USAID Leading Through Learning Global Platform Launches 2023 Call for Concept Notes
Submit concept notes until June 15, 2023
The USAID Leading Through Learning Global Platform (Leading Through Learning) and its 3 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 activities over the next year. This opportunity is exclusively open to Leading Through Learning members.
Please note that this is not a grant program, and no funding will be awarded to Concept Note applicants or organizations. Leading Through Learning—through its Learning Networks—will provide platforms for members to share knowledge with each other and co-create knowledge generation activities that can improve educational practices. This is an opportunity to identify and co-develop activities that build and share evidence and knowledge, provide professional development opportunities, and engage USAID partners and staff around the priorities of each learning network.
2023 Call for Concept Notes Online Submission Form
Concepts are due June 15, 2023.
Page Contents
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What We Are Looking For
Leading Through Learning seeks member-led activity ideas for 2023-2024. Concept notes for member-led activities should focus on surfacing and sharing knowledge from the field for the global community or convening expertise around important issues related to each Learning Network’s priorities.
We are looking for individuals or organizations who have knowledge and evidence they want to share, would like to refine their work with external feedback, or want to build on previous successes with new collaborators.
In particular, Leading Through Learning seeks concept notes that: surface promising practices from local researchers and practitioners, highlight evidence that uses local knowledge to create successful educational experiences, and aggregate and synthesize research and good practices across contexts and regions.
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.
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 such as training, skill, or content development workshops
- Developing webcasts (knowledge sharing focus) or webinars (learning professional development focus) to disseminate existing knowledge or provide professional development opportunities
- Supporting in-person or virtual member convenings, such as round-table events, consultations, failfests, data deep dives, micro-conferences, and workshops to discuss and create new knowledge related to the USAID Learning Agendas put forward by the Learning Networks
Examples of tasks that Leading Through Learning will not support:
- Primary research
- Activities eligible to receive funding from other USAID mechanisms or projects
- Activity tasks that are eligible to be funded in an existing USAID contract or cooperative agreement (e.g., funding for a tool, resource, or product that is a deliverable or statement of work item under an existing USAID contract)
- Activities outside of geographic code 937
- Staff time on the part of USAID staff or implementing partner staff (other than Leading Through Learning staff)
- Grants to organizations
Submission Requirements
Anyone who is a member of the USAID Education in Crisis and Conflict Network, USAID Global Reading Network, or USAID Higher Education Learning Network can submit concept notes in this open call. Members based in USAID supported regions are especially encouraged to apply.
Submitted concept notes must be aligned to USAID’s Education Policy, one or more of USAID’s Education Learning Agendas, and respond to one or more of the USAID Center for Education’s priority areas within each Learning Network. Other topics outside these parameters will be considered as resources allow.
Learning Network Priorities
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- USAID Education in Crisis and Conflict Network (ECCN) 2024 Priorities
- USAID Global Reading Network (GRN) 2023-2024 Priorities
- USAID Higher Education Learning Network (HELN) 2023 Priorities
To be successful, a concept note must:
- Be executable within the timeframe of November 2023-August 2024
- Have limited non-personnel costs, not exceeding $5,000 for printing, translation, travel, or logistics (costs to be administered by Leading Through Learning; no reimbursements or funds will be transferred to the partner)
- Represent a common good serving the needs of the Learning Network members/organizations and USAID and implementing partners
- Offer a substantive contribution to the specific Learning Network community and relate to one of the Learning Networks’ priority areas
- Encourage greater and more diverse engagement of Learning Network members
Shortlisted submissions will be asked to review and sign a Statement of Collaboration. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of entities and individuals involved in delivering on the concept note, including but not limited to topics like intellectual property and branding requirements.
Submission Process and Deadline
Concept notes must be submitted through our online submission form. The submission form cannot be saved. We encourage submitters to review the submission form questions and word count limits to develop answers offline before working in the form.
All concept notes are due by Wednesday, June 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Concept notes may be submitted in English, French, or Spanish; however, the submitter must have at least one person who is conversant in written and spoken English for activity management with Leading Through Learning.
Questions about the submission process can be posed via email to LTLGP_Proposals@edc.org or through LinkedIn before June 6, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
LinkedIn groups:
Questions and answers will be compiled into an English-language PDF each week and shared Fridays before 4:30 p.m. ET in the LinkedIn groups and on this page.
Submitted questions and answers:
Submission and Acceptance Timeline
- May 18, 2023: Open Call for Concept Notes launched
- June 15, 2023: Open Call for Concept Notes closed
- June 16-July 15, 2023: Eligible submissions are evaluated
- July 16-August 30, 2023: Shortlisted concept notes are incorporated into the Leading Through Learning Year 4 Work Plan*
- September 1-30, 2023: Successful submitters notified via email
- October 1-31, 2023: Scopes of work developed
- November 1, 2023: Implementation of activities begins
*Incorporation into the Leading Through Learning Year 4 Work Plan does not guarantee the concept note will move into implementation. Implementation is contingent upon USAID approval of LTLGP’s Year 4 Work Plan.
Criteria for Review
Leading Through Learning is particularly interested in concept notes that use or consider new and promising approaches or concepts. All concept notes should actively consider equity and inclusion priorities where possible, including impacts on traditionally marginalized groups (women and girls, youth, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, etc.). To ensure a diverse slate of activities, concept notes submitted by individuals from the Global South and USAID’s partner countries will be prioritized weighted; however, all Learning Network members are encouraged to submit.
Concept notes for member-led activities will be reviewed using the following criteria:
- Relevance: Proposed activity will add value to Learning Network(s) by aligning with Learning Network priorities.
- Logical Process: Steps articulated will lead to outcome(s) articulated.
- Feasibility: Proposed activity could be accomplished within the level of effort and time frame proposed.
- Equity and Inclusion: Proposed activity promotes or incorporates principles of equity and inclusion in whom it aims to benefit. (How are you incorporating voices with lived experience of the issues? How are you welcoming and amplifying voices likely to be marginalized? How are you taking an intersectional approach?)
Services We Can Provide
Leading Through Learning will provide technical support for you to showcase your knowledge or evidence in the member-led activity.
- Support local or regional events curated around a technical challenge, promising practices, existing evidence, or resource contextualization.
- Webinars that present research, good practices, and/or recommendations, e.g., a one-hour webinar presenting impact evaluation results of mental health and psychosocial support interventions in schools during COVID-19
- Storytelling events that highlight successes, failures, and/or case studies, e.g., a virtual event highlighting stories of youth activism in promoting greater access to school safety practices
- Roundtable or panel discussions that present multiple perspectives on a single topic, e.g., a one-hour exploration of remedial education to overcome learning loss during COVID-19 featuring a researcher, a practitioner, and a donor organization
- Provide member-linking opportunities to share expertise, technical challenges, and promising practices.
- Support travel and registration for members to attend USAID Learning Network-relevant events
- Design and delivery of networking and sharing events, both online and in person, as stand-alone opportunities and as add-ons to larger events
- Support targeted task teams or working groups on topics relevant to specific USAID Learning Networks.
- Scripting and storyboarding for videos, editing of existing footage, and support for video projects with a larger scope of work (on-site filming, animation)
- Development and co-creation of graphics, infographics, blogs, and other kinds of materials that complement existing learning products and presentations
- Digital campaign design for engagement and outreach using online platforms and social media to host discussions, surface feedback, convene stakeholders, and share resources
- Co-creation events to generate knowledge that results in published knowledge products
- Identify and support experts to provide technical review and comments on relevant resources in development.
- Technical (methodological, evidence analysis, and presentation) review and guidance toward refining a research, guidance, or evidence product in line with Learning Network priority areas to make the product relevant for particular audiences before sharing
- Support for ground-truthing of an initially global-focused research or guidance product to ensure relevance in various local contexts and audiences
- Support for adapting a locally relevant research, guidance, or evidence product that aligns with Learning Network priority areas to be appropriate for more global audiences.
- Training activities that focus on skill-building or skill application in a given topic for a specific or broad audience.
- Workshop to provide further knowledge or practice in applying certain tools or approaches
Questions and Answers
Q: I have an idea for a concept note, but I do not have the necessary components to complete the full application yet. When is Leading Through Learning’s next Call for Concept Notes?
A: Leading Through Learning may launch another open call in 2024; however, the timing and parameters have not been determined. Leading Through Learning reserves the right not to have additional open calls for concept notes.
Q: Are there any restrictions or special considerations that may apply to these activities?
A: Some activities may require additional approvals or vetting before being fully approved. These include tasks involving equipment or IT, travel, or Order Learning Materials (OLMs), which include but are not limited to ancillary expenses, supplies and materials, and translation services.
Q: Will successful concept notes be announced?
A: Selected concept notes will be announced broadly on USAID’s Center for Education website and its related social media platforms.