional observatory projects that will examine education system resilience, including its meanings, practices and potential future disruptions, in GPE partner countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. The projects will focus on the analysis of policies and practices related to education system resilience and the exploration of changing landscapes, potential future disruptions and possible effective approaches to addressing them.
4. Is there flexibility in the overall design of regional observatories?
The overall design of the Observatory initiative consists of two main components: (1) examination of meanings and practices of education system resilience in GPE partner countries and (2) exploration of changing landscapes, potential future disruptions, and possible effective approaches to addressing to them in GPE partner countries. We envision that each implementing partner will have their own project design that will incorporate two components of the initiative. The applicants are invited to explain how they propose to operationalize an overall design of the initiative in the chosen region of focus.
5. Do regional observatories need to cover all countries in the region of focus?
Yes. However, we understand that an in-depth study of each GPE partner country may not always be possible. As indicated in the call document, implementing partners may consider, for instance, including all countries in the region of focus in the document review process but focus on a smaller set of countries for in-depth case studies. In their proposals, applicants should explain how they propose to operationalize an overall design of the initiative in the regions of focus and subsequently GPE partner countries belonging to these regions to effectively address the guiding objectives and research questions of the call.
6. Are there specific domains that IDRC would like regional observatories to focus on as part of the foresight research?
No. The call allows regional observatories to articulate the problem and explore potential future disruptions to the education sector in their regions of focus. Following the initial scoping, regional observatories can decide on specific domains (e.g., climate change, migration and displacement, food insecurity, technological advancements, education financing) within which they will explore potential future disruptions to the education sector in their regions of focus.
7. What levels of education does the Observatory initiative focus on?
As a mechanism of the Global Partnership for Education, KIX research focuses only on early childhood to secondary education, as well as teacher training. Therefore, the examination of education system resilience and the exploration of potential future disruptions to the education sector should be conducted considering these education levels. Please note that technical and vocational education and training and higher education are beyond the focus of KIX research.
8. Whether and how should gender equality, equity and inclusion (GEI) be integrated in the proposal and the project?
Proposals and projects that are GEI-blind will not be considered. The Observatory initiative adopts a perspective that education systems that are not equitable and inclusive cannot be resilient. Given this, applicants are expected to implement the project through a GEI lens, using an intersectional approach. GEI should be incorporated in all stages of the project, including data collection, analysis and dissemination.
9. How many regional observatories will be funded?
The call expects to fund six regional observatory projects: one in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), one in East, West, Central, and Southern Africa, and four in Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, and the Pacific (EMAP) for the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia; Middle East and North Africa; South Asia and Southeast Asia; and the Pacific regions.
10. Which countries should regional observatories cover?
The Observatory initiative will cover GPE partners countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. Please see Annex B in the call document for the list of countries.
11. What will IDRC’s role be in the implementation of the Observatory initiative?
IDRC will coordinate the overall process from the application stage until project closure. It will allocate program officers and grant officers who will support implementing partners of regional observatories from technical and administrative standpoints. It will also convene partners as needed and establish the informal community of practice among them.
12. Will GPE KIX assist implementing partners in engaging with relevant stakeholders?
We expect implementing partners to build on their previous experience and relationship with relevant stakeholders, including Ministries of Education. GPE KIX will send a letter to relevant stakeholders in GPE partner countries to inform them about the project and facilitate connections with them. Where needed, GPE KIX can also connect implementing partners with other initiatives relevant to education system resilience, especially those supported by the Global Partnership for Education.
13. Whom do you expect regional observatories to engage in the countries of focus?
We encourage implementing partners to conduct a quick stakeholder mapping at the start of the project to better understand who is involved in shaping education system resilience in the countries and regions of focus. Some countries have ministries or agencies responsible for disaster management and relief and their activities and policies can have implications for the education sector. This shows that we should not be limiting the examination of the topic of resilience only to actors from the education sector. Depending on the results of the stakeholder mapping and the focus and approach of the project, implementing partners should decide with whom they should engage in countries for the purposes of research and knowledge mobilization.
14. In the application form, there is a question about how the project will complement other relevant initiatives in the region. Could you clarify if 'other relevant initiatives' specifically refers to GPE-KIX initiatives, initiatives outside of GPE-KIX, or both?
In the rational section of the proposal, applicants are expected to explain how their proposed activities will complement other relevant initiatives on education system resilience (if applicable) in the region of focus. These initiatives do not need to be limited to GPE or GPE KIX activities.
15. Are applicants required to formulate new research questions based on the three questions already stated in the Call?
As noted in the call for proposals, you may adjust or modify guiding objectives and research questions based on the scope of your activities, proposed design and methodology, and the overall vision for the initiative in the region of focus.
16. What is your expected time frame for the foresight research?
While some foresight studies focus on long-range futures, we expect regional observatories to limit themselves only to the five-to-ten-year horizon.
17. Is it possible for a lead organization to work with a network of independent researchers throughout the target region, to achieve the required coverage?
Yes, organizations can seek the services of independent researchers to fulfill the project objectives. These researchers can be project consultants. We would not view them as consortium partners.
18. Are East, West, Central, and Southern Africa considered as one region?
Yes.
19. Can applicants submit a proposal covering two sub-regions?
Applicants should submit proposals that cover one sub-region.
20. Should we address ethical concerns for focus countries or for the entire region?
Applicants are expected to highlight major ethical issues and risks associated with the project, including mitigation measures. Those can refer to regional considerations or country based in cases where specific countries in the region involve particular types of risk.
21. What is the target start date?
We expect grant agreements to be signed by December 2024 and the projects to begin at that time.
Who can apply
22. Are organizations that are not headquartered in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) eligible to submit proposals as an individual organization or to lead a consortium?
No. Only organizations that are headquartered in a low- and middle-income country are eligible. Please see the call document for the eligibility criteria details.
23. Are organizations headquartered in upper-middle income countries eligible for funding?
Yes. Organizations that are headquartered in all low- and middle-income countries, including Upper-middle income countries, are eligible. Please refer to this classification for more details.
24. Does the organization applying as an individual organization or to lead a consortium need to be based in a GPE partner country?
No, it does not need to be based in a GPE partner country. However, it needs to be headquartered in a low- and middle-income country.
25. Can national or regional offices or institutes of international or multilateral organizations apply?
No. National or regional offices, or institutes, which are part of larger organizations that are not LMIC-headquartered, may apply only as consortium members.
26. In the case of a consortium, do all members have to be headquartered in LMICs?
No, consortium members do not have to be LMIC-headquartered.
27. Can an applicant be considered if they have no experience in the education sector, whether the individual/lead organization or among consortium members?
Yes. However, we strongly encourage such applicants to consider partnering with other organizations that have a good understanding of the education sector. It will be hard to undertake research and other activities within the project without solid knowledge of the educational sector.
28. Are applicants who are not familiar with foresight methodologies eligible to apply to lead a regional observatory?
Yes. However, applicants who are not familiar with foresight methodologies should think about how they will address this requirement in their research (e.g., the inclusion of a foresight consultant in the project. If needed, refer to this directory of foresight researchers and experts). IDRC will support the partners with the foresight component of the project through capacity strengthening and the sharing of best practices.
29. What do you mean by “individual organizations”?
Individual organizations may be NGOs, civil society organizations, universities, academic institutions, research institutions, think tanks, networks, associations, private sector organizations, or private foundations (not for profit).
30. What is meant by a “consortium”? Who can be a member of a consortium?
- Consortium is a group of organizations that come together to submit a proposal to receive KIX funding to implement the project. Groups of up to three organizations (maximum) may submit an application as a consortium.
- A proposal from a consortium must name one lead organization, which can subgrant to the others. Organizations/consortia must have a track record of work in GPE partner countries.
- Fair and equitable partnerships must be established among consortium members.
- Although there are specific eligibility criteria for the lead organization in a consortium, there are no specific geographic criteria for consortium members.
31. What criteria will you look for in a lead organization?
- LMIC-headquartered organization.
- Strong background in social science research (both quantitative and qualitative research).
- A good understanding of the education sector, including familiarity with the topic of education system resilience.
- A solid track record of conducting research and knowledge-mobilization activities at a multi-country, regional or continental scale.
- Ability to coordinate multiple partners and members of a consortium (if applicable).
- Be an independent, legally incorporated entity capable of contracting in its own right and name.
32. What documentation would need to be provided by the lead organization for IDRC to verify its legal status?
A copy of (or internet link to) the legal documentation will be required to confirm the lead organization's creation and independent legal status. The documentation provided to IDRC should clearly indicate the name of the institution. Documentation that is in a language other than English, French or Spanish requires a certified translation that also needs to be submitted. Legal documentation varies depending on the location and the type of organization. By way of illustration, this legal documentation may include:
- letters patent
- articles of incorporation
- articles of association
- certificates of incorporation
- certificates of registration
- récépissés issued by government authorities for private sector/non-governmental organizations.
33. Does the “lead” organization assume all financial responsibilities? May other consortium members assist in the financial, administrative and logistical management?
The lead organization is responsible for ensuring that there is one grant agreement with one main recipient who is responsible for all aspects of the grant. The lead recipient may enter into sub-grant arrangements with partners who can then be responsible for portions of the work (reporting back to the lead), but ultimately the lead organization is responsible for reporting on all financial and technical matters related to the work. Only in exceptional circumstances, and at its sole discretion, may IDRC be willing to provide a direct subgrant to a consortium member.
34. May a consortium have additional partners?
Yes, a consortium may name additional partners involved in the project. It may be necessary to include additional partners, or people with specific research expertise or capacities related to the project.
35. May consortia include national governments?
No. The majority of GPE funding goes directly to governments to implement their education sector plans. KIX is an additional mechanism in support of education sectors that targets different actors. Applicants are encouraged, however, to involve national and local governments as strategic partners in their projects.
36. Do consortia need to include Canadian organizations?
No.
37. Can GPE KIX help match applicants to form a consortium?
No. It is the responsibility of the applicant to find partners and form a consortium.
38. Must partners be in the same geographical region?
No.
39. May an organization that has previously or is currently receiving funding for initiatives from IDRC, the Global Partnership for Education, or the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange be allowed to apply to this call?
Yes.
40. May an organization with a pending registration in an eligible country apply to a call?
No. Organizations must already be registered or incorporated.
41. May for-profit organizations apply for KIX grants?
Yes.
- However, for-profit organizations that provide core education services (e.g., private schools) are not eligible for KIX funding. KIX will remain consistent with GPE’s private sector engagement strategy.
- Proposals that include private-sector actors should demonstrate how private-sector resources (e.g., financial) will contribute to the project.
- All grant recipients, including for-profit organizations, must comply with IDRC’s Open Access Policy.
Budget
42. What could the personnel budget threshold for the project be, given IDRC’s budget guidelines?
Typically, IDRC does not allow for the personnel budget to be more than 25% of the total budget. However, given the nature of the Observatory initiative, IDRC is open to considering personnel budgets that are higher than the 25% limit. Applicants are asked to provide a justification for personnel budgets that go above the 25% threshold.
43. What are the financial or expense reporting requirements?
Please refer to this link for further information on financial reporting.