KIX call for proposals to support teacher professional development, agency, and well-being: frequently asked questions
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Please refer to the detailed call document for comprehensive information about the call and its requirements.
One webinar, hosted in English, French, and Spanish, took place on November 28, 2023 (7:30am – 8:30am EST) to answer questions about this call for proposals. A recording is available for all 3 languages and can be found here.
APPLIED RESEARCH TO BE FUNDED
1. What is this call for proposals about?
This is a call for proposals for applied research projects. It intends to identify projects that will generate and mobilize evidence to adapt, contextualize and scale the impact of promising or proven approaches to strengthen teacher education and professional development, and to support teachers’ well-being and agency.
2. Where can I learn more about the two subthemes featured in the call document?
You can learn more about the two subthemes by reading the working paper that has been produced to accompany the call.
3. Can proposals respond to multiple subthemes?
Yes, proposals can respond to multiple subthemes. We encourage applicants to consult the detailed call document for further information on the call’s challenge and subthemes.
4. What is meant by supporting knowledge generation “for and about scaling”?
Research for scaling is about generating evidence that will help to make scaling decisions and potentially contribute to the actual scaling of the innovation. It can take on different shapes, depending on where the project is in its scaling journey and what the applicant wants to accomplish at this stage. Research for scaling may focus on:
- adapting and refining the innovations to the contextual needs of the selected countries
- developing and testing means and models to scale innovations
- supporting capacity strengthening of stakeholders who will adapt, adopt and scale the innovations
- conducting a cost analysis of the innovations, and assessing results
Research about scaling is what you have learned while navigating a scaling journey. One purpose of this research is to improve our knowledge about the scaling process. Research about scaling could entail reflections about things to consider during the adaptation process, including:
- trade-offs
- effective approaches to building connections with relevant stakeholders and facilitating their buy-in and uptake of research evidence and innovation
- effective approaches to transferring innovations from an NGO to the government, the costs involved and how costs change at different scales
- any other things related to the scaling process
Scaling issues should be part of proposals’ research questions and the research design should clearly address the scaling questions.
5. Can the proposal focus on scaling up be on existing strategies by government and/or other not-for-profits?
Yes.
6. What should we consider in identifying innovative approaches to address the challenge?
Proposals should present existing promising or proven innovative approaches to address the identified challenge and how the approaches’ impacts could be scaled. Innovative approaches can originate from anywhere — from within the countries involved or beyond. We encourage applicants to work with culturally relevant and contextually appropriate interventions that are feasible, cost-effective and scalable in the countries the call targets. As part of the research process, selected projects may further adapt their interventions in the countries of focus and then test their effectiveness to determine which conditions facilitate successful implementation and scalability. That work can vary by country within the same project.
7. Does the innovation have to be tested and mobilised in all countries in the proposal or can an innovation be tested in one country and the knowledge shared and mobilised in the other countries?
Proposals should have one set of overall objectives and research questions. However, project activities may vary from one country to another. Proposals should include applied research in each country involved, along with a knowledge mobilization strategy.
8. Can our project focus on developing and piloting new innovations?
No. Funded projects are expected to work with already existing innovations that are promising or proven.
9. Can we explore and decide with what innovations to work as part of the project?
No. Applicants are expected to include the innovation on which they are planning to work in their proposals, along with evidence of their effectiveness. This call is not intended to fund exploratory studies to surface innovations.
10. Is there a methodology that IDRC prefers?
No, we have no preference. The selected methodologies must be appropriate to answer the questions and achieve project objectives in their contexts. Proposals must be explicit and elaborate on the justification for methodological choices. The quality of projects will be assessed against IDRC’s Research Quality Plus Framework (as indicated in the call document).
11. May projects be related to higher education or technical and vocational education and training (TVET)?
No. Although other IDRC programming focuses on strengthening TVET and higher education, it is not a focus of KIX calls. As a GPE mechanism, KIX research focuses on early childhood to secondary education, in addition to teacher training.
Higher education institutions may be involved in addressing these challenges, and teams based at these institutions are welcome to apply.
PARTNERSHIPS
12. Who are the education stakeholders?
Education stakeholders may include (but are not limited to) local education groups, teacher unions, school principals and teachers, parents and children, education ministry officials, development partners, and policymakers.
CALL THEME AND GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
13. How does this call differ from the “Knowledge and innovation for inclusive early learning and school readiness” call for proposals that was launched simultaneously on November 2, 2023?
The only difference between the two calls is their thematic focus.
14. Could an organization submit proposals to both the “Knowledge and innovation for inclusive early learning and school readiness” and “Knowledge and innovation for supporting teacher professional development, agency, and well-being" calls?
Yes, an organization can submit proposals to both calls.
15. How many applications may an organization submit?
There is no limit. However, IDRC advises organizations to limit themselves to submitting up to two applications as either an individual organization or the lead of a consortia.
16. Which countries are the focus of this call?
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, FS Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
17. What marginalized groups of learners does this call target?
We encourage applicants to think about teachers who work with children who face overlapping issues of gender inequalities and social marginalization within the contexts in which the project will be implemented. We understand that marginalized groups of learners vary across contexts and that marginalization can manifest itself in different ways. Based on the data collected across 88 GPE partner countries, the most referenced marginalized groups were:
- children with disabilities (including those with physical and/or learning disabilities)
- girls (in general and including pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents)
- children living in rural, remote or other marginalized geographic areas
- children who are migrants, refugees or internally displaced people (IDPs)
- children living in poverty (including both urban and rural forms of poverty)
Other marginalized groups include child labourers, ethnic or linguistic minorities, indigenous populations, nomadic and rural pastoralist communities, children in incarceration or detention, and children impacted by HIV/AIDS.
WHO CAN APPLY
18. Is priority given to applications from organizations in low- and middle-income countries?
Yes, KIX will prioritize funding to organizations based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
19. What do you mean by “individual organizations”?
Individual organizations may be NGOs, civil society organizations, universities, academic institutions, research institutions, think tanks, private sector organizations or private foundations (not for profit).
20. What is meant by “consortia”? Who can be a member of a consortium?
- Consortia are groups of organizations that come together to submit a proposal to receive KIX funding and to implement the project. Groups of up to three organizations (maximum) may submit an application as a consortium.
- Proposals from consortia must name one lead organization, which can subgrant to the others. Proposals from, or that include, private sector partners should demonstrate how private sector resources — financial or technical knowhow — will contribute to the project. Organizations/consortia must have a strong presence and track record of work in the education sector of GPE partner countries.
- Fair and equitable partnerships must be established among consortia members.
- Although there are specific eligibility criteria for the lead organizations in consortia (see Q 19), there are no specific geographic criteria for consortia members in any of the three types of grants.
21. What criteria will you look for in a lead organization?
- Ability to manage a large-scale grant from a financial and operational point of view
- Presence in the field
- Thematic experience in the subject of the proposal
- Ability to coordinate multiple partners and members of a consortium
- Ability to participate in knowledge exchange with the other KIX-funded projects
- Status as an independent, legally incorporated entity capable of contracting in its own right and name
22. 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
23. Does the “lead” organization assume all financial responsibilities? May other consortia 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 subgrant 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, IDRC may be willing to provide a direct subgrant to a consortium member.
24. May consortia have additional partners?
Yes, consortia may name additional partners involved in the project. It may be necessary to include additional partners, such as teachers’ associations, a relevant NGO or people with specific research expertise.
Each project should consider stakeholders relevant to the project’s objectives, including stakeholders relevant to knowledge-mobilization strategies, and how to best engage them.
25. 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. Scaling in education systems will most likely need connections with governments.
26. Do consortia need to include Canadian organizations?
No.
27. Can KIX help match applicants to form a consortium?
No. It is the responsibility of the applicant to find partners and form a consortium.
28. Should partners be in the same geographical region?
Not necessarily. Consortium partners do not need to be in the same geographical region.
29. Is IDRC able to directly grant to UN agencies?
Yes.
30. 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 apply to this call?
Yes.
31. May an organization with a pending registration in an eligible country apply to a call?
No. Organizations must already be registered or incorporated.
32. 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 (for example, financial or technical know-how) will contribute to the project.
- All grant recipients, including for-profit organizations, must comply with IDRC’s Open Access Policy.
33. Will you provide individualized feedback to applicants following the selection process?
No. KIX typically receives hundreds of proposals to each call, and we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback to applicants.
34. What is the chance my proposal will be funded?
This depends on the number of proposals received. A proposal is more likely to be funded if it aligns directly with the challenge and themes and is relevant and important to the education systems in the countries of focus. The research questions should speak to the guiding questions of the call, including the focus on research for scaling impact. A proposal should address all the evaluation criteria laid out in the call document.