USAID Ibitabo Kuri Twese

Implemented by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC)

Funded by The United States Agency for International Development

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Catalytic Grant Funding Opportunity

RFA Number: 2024-01

RFA Release Date:  December 20, 2024

Deadline for Questions:  January 10, 2025

Deadline for RFA Submission:  January 27, 2025

Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is announcing the opening of a Request for Applications (RFA) for applicants to submit business concepts for the co-funding of catalytic, market-based initiatives that accelerate the growth of the private open market for teaching and learning materials (TLM) in Rwanda.

This RFA is open to private sector entities, civil society organizations, and/or those independently registered as Rwandan entities. Applicants will include (but not be limited to) private organizations operating in or supporting the book publishing sector such as: publishers, printers, booksellers/retailers, industry associations, non-governmental organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), financial service providers, as well as providers of business development services or education and training.

All queries in regard to this RFA announcement should be directed by email to the IKT HR and Operations Specialist at ryp@edc.org by January 10, 2025, 16:00 EAT. Answers to questions will be published on the same platform that this RFA is published. In addition, applicants will be invited to an Informational Session on January 15, 2025 open to all interested applicants, for an opportunity to seek clarification on the nature and requirements of this RFA.

EDC will only consider applications submitted electronically by email to the IKT HR and Operations Specialist at ryp@edc.org by January 27, 2025. All applications will be acknowledged by email response to the sender. All email communication including the submission of the application should have the subject: RFA Catalytic Grants Fund.

EDC expects to award multiple grants to the Applicants whose applications conform to this RFA and offer the best value for money.

This RFA is being issued under the USAID Ibitabo Kuri Twese (IKT) Activity, implemented by EDC under Cooperative Agreement Number AID- 720-696-23-CA-00003, in support of the USAID Mission in Rwanda. Applicants will have no relationship with USAID under the terms of any grant resulting from this RFA. All questions regarding this RFA must be directed to EDC. All costs for the preparation and submission of an application are at the applicant's expense. Application preparation costs are not reimbursable.

This RFA has the following sections:

• Purpose of the RFA
• Scope of Work – Catalytic Grants Fund
• Funding Parameters and Project Timeline
• Eligibility Requirements
• Proposal Submission Timeline and Instructions
• Grant Application Instructions
• Cost Proposal Preparation Instructions
• Disclaimers
• Evaluation Process and Evaluation Criteria
• Terms of Application
• Certifications and Assurances
• Mandatory and as Applicable Standard Provisions

RFA attachments include:

Attachment 1. Technical Application Form

Attachment 2. Budget Template, inclusive of: budget summary spreadsheet, budget detail spreadsheet

I. PURPOSE OF THE RFA

Education Development Center (EDC) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. Established in 1958, EDC designs, delivers and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity.

Education Development Center (EDC) seeks applicants to submit co-financing proposals for catalytic, market-based initiatives that will accelerate the growth of the private open market for teaching and learning materials (TLM) in Rwanda. This co-funding opportunity is being offered as part of the 3-year USAID-funded Ibitabo Kuri Twese Project (IKT) project. A major component of the IKT project is to encourage the growth of a home-grown Rwandan book publishing sector that increases the quantity, quality, affordability, and accessibility of TLM in schools, homes, and communities. 

For the purposes of the IKT project, the definition of teaching and learning materials (TLM) includes both physical and digital learning materials and are comprised primarily of: textbooks and other supplementary materials such as storybooks, chapter books, decodable readers, leveled readers, supplementary readers, interactive e-learning materials, and other reading materials for use by children.

This RFA focuses on teaching and learning materials provided by the open private market, which involves the private production and sales of all supplementary materials demanded by private schools, families, NGOs, churches, hospitals, and other private institutions. The open TLM market involves private actors who produce, publish, print, distribute, and/or sell TLM on the open private market. (Note: This RFA does not apply to activities related to the provision of textbooks that are funded and produced by the Rwanda Education Board (REB) and distributed to public schools.)

II. SCOPE OF WORK: CATALYTIC GRANTS FUND

A. Objectives of the IKT Catalytic Grants Fund

The Catalytic Grants Fund is a co-funding mechanism intended to accelerate the growth of the private open market for teaching and learning materials (TLM) in Rwanda. The IKT Activity will provide co-financing to private actors in the TLM market system—including publishers, printers, booksellers/retailers, industry associations, non-governmental organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), financial service providers, as well as providers of business development services or education and training.

The Catalytic Grants Fund intends to support business concepts that advance one or more of the following four objectives:

• Increase the availability of high quality and affordable TLMsfor primary and pre-primary level learners through market-driven approaches;
• Expand access to TLM by primary and pre-primary level learners, including expanding distribution and retail channelsto districts outside of Kigali;
• Increase availability of adapted materialsto meet the needs of primary- and pre-primary level learners with disabilities, including learners with visual or hearing impairments (e.g., through the subsidized procurement of specialized equipment, the development of new products, or for the adaptation/ development of curriculum); or
• Spur increased private sector investment in the TLM open market.

B. Core Principles of the Catalytic Grants Fund

Co-Financing: This is a co-financing mechanism. This Catalytic Grants Fund requires at least a 50% minimum matching investment, either in-cash and/or in-kind contribution, from applicants. For example, if a partner submits a budget indicating it wishes to receive an IKT grant of $10,000; they must also demonstrate a unique commitment of $5,000 of their own funds (cash or in-kind) to be considered for the partnership. Cost applications must address their ability to leverage resources as follows:

Amount of co-financing investment by the applicant;

Amount of co-financing investment by other partners (if applicable); and

Amount of grant funding requested from IKT 

• Evidence of Impact: All applicants must be able to estimate the expected quantifiable impact of the catalytic grant funding in terms of: (1) increased availability of high quality and affordable TLM for primary and pre-primary level learners; (2) Expanded access to TLM by primary and pre-primary level learners, including expanding distribution and retail channels (especially those in districts outside of Kigali); (3) Increased availability of adapted materials to meet the needs of primary and pre-primary level learners with disabilities, including learners with visual or hearing impairments; and/or (4) Increased private sector investment in the TLM open market.Refer to Table 1 for details. Selected applicants will be expected to report the progress towards impact during grant implementation, and the impact following the completion of the project.

• Potential for Market Viability and Scale: All applications must be able to demonstrate market viability, that is, how likely the proposed innovation, product, or service will be profitable and sustained in the TLM market. Applicants are highly encouraged to strengthen linkages across the value chain as a means to ensure market viability. For example: publishers may enter into long-term sales agreements with retailers; booksellers may partner with teachers or parents’ associations to reach new companies or increase sales; OPDs may form partnerships with publishing companies; financial institutions may partner with associations from the TLM sector to reach new clients; or other linkages may be formed. To the extent possible, applications will demonstrate how successful projects will be able to scale its impact, e.g. to other geographic locations, customer segments, or other end-markets.

• Cost-Effectiveness:Winning applications will demonstrate value for money, in terms of: (a) the amount of funding required by USAID IKT Activity, (b) the relative contributions in matching funding offered by the applicant and its partners, and (c) the expected impact, sustainability, and scaling that result from the grant funding.

C. Expected Outcomes

All proposals must be able to demonstrate their contribution to one or more of the following outcomes provided in Table 1:

Table 1. Measurable Outcomes to be Achieved by the Catalytic Grants

Scope of Activities

Types of Activities that IKT might fund: The following bullets provide illustrative examples of market-based solutions that IKT may support to different actors. While the following are acceptable examples, applicants are not limited to this list and are encouraged to propose other creative market-based solutions to address one or more of the outcomes listed above.

Publishers of Books/TLM, including NGOs or OPDs:

• Technical assistance services for the development of high-quality TLM that are gender sensitive and meet Universal Design for Learning guidelines, that meet demand by learners with visual and hearing impairments, and/or that are tailored to needs of an under-served niche market showing high demand for such materials
• In-depth market research to better understand the kinds of TLM that are in high demand, demand by different customer segments, pricing strategies, etc.
• Training courses, including trainers, course materials, site costs, etc., for the purpose of publishing high-quality TLM that are tailored to the needs and context of the Rwandan book market and align with international standards
• Co-financing or subsidization of equipment and machinery needed to produce specialized, adapted TLM that are accessible by learners with disabilities
• Grants to OPDs for the development/adaptation of more inclusive materials, for example by subsidizing the cost of equipment such as mass braille machines.
• Funding for the adaptation/development and marketing of new digital TLM products

Retailers/ Booksellers

• In-depth market research to better understand customer demand for different types of TLM
• Co-financing for the testing of innovative and market-viable sales and distribution strategies that expand sales into new markets and get more TLM in the hands of Rwandan children, especially those living outside of Kigali (considering a range of traditional and more innovative sales channels, including but not limited to: brick and mortar shops, stationery shops, pop-up shops, community central markets, supermarkets, intermediary buyers, backpack booksellers/ direct sales agents, micro-franchising, online platforms, or other cost-effective sales and distribution channels)
• Co-financing of innovative partnerships (e.g., with libraries, events, public spaces, online platforms) that increase public accessibility to educational materials
• Co-financing the introduction of new TLM products in a bookseller’s inventory, as a way to pilot test the potential of a new or more diverse market

Printers:

• Co-financing or subsidization of equipment and machinery needed to produce/ print specialized, adapted TLM that are accessible by learners with disabilities
• Co-financing for the testing of innovative distribution strategies that improve last-mile printing, packing, and distribution of TLM and get more TLM in the hands of Rwandan children, especially those living outside of Kigali

Financial Service Providers:

• Funding for technical assistance and/or market research that leads to the development and roll-out of a new financial product or service that meets the financial needs of TLM market actors
• Other mechanisms that buy down the risk for financial institutions to develop and roll out a new financial product or service for the book sector

Business Service Providers or Education and Training Providers:

• Subsidies to test out cost-effective, market-based models for delivering ongoing business services, education, or training to TLM market actors, sustainably and at scale (in-person training, online courses, group-based coaching, etc.), that lead to increased volume of TLM sales or to the production of higher quality or more inclusive TLM
• Subsidies for delivering sustainable services that strengthen publisher, printer, and RCBO capacity to conduct market analysis, featuring inclusive market research
• Grant financing to a higher education institution to develop business courses tailored to the needs of the book sector

Any or all TLM actors:

• Marketing events, learning seminars, workshops, conferences or other events organized by the applicant that directly increase access, affordability, quality, or inclusiveness of TLM
• Any other allowable direct costs that may be approved by IKT

What IKT would not consider:  The following list provides some types of projects that are not a good fit for the objectives of the Catalytic Grant funding opportunity:

• Funds to cover ongoing operational costs for normal day-to-day business activities;
• Investments in physical infrastructure with limited potential to scale or unable to demonstrate cost-effectiveness (e.g. construction of a building, infrastructure upgrades);
• Basic research with no evidence of how the findings will be taken to market;
• General training or professional development opportunities that do not directly connect to measurable outcomes listed in Table 1;
• Investments that directly support the government of Rwanda;
• Development of planning, diagnostic, and other tools that are difficult to link directly to measurable impacts on expanding the quality, affordability, accessibility of TLM.

III. FUNDING PARAMETERS AND TIMELINE

Anticipated Investment Funding: IKT will issue performance-based grants ranging between $100 - $25,000 United States Dollar (USD) each (equivalent amount in RWF), to establish partnerships with eligible organizations for meeting the objectives stated in Section II of this RFA. Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate cost effectiveness, in accordance with section II.B.  IKT anticipates granting approximately 25 awards with an average size award of roughly USD $10,000 each. IKT welcomes proposals with budgets of all sizes within the USD $100 - $25,000 range; it anticipates awarding a sizeable number of grants to proposals below the average budget range, and it will award relatively fewer grants on the higher end of the budget range. EDC reserves the right to change these proportions based on the type and nature of applications received.

Timeline: The grants program will fund activities that vary in duration, ranging on average of 3-6 months and up to a 12-month duration. Funds will be provided in tranches, dependent on successful completion of milestones to be agreed upon during grant negotiations. Grant funding is further subject to availability of IKT funds.

EDC recognizes that grants may not fully achieve all measurable outcomes within the period of the award. For example, a retailer selling a new TLM product may experience an increase in sales only after several months, but may expect a continued increase in sales over time, beyond the project period. To the extent possible, applicants must estimate the expected outcomes during the immediate project period; outcomes beyond that period may be projected outward as a separate calculation.

IV. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Organization Type: Applicants must be private organizations (private businesses, associations, non-governmental organizations, or other) that are legally recognized and registered to operate in Rwanda at the time of award. In order for applicants to be eligible to receive USAID funds, they must have adequate financial controls, policies, and procedures. No funds shall be paid as a profit to any recipient that is a commercial organization.  

Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): EDC is unable to make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided it’s UEI to EDC. Subrecipients are not required to complete full registration in SAM.gov to obtain a UEI. Applicants who do not have an UEI at the time of application should plan to obtain it before awarding process in case they are selected for the grant. For information on registering a new entity or obtaining a new UEI in SAM.gov visit https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0038643.

Geographic Location/ Districts of Intervention: Grant-funds shall be used for activities within Rwanda. Grant applications may cover more than one district.

V. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Applicants will submit their proposal in two parts: (1) Technical Application, and (2) Cost Proposal. Applicants must read the RFA in its entirety and complete and submit Attachment 1: Technical Application Template, and Attachment 2: Budget Template, as per the instructions provided in this RFA. Grant Applications that are not completely filled out may result in rejection of the application.

All costs for the preparation and submission of an application are at the applicant's expense. Application preparation costs are not reimbursable.

Applications submitted after the closing date/time will NOT be considered. Receipt of an application to this request does not constitute an award or commitment on behalf of USAID or EDC. EDC and USAID reserve the right to not provide funding to any or all of the applications received without explanation.

Applicants may submit more than one proposal.

RFA Timeline