USAID/Nigeria is offering a funding opportunity through the "Education Crisis Response" program aimed at expanding educational access for children and youth affected by violence in Northeastern Nigeria. The program seeks to address critical issues such as rising dropout rates, overcrowded classrooms, limited access for displaced children, and the need for qualified teachers and instructional materials. With an estimated total funding of $30 million, USAID plans to award between two to six cooperative agreements, with individual awards ranging from $300,000 to $15 million. Interested applicants should direct their inquiries to Abdullahi Sadiq at asadiq@usaid.gov and submit proposals by the deadline of September 5, 2014, with the possibility of ongoing submissions until the final closing date of July 22, 2015.

APS-620-14-000001 Q&A.pdf

The document provides clarifications on the USAID APS-620-14-000001 Education Crisis Response solicitation, addressing questions related to project implementation, staffing plans, budget requirements, and evaluation criteria. Key points include that all listed activities do not need to be addressed, an organogram is optional in the Institutional Capabilities section, and applicants should not budget for potential phase expansions at this time. The proposal deadline is extended to September 5, 2014, to allow for adequate preparation following these clarifications.

APS-620-14-000001.pdf

The document APS-620-14-000001 consists of a series of questions and answers regarding the Education Crisis Response program solicited by USAID. The primary purpose of the document is to clarify requirements and expectations for applicants submitting proposals in response to the solicitation. Key topics include the scope of activities to be addressed, the implementation and monitoring and evaluation plans, and guidelines for personnel qualifications and project staffing. 

Important clarifications state that not all activities need to be included in proposals, and illustrative activity plans must be integrated within the main document, not as appendices. Evaluation criteria include a focus on equitable education access while also considering conflict reduction. Proposals must address branding costs and incorporate structures for financial accountability. The deadline for submission has been extended to September 5, 2014, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and thoughtful responses to address the complex educational crisis. The document underscores the importance of aligning project objectives with educational opportunities for vulnerable populations, especially in conflict-affected regions of Nigeria, and stresses that the assessment phase is crucial for determining targeted interventions. This comprehensive guide is instrumental for applicants in successfully navigating the proposal process for USAID funding.

The purpose of this notice is to announce an Annual Program Statement (APS) for the USAID/Nigeria Education Crisis Response. The overarching goal of the Education Crisis Response is to: Expand enrollment in appropriate, protective and relevant educational options for the girls, boys, and youth that are affected by violence in Northeastern Nigeria.Activities will provide targeted assistance for the girls, boys, and youth that are affected by violence in Northeastern Nigeria, and ensure that children and youth have continued access to an instructional routine in Adamawa and the buffer States of Bauchi and Gombe (with other States to be determined as needs require and conditions permit). Within this goal, the Education Crisis Response will address the following problems: &#149; Expected large increase in drop-out rates in affected States &#149; Over-crowding of classrooms and learning spaces due to influx of displaced populations &#149; Limited access for displaced children &#149; Shortage of qualified teachers and instructional materials for formal and non-formal education &#149; Children traumatized by violence and abductions, and families fear of sending their children to school &#149; Marginalization of girls and children with disabilities &#149; Rising tensions between host communities and displaced populations.Programs may have a maximum duration of 36 months. Priority will be given to applications that can be launched rapidly. USAID anticipates awarding approximately two to six awards ranging anywhere from minimum grant size of $300,000 and a maximum grant size of $15,000,000 made available either to one grantee, multiple grantees, or no grantees depending on the quality of the applications and availability of funds.Subject to the availability of funds, USAID intends to provide the funding in the total range of approximately $30,000,000. USAID/Nigeria reserves the right to make multiple grants, cooperative agreements, or no awards at all through this APS. Questions concerning this notice may be directed to Abdullahi Sadiq, USAID/Nigeria Assistance Specialist, at asadiq@usaid.gov with a copy to abujaeduprocurements@usaid.gov. Prospective applicants may not contact USAID technical staff directly for information on this APS &#150; such contact may be grounds for exclusion from the competition. Until the Grants/ and/or Cooperative Agreements are awarded, all communication between applicants and USAID must be directed through the Assistance Specialist.This notice does not obligate USAID to award a grant or cooperative agreement, nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of applications.Deadline for submission of question for Round 1 was August 04, 2014. Deadline for submission of applications for Round 1 is: September 05, 2014.Prospective applicants are strongly advised to click the &quot;FULL ANNOUNCEMENT&quot; tab and download the APS and the APS Questions and Answers (Q&amp;A) for full details. 

ABDULLAHI SADIQ &lt;br/&gt;A&amp;A Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone +234.9.461.9300

Buyer

Award Range

Eligible Applicants

Funding Category

Funding Instrument

Opportunity Category

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Original Source