Request for Applications (RFA): Collaborative Partnerships – Guyana

Strengthening Mass Communication and Journalism

Date Issued: February 14, 2008
Closing Date: April 25, 2008

HED anticipates making one award, contingent on USAID funding, of up to $300,000 for a three-year period for a higher education partnership with the Centre for Communications Studies at the University of Guyana (UG) to strengthen the Centre’s journalism and mass communication program.

For further information regarding this RFA, please contact Jennifer Sisane, (202) 243-7680; jsisane@hedprogram.org.

Background
Context
Partnership Description
Eligibility
Application Review Guidelines
Application Format, Submission, and Review
Terms of the Solicitation

Background

Higher Education for Development and the U.S. Agency for International Development

Higher Education for Development (HED) mobilizes the expertise and resources of the higher education community to address global development challenges. HED accomplishes this by administering a cooperative agreement (AEG-A-00-05-00007-00) sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Leader with Associate Cooperative Agreement, signed in September 2005, allows HED to manage a competitive awards process to access expertise within the higher education community in coordination with the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC). 

Funding by USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Office of Education (EGAT/ED), as well as USAID’s functional and regional Bureaus and worldwide Missions, supports higher education partnerships to advance global development, economic growth, good governance, and healthy societies. These partnerships provide training, applied research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and program implementation, which are critical to promote USAID’s foreign assistance goals.  More information on USAID and its role in economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide over the past 40 years is available on our website.

Context

USAID’s long-term goal is to ensure that graduates of the Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana, an English medium institution in South America, will be better equipped to work in print and broadcast journalism.

The training of media practitioners is vital to improve the capability of media professionals in Guyana to report responsibly and objectively. The country’s sole tertiary education institution – the University of Guyana – requests assistance to redesign and strengthen the programs of study in the Centre.

The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, the new Director of the Centre for Communications Studies and faculty fully support upgrading the curriculum with a focus on print and broadcast journalism. Currently, the Centre offers a four-year undergraduate program in public communication, covering training in print and broadcast media. Communication graduates work for newspapers, television stations, and foreign-funded projects. Graduates also work in public relations positions in government and the private sector. 

The immediate goal for a higher education partnership is to strengthen the Centre’s effectiveness in preparing undergraduate students to meet workforce demands in the media and communications industries upon graduation. The Centre’s medium and long-term goals are to help meet the needs of working students, those in rural areas and students at the branch campus in Tain, through distance education and increasing research and production capacity. In addition, the director wishes to introduce graduate level courses and professional training for those already working in the media. These activities would be expected to generate future revenue for the Centre.

Partnership Description

The three-year partnership between a U.S. higher education institution and the Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana will help strengthen the Centre’s effectiveness in preparing undergraduate students to meet workforce demands in the media and communications industries upon graduation. This partnership will allow partners to build substantive relationships with both faculty and the local media. U.S. and Guyanese partners will work with faculty and journalism leaders to update the Centre’s curriculum, train faculty, and provide professional opportunities for students. University of Guyana faculty will be exposed to journalism education in the United States and the institutions that contribute to a strong, independent media system in a democracy. Work with media professionals will build a stronger relationship with journalism education and increase professional training in Guyana. The partnership will promote a stronger mass media in Guyana that will remain viable after program funding period.

Partnership Objectives

As a result of a partnership between a U.S. institution of higher education and the Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana:

• A well-designed media and communications curriculum will be implemented to train media professionals for the public and private sectors;
• Existing course content for each of the classes in the print and broadcast media programs will be reviewed and revised for relevance, content, and appropriateness;
• Faculty and staff will upgrade their credentials, knowledge, skills, and teaching-learning methods through study opportunities such as advanced graduate degree training, non-degree training, faculty exchanges, seminars, internships, and team teaching;
• The Centre will extend training opportunities for local media and communications professionals through short-courses, seminars, and distance learning opportunities;
• Students will gain practical skills for the workplace through experiential learning, internships, and other faculty supervised field study opportunities; and,
• An Advisory Board of local stakeholders from the media and the private sector will be established to work on a regular basis with faculty on curriculum, teaching, and research activities.

Suggested Examples of Partnership Activities:

• Collaborative, professional, and comprehensive review of the Centre’s program and curricula;
• Professional development for faculty and staff to enhance their knowledge and skills related to print and broadcast journalism which may include graduate degree and non-degree study, program exchanges, seminars, and internships;
• Updating the skills and knowledge of journalists and media professionals in Guyana through extension and outreach activities;
• Guidance for faculty related to updated teaching methods that include focus on current subject matter, experiential learning, and community field study experiences for students; and,
• Establishment of an Advisory Board for the Centre that includes public and private sector representatives to guide on-going planning for the Centre.

Contact Information

University of Guyana
http://www.uog.edu.gy/

Dr. Marlene Cox, Director, Office of Resource Mobilization & Planning
E-mail: coxlmf1@yahoo.com
Tel: +592 222-4932

Dr. Michael Scott, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences
E-mail:  benzamike@yahoo.com
Tel: +592-222-3575
Fax +592-222-6650

Dr. Paloma Mohamed- Lecturer, Communications Department
E-mail: bluvid@gmail.com
Tel: +592-222-3588 (office)
Tel: +592-652-8652 (mobile)

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

The application must describe a monitoring and reporting plan to address the partnership objectives including proposed activities and expected outcomes. The monitoring and reporting plan should demonstrate how progress towards objectives will be tracked, and how results of partnership activities will be summarized. There should be mention of a baseline assessment of the current University of Guyana Centre for Communication Studies programs in print and broadcast media.

A planned external evaluation of program impact must be included as part of the M&E plan, and basic qualifications of the external evaluator described in the application. The M&E plan must describe how results will be communicated and reported to USAID/Guyana through HED.

Eligibility

HED welcomes applications from the member institutions of ACE, AACC, AASCU, AAU, NAICU, and NASULGC, and from other regionally accredited, degree granting, U.S. higher education institutions. U.S. colleges and universities may apply individually, or in partnership with other institutions. HED encourages applications from or with the participation of minority-serving institutions.

Application Review Guidelines

Peer reviewers will use the following criteria to evaluate the applications:

I.  Partnership Design and Potential Results (35 points)

• Fit of the partnership design to the goal and objectives stated in the RFA to strengthen Centre’s journalism and mass communication program;
• Strength of plans to enhance the skills of both full-time and adjunct Centre faculty;
• Strength of plans for master’s degree training in the United States for Centre faculty, including orientation and preparation for return to Guyana;
• Appropriate balance of programming in the United States and Guyana;
• Strength of plans to build relationships with the media and private sector and explore avenues for cooperation, including internship and experiential learning opportunities;
• Feasibility of the implementation plan and timetable; and,
• Strength of plans to develop a mechanism to prepare talented students and faculty for graduate study in the United States.

II.  Institutional Resources and International Experience (20 points)

• Quality and relevance of U.S. institution’s academic and international programs in the field of journalism and mass communication;
• Demonstrated record of curricular and programmatic innovation and quality;
• Applicability of the experience and expertise of the partnership personnel; and,
• Understanding of the environment in Guyana and the targeted institution.

III. Collaboration with the Centre for Communication Studies (20 points)

• Strength of plans to design curriculum that meets the needs of current media and communications’ practitioners in Guyana;
• Strength of plans to deliver new and revised courses;
• Strength of plans to establish an Advisory Board comprised of academics and representatives from the private sector; and,
• Likelihood of a sustained relationship between the U.S. higher education institution and the Centre for Communication Studies beyond the end of program funding.

IV. Cost Sharing and Cost Effectiveness of Overall Budget (10 points)

• Cost sharing, including expected cash or in-kind contribution from the U.S. partners, which may include updated journalism and mass media resources, software, and equipment; and
• Demonstrated cost-effectiveness and accuracy of the budget with a clear, detailed explanation provided in the budget narrative.

V. Monitoring and Reporting Plan (15 points)

• Clear plan for collecting information that describes outcomes to meet partnership objectives;
• Specificity of monitoring and reporting plan, including clarity of methodology for collecting baseline data, tracking activities, and reporting outcomes; and,
• End-of-partnership plan for assessing impact of activities, including a plan for external evaluation of results.

100 Points Total

Application Format, Submission and Review

Application Format
How to Submit an Application
Peer Review

Application Format

Please provide the contents of the application in the following order:

1. Title Page (Please complete HED form in full and obtain signatures of authorized officials.)

2. Table of Contents

3. Abstract (not to exceed 3 typed, double-spaced pages, 12-point font, 1-inch margins). The abstract should contain a summary of the narrative, work plan and budget.

4. Narrative (not to exceed 20 typed, double-spaced pages, 12-point font, 1-inch margins) Address the criteria listed in Application Review Guidelines I-V (see above).

5. The 20-page application must describe a monitoring and reporting plan for the partnership, including an initial baseline assessment, that shows how progress and results will be communicated and reported to USAID through HED.

6. Appendices (Attachments beyond the stated appendices will not be read nor taken into consideration):
    * Annual work plan for the funding period (Use HED form).
    * Budget forms (Use HED form. Complete all tabs).
    * Résumés of the proposed U.S. institution director(s) and host institution personnel, not to exceed 2 one-sided pages per person.
    * Signed letters of support from the presidents, chancellors, or other chief executive officers of the cooperating institution in the United States.
* Signed letters of support from appropriate university leaders of the overseas partner institution as well as partnership directors. University leaders from the overseas partner may include deans, rectors, or university presidents.
    * Signed letter from appropriate official at applicant institution verifying that all costs cited conform to established institutional policies and practices.

How to Submit an Application

Applications must be received at HED by 5:00PM, Eastern Time (ET), April 25, 2008. Faxed or electronically transmitted applications will not be accepted. All elements of the application must be received by the deadline. HED recognizes that original, signed cover letters and letters of support from overseas partners may be subject to delays due to factors beyond the applicant’s control. Only in these exceptional cases, faxed or scanned copies of the application title page and letters that include all necessary signatures may be submitted in the application, provided signed originals are received at HED within seven (7) calendar days of the deadline.

Applicants should submit the original application plus seven (7) hard copies of the complete application package containing title page, table of contents, abstract, narrative, and appendices (all on loose-leaf paper, clipped together — no three-ring binders, staples, or plastic bindings), and a diskette or CD (with files saved as Microsoft Word/Excel for PC) containing the entire application, including all budget forms, budget narrative, and other appendices.

Applications should be sent to: (*NOTE: This is a NEW address)

Collaborative Partnership: Guyana
Higher Education for Development
1 Dupont Circle NW, Room 1B30
Washington, D.C. 20036-1193

Once an application has been received, there is to be no contact with the HED program office until the completion of the peer review process in order to ensure fairness to all parties concerned.

Peer Review

Applications will be reviewed by expert panelists, which include representatives from higher education, international development, and USAID. Awards will be made on the basis of reviewers’ recommendations of merit, and USAID. Peer review of applications is slated for mid-May.

Letters of communication from members of the U.S. Congress in support of an application are discouraged as these may be thought to prejudice the peer-review process. Such letters will not be forwarded to peer reviewers.

Notification about awards is expected following the completion of peer review. Upon final announcement of awards, the person named in the application as partnership director may submit a written request for copies of the peer reviewers’ scores for the application. No personal reviews will be granted, and no comparative score tabulations will be shared.

Terms of the Solicitation

Cost Share
Execution of Awards
Post Award Briefings
TraiNet Requirements
Health and Accident Insurance
Reporting

Cost Share

The minimum suggested total cost share from all U.S. partners is 25 percent of the award amount. Reported cost share must be auditable. Non-auditable contributions may not be used to meet the minimum, but can be indicated separately and attached to the budget detail form.

Higher education institutions are expected to leverage support from the private sector in addition to the cost sharing provided by their institutions. Applicants should itemize all cost sharing and in-kind contributions.

Cash and in-kind contributions will be accepted as part of the applicant’s cost sharing when such contributions are: (a) verifiable from the applicant’s records; (b) not included as contributions for any other federally-assisted program; (c) reasonable for the accomplishment of partnership objectives; and (d) not paid by the federal government under another grant.

In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to: waivers of tuition and fees for students participating in academic exchanges; donation of library and classroom materials to the partner; ICT infrastructure and Internet Service Provider subscription subsidy for the partner and exchange students; faculty salaries; travel and/or per diem for faculty and administrators to participate in professional exchange and development programs; and indirect costs.

Execution of Awards

Awards will be executed as sub-agreements between the designated U.S. university, college, community college, or consortium, and the American Council on Education (ACE), through the Higher Education for Development (HED) office, under USAID Cooperative Agreement AEG-A-00-05-00007-00. The institution recommended for award will receive a draft version of the sub-agreements to review. The award recipient will be expected to submit a marking plan related to USAID branding as part of the sub-agreement that clearly indicates the support provided by USAID for activities conducted under the award.

Please note that no award nor cost share funds may be expended prior to a fully executed (i.e., signed by both parties) sub-agreement between ACE and the designated U.S. institution unless pre-award expenses have been approved as a part of the negotiation of the sub-award. Activities are expected to commence immediately after the sub-agreement is executed.

Award funds will be disbursed to the designated U.S. university, college, community college, or consortium, based on the applicant’s implementation of the work plan, stated budget, and submission to HED of financial, tax, and narrative progress reports. It is the designated U.S. institution’s responsibility to provide disbursements (reimbursements) for its collaborating partner(s) in accordance with the agreed-upon activity schedule and budget.

Post Award Briefings

Partnership directors, and/or their designees, are required to participate in two post-award briefings. The first briefing, conducted in a virtual format, will review reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements. The second briefing via a conference call will address general requirements of the award.

TraiNet Requirements

To comply with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of State, and USAID regulations regarding tracking and monitoring of Exchange Visitors, foreign nationals whose costs are paid, fully or partially, directly or indirectly using USAID program funds for training, non-training, and invitational travel, must enter the U.S. on a J-1 visa (non-immigrant Exchange Visitor visa) processed under one of USAID’s two program numbers, unless otherwise waived according to the procedure in ADS 252.3. J-2 visa applications for family members are not supported per USAID policy.

USAID expects that all DS-2019 documents (paperwork needed for J visas) and in-country or third country training be processed through the USAID Training, Results and Information Network (TraiNet) system. Institutions may not directly access the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to issue DS-2019 documents internally. Information regarding USAID’s J-1 visa requirements may be found online at the Participant Training website. Administrators must adhere to the regulations detailed under TraiNet, Visa Compliance System (VCS), the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) 252-Visa Compliance for Exchange Visitors, and 253-Training for Development. U.S. institutions should allow up to 12 weeks for the processing of visas when planning activities in the United States.

TraiNet management requires a significant commitment of staff time and applicants are encouraged to take this into consideration when developing the program budget.

USAID Health and Accident Coverage (HAC) Insurance Program

The U.S. institution is responsible for enrolling each participant traveling to the United States or a third country in the official USAID Health and Accident Coverage (HAC) insurance program. Participants entering the United States on J-1 visas are required to obtain HAC from the official USAID vendor. Institutions may not use award funds to cover their own institutional HAC insurance. More information on the USAID HAC insurance program is available online. The cost of HAC for participants must be included in the budget.

Reporting

Awardees will be required to submit to HED:
· Financial reports are due quarterly to record expenditures for the following periods: Jan. 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1-Sept. 30, and Oct. 1-Dec. 31;
· Semi-annual narrative progress reports for the following reporting periods may be sent via e-mail: April 1-September 30 and Oct. 1-March 30;
· Both financial reports and semi-annual progress reports are due within one-month after the corresponding reporting period closes: Jan. 31, April 30, July 31, and Oct. 31;
· A final narrative report (due 30 days after the conclusion of program activities); and
· Final financial reports (due no later than 90 days after the sub-agreement closing date).