USAID Leading Through Learning Global Platform Launches 2022 Call for Concept Notes

Concept Notes are due Wednesday, June 15, 2022

The USAID Leading Through Learning Global Platform Call for Concept Notes

Acceder al Llamado para Notas Conceptuales en español

The USAID Leading through Learning Global Platform (Leading Through Learning) and its three Learning Networks, the USAID Education in Crisis and Conflict Network (ECCN), the USAID Global Reading Network (GRN), and the USAID Higher Education Learning Network (HELN), invite members to submit Concept Notes proposing tasks for implementation over the next year. This Call for Concept Notes will provide an opportunity for Leading Through Learning to identify and develop tasks that build the evidence and/or knowledge of USAID staff and partners, provide opportunities for professional development, or create opportunities for engagement across partners and staff. Please note that this is not a grant program, and no funding will be awarded to Concept Note applicants or organizations. Rather, Leading Through Learning - through its Learning Networks - will provide the platforms for members to share knowledge with each other and co-create knowledge generation tasks that can improve educational practices. 

Submission Details

Leading Through Learning seeks concept notes that generate, capture, or disseminate knowledge that can be leveraged across a range of education stakeholders for the global good. In particular, Leading Through Learning seeks concept notes that share good practices from local researchers and practitioners and evidence that uses local knowledge to create successful educational experiences. Aggregation and synthesis of research and good practices across contexts and regions are also welcome. Concept notes that meaningfully integrate marginalized and underrepresented groups including women, youth, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ people, indigenous people, and other groups are especially welcome. Concept notes must be aligned to USAID’s Education Policy, one or more of USAID’s Education Learning Agendas, and one or more of the Learning Networks’ priorities listed below. These priorities are meant to provide guidance but are not exhaustive; other topics related to the Learning Networks or cross-network themes are also welcome.

Learning Network Priorities

Submission Process & Deadline

Concept notes are submitted through our online Call for Concept Notes Submission Platform. The submission platform can be accessed here. Once you begin to use the form, you can save your progress and return to work on your submission by clicking on the “Save & Return” option at the top of the portal screen. You must create an account to use the Save & Return option.

All Concept Notes are due by Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Midnight EDT.

Questions about the submission process can be posed via email to LTLGP_Proposals@edc.org or directly on the LinkedIn Group for each Learning Network. Questions received via LinkedIn will be answered via LinkedIn and compiled weekly for sharing through this webpage. Questions received via email will be answered via email and compiled weekly for sharing through this webpage. Check back regularly to view the Q&A.

LinkedIn Groups:

Process graphic showing the phases for the Call for Concepts. Public Launch & Open Call from May 15-June15. Selection and Implementation Phase for Member-led Tasks runs from June - August. Selection and Implementation Phase for Secretariat-led Tasks runs from June to December.

 

Submission Types and Description

Member-Led Tasks

Description:  Member-led tasks are opportunities to disseminate knowledge to the global community or convene members and others to discuss important issues related to the priorities listed above. Leading Through Learning will provide technical support for you to showcase your knowledge or evidence in the member-led task, such as providing communication staff to advertise your task on Leading Through Learning channels and platforms, training support to design and execute an event based on adult-learning principles, or translating existing knowledge products.  

Concept Note Requirements: Concept notes for member-led tasks are focused on surfacing knowledge from the field for the global community. We are looking for individuals or organizations who have knowledge or evidence they wish to share, refine with external feedback or support, or solicit interest to build upon previous success with new collaborators.  

Additional Guidance for Member-led Tasks. Successful concept notes:

  • Must be executable in the next 3-12 months
  • May have limited non-personnel costs not exceeding $5,000 for printing, translation, travel, or logistics
  • Should represent a common good serving the needs of the Learning Network members/organizations and USAID and implementing partners 
  • Should offer a substantive contribution to the specific Learning Network community and relate to one of the Learning Networks’ stated priority areas
  • Will encourage greater and more diverse engagement of members with the Learning Networks

Examples of Member-led Tasks:

  • Revising and/or translating existing tools for a range of topics, contexts, and/or audiences
  • Supporting in-person professional development opportunities
  • Developing webinars to disseminate existing knowledge or professional development opportunities

Secretariat-Led Tasks

Description:  Secretariat-led tasks are opportunities for members to propose tasks for Leading Through Learning to build the evidence and/or knowledge of the global community, provide opportunities for professional development, or create opportunities for engagement with members and USAID staff related to the priorities listed above. Secretariat-led tasks include large-scale member engagement opportunities, such as the USAID Higher Education Global Evidence Summit or formal professional development opportunities, such as Soft Skills Training Across the Curriculum. Secretariat-led tasks utilize multiple technical experts, engaged over a period of several months, who work together to successfully execute the task. Selected concept notes will be part of a co-creation process where individuals and organizations will have the opportunity to shape the learning objectives, work plans, and execution of these tasks over time. Leading Through Learning will partner with you to refine your concept and provide technical support to surface and share the knowledge generated or captured during the task.  

Concept Note Requirements: Concept notes for Secretariat-led tasks are focused on identifying challenges of interest to the membership and addressing these opportunities in locally-led ways. Individuals and organizations who submit concept notes for Secretariat-led tasks are encouraged to participate in an advisory group for the task where they will shape the learning objectives, work plans, and execution of these tasks over a 6-12 month period. Individuals who propose Secretariat-led tasks should anticipate participating in monthly meetings on the concept until the task is completed. Participation in the advisory group for an accepted concept note will not be paid. This is an excellent opportunity for those interested in learning how to work with USAID and its partners.

Additional Guidance for Secretariat-led Tasks:

  • Secretariat-led concept notes will go through a global peer review process.
  • Tasks will be designed over 3 months and executed in 4-12 months.
  • Selected concept notes will be invited into co-creation with Leading Through Learning who will either provide the technical support to execute the task, or procure the necessary technical expertise.
  • The co-creation process will guide the shape of the task, but the execution will be carried out by Leading Through Learning or by a qualified contractor through an open procurement process.
  • Secretariat-led concept note tasks must be completed by August 2023. Shorter duration activities will also be accepted.
  • Submitters of concept notes will be invited to name one person to be part of the advisory group for the task, and be expected to contribute 2-4 hours per month toward attending check-in calls. Participation is optional.
  • An emphasis on system strengthening should also be included if appropriate for the work.

Examples of Secretariat-led Tasks:

  • Contributing locally-developed case studies, guides or evidence
  • Developing technical how-to notes
  • Developing a white paper
  • Conducting a landscape review/analysis
  • Designing and delivering in-person or virtual instructor-led and e-learning courses
  • Convening regional working groups for particular technical topics

Examples of Tasks that Leading Through Learning Will Not Support

  • Primary research 
  • Activities eligible to receive funding from other USAID mechanisms or projects 
  • Activities outside of geographic code 937 
  • Staff time on the part of USAID staff or implementing partner staff 
  • Project specific tasks 
  • Grants to organizations 

Criteria for Review

Concept notes for both member-led and secretariat-led tasks will be reviewed using the criteria below. All concept notes should actively consider equity and inclusion priorities where possible including impacts on traditionally marginalized groups (including women and girls, youth, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, etc.). Concept note submitters in developing country contexts will be given additional weighting in order to diversify the network tasks; however, all network members are encouraged to submit concept notes. Tasks that demonstrate innovation (utilizing or considering new but promising approaches or concepts) will receive additional weighting as well.

Review Criteria:

  • Relevance: Task will add value to Learning Network(s) by aligning with Learning Network priorities
  • Logical Process: Steps articulated will lead to outcome(s) articulated
  • Feasibility: Task could be accomplished with LOE and timeframe proposed
  • Equity and Inclusion: Task promotes or incorporates principles of equity and inclusion [1] in whom it aims to benefit

[1] “USAID is committed to inclusion, equity, safety, and quality across all its education investments and priority areas and works actively to identify and support local initiatives and reforms that reach marginalized and vulnerable populations in the local context at all levels of education.” (USAID Education Policy)

Additional Resources

Learn More:

Higher Education Education in Crisis and Conflict Reading & Literacy Disability Inclusive Education Systems Strengthening