Request for Applications (RFA): U.S.-Middle East University Partnerships Program: 2008
Date Issued: March 7, 2008
Deadline: May 23, 2008
HED anticipates making five (5) awards of up to $285,000 each for three-year higher education partnerships in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region focusing on one of the following target areas: (I) business administration or economics, (II) journalism and mass communication, (III) political science or rule of law, (IV) teacher education and professional development, or (V) women’s empowerment. The purpose of these partnerships is to promote excellence and relevance in education through collaboration with higher education institutions in the MENA region.
U.S. institutions of higher education may apply for support for a partnership in one or more of the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) focus countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Special consideration will be given to partnerships with institutions in priority countries noted under each target area.
For further information regarding this RFA, please contact Josh Henson at (202) 243-7680 or jhenson@hedprogram.org.
Background
Partnership Descriptions
I. Business Administration or Economics
II. Journalism and Mass Communication
III. Political Science or Rule of Law
IV. Teacher Education and Professional Development
V. Women’s Empowerment
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
Eligibility
Application Review Guidelines
Application Format, Submission, and Review
Terms of the Solicitation
Background
Higher Education for Development (HED), U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Higher Education for Development (HED) mobilizes the expertise and resources of the higher education community to address global development challenges. HED manages 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 through a Leader with Associate Cooperative Agreement, signed in September 2005 (AEG-A-00-05-00007-00) supports this partnership program and is provided by USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Office of Education (EGAT/ED). Through cooperation between the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and USAID, HED began to administer the U.S.–Middle East University Partnerships Program between the U.S. colleges and universities and their higher education partners in the MENA region in May 2003.
The aim of the U.S.–Middle East University Partnerships Program is to contribute to broader democratic reform efforts in the MENA region. Activities under this program are intended to support sustainable reform in higher education throughout the MENA region by supporting partnerships that will emphasize the role of economic and civil society partners in education, improve the quality of faculty instruction and research, and enhance the universities’ administrative and managerial capacities. MEPI partnerships promote excellence in education through the development of curricula relevant to the nation’s needs, the engagement of local communities with schools, as well as teacher and faculty professional development resulting in innovative teaching practices designed to motivate students at the primary, secondary, and/or postsecondary levels. These collaborations lead to the creation of sustainable partnerships and bridge–building across academic and administrative units, throughout and among communities, which may be replicated nationally or regionally. These partnerships enhance curricula and academic programs that strengthen and bring sustainable changes to partner institutions. Partnership activities integrate critical thinking and inquiry learning, a respect for diversity and the full and equal participation of women in all sectors of society, and innovative use of technology for teaching and learning.
For details and information on MEPI, please visit www.MEPI.state.gov. For details and information on USAID and its role in economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide over the past 40 years, please visit www.usaid.gov.
Partnership Descriptions
I. Partnership to Strengthen Capacity in Business Administration or Economics
Priority countries: I. Algeria and Yemen; II. Lebanon, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates
Target audience: administrators, faculty, undergraduate and graduate students
Objectives:
The partners will create new or enhance existing academic degree programs in business administration and/or economics for undergraduate and /or graduate students, especially women and girls, that will increase their chances for employment in the public and/or private sector.
The partnership will strengthen the knowledge and skills of faculty at the partner institution to develop new courses and curricula in business administration and/or economics relevant to the needs of the current marketplace in the host country.
Partnership outcomes:
The proposed partnership will strengthen the capacity of the MENA university partner(s) to prepare students, especially women and girls, to succeed in public or private sector marketplaces and thus contribute to economic growth.
Possible activities to consider in the design of the partnership:
- Collaborative review of the existing curriculum (or curricula) at the MENA partner institution(s);
- Creation or enhancement of academic curricula and/or degree programs in business administration and/or economics that bridge current theory and practice; and.
- Development of courses and materials relevant to current practices in the management of NGOs and business enterprises.
II: Partnership to Strengthen Academic Programs and Research Related to Journalism and Mass Communication
Priority countries: I. Algeria, Kuwait, and Yemen; II. Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman
Target audience: faculty; undergraduate and graduate students
Objectives:
Enhanced knowledge and skills of faculty will enable the MENA partner institution(s) to prepare students for careers in journalism and/or mass communication.
Partnership outcomes:
The application should demonstrate how the proposed partnership will strengthen the capacity of the MENA university partner(s) to offer academic degree programs in journalism and/or mass communication for undergraduate and/or graduate students, encourage scholarly research, and introduce students to the role of a free and independent media in society.
Possible activities to consider in the design of the partnership:
- Creation of new or enhanced undergraduate and/or graduate academic programs leading to degrees in journalism and/or mass communication;
- Support for increased enrollment of women in journalism and/or mass communication programs;
- Promotion of scholarly research in topics important to journalism and mass communication; and,
- Identification of opportunities for experiential learning for students.
III: Partnership to Strengthen Academic Programs and Research Related to Political Science or Rule of Law
Priority countries: I. Algeria, Kuwait, and Yemen; II. the United Arab Emirates and Oman
Target audience: faculty, undergraduate and /or graduate students, public and private sector professionals
Objectives:
Enhanced knowledge and skills of faculty will enable the MENA partner institution(s) to prepare students for careers in government and public interest sectors.
Partnership outcomes:
Applications should demonstrate how the proposed partnership will strengthen the capacity of the MENA university partner(s) to create, improve, and/or expand academic degree programs in political science for undergraduate and/or graduate students and encourage scholarly research.
Partnerships will introduce students to one or more of the following issue areas: government; principles of democracy; the role of free and independent media in society; political institutions; systems of governance; political philosophies; civic engagement; transparency and performance accountability in the government and public sector; and the rule of law.
Possible activities to consider in the design of the partnership:
- Creation of new or enhanced undergraduate and/or graduate academic programs in political science;
- Support for increased enrollment of women in political science and related degree programs;
- Promotion of scholarly research in political science and/or civic engagement; and,
- Identification of opportunities for experiential learning experiences for students.
Applicants may propose to create workshops or other outreach activities from the political science curriculum for professionals from the public and private sectors interested in understanding democracy and the processes of democratic change.
IV: Partnership to Enhance Teacher Education
Priority countries: I. Algeria and Oman; II. Lebanon, Kuwait, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates
Target audience: university faculty and administrators; teachers-in-training; elementary and secondary classroom teachers
Objectives:
- Strengthen faculty knowledge and skills at the MENA partner institution(s) to better prepare teachers for classroom teaching;
- Enhance capacity of the MENA partner institution(s) for organizational leadership and management;
- Strengthen faculty knowledge of instructional technology to prepare teachers-in-training to employ computer and information technology in classroom instruction; and,
- Design curricula and/or courses leading to teaching certification, resulting in improved performance of teachers in the primary and secondary classrooms.
Partnership outcome:
The proposed partnership will improve the quality of teacher training colleges and institutions.
Possible activities to consider in the design of the partnership:
- Design of activities to strengthen teacher education and certification;
- Implementation of pedagogy skill building among teachers and supervisors; and,
- Promotion of the use of interactive methodologies and instructional technology.
The proposed partnership should provide teachers-in-training with practical classroom experience as part of earning credit toward teaching certification. Partners should engage the support and/or approval of the appropriate ministries of education/higher education when appropriate.
V: Partnership to Strengthen Women’s Empowerment
Priority countries: I. Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen; II. Algeria and Lebanon
Target audience: University faculty, undergraduate and graduate students
Applications should demonstrate how the proposed partnership will address one or more of the following objectives:
Objectives:
- Familiarize students with the varied roles of women in society from regional, comparative, historical, and contemporary perspectives through the integration of courses or course components into existing university curricula;
- Collaborative design of a women-in-politics program or institute to provide leadership skills that promote women’s political participation;
- Collaborative development of a curriculum to inform lawyers about updated family codes, gender equality in the law, and international human rights; and,
- Joint development of curricula that include an interdisciplinary and culturally appropriate approach to employment and labor force development.
Partnership Outcomes:
The proposed partnership should strengthen existing curricula, create or expand academic degree programs, encourage scholarly research, and/or offer experiential learning in the areas of: the role of women in society, equity and social inclusion, family/child rights, and women's rights.
Possible activities to consider in the design of the partnership:
- Development of courses and seminars related to gender studies;
- Design of research projects on women and politics in the Middle East;
- Review and enhancement of legal curricula focused on legal reforms affecting women; and,
- Identification of experiential learning opportunities that introduce students to a variety of mechanisms for political or community based activity.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
The application must describe a monitoring and reporting plan for the partnership activities and expected outcomes, including an initial baseline assessment of the curriculum needs in the MENA countries. The monitoring and reporting plan should demonstrate how progress towards objectives will be tracked, and how results of partnership activities will be summarized.
An external evaluation of program impact at the conclusion of the funding period must be included in the M&E plan, and the qualifications of the designated external evaluator described in the application. The M&E plan must include a detailed description of how results will be communicated and reported to MEPI and USAID 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. Educational Need and Alignment with MEPI Goals (10 points)
- Clearly defined need for creation, expansion or enhancement of existing academic degree programs within one of the target areas specified in the RFA; and,
- Likelihood that the planned activities will contribute to MEPI’s goal of sustainable reform of higher education in the MENA region.
II. Partnership Design (30 points)
- Evidence of fit of program design and activities with objectives stated in the RFA;
- Evidence of joint planning for proposed new or enhanced courses, curricula, and/or degree programs;
- Adequacy of joint planning for faculty development;
- Feasibility of suggested activities for students;
- Viability of the implementation plan and timetable; and,
- Appropriate balance of activities at the U.S. and MENA partner institutions.
III. Outcomes and Results (20 points)
- Likelihood of achieving objectives as stated in the RFA;
- Feasibility of the work plan to achieve outcomes as stated in the RFA;
- Evidence that partnership activities will promote participation of women and/or girls; and,
- Evidence of plans to sustain partnership outcomes beyond the period of the award.
IV. Expertise and Collaboration (15 points)
- Professional credentials and expertise of the individuals responsible for managing the partnership;
- Partnership personnel’s knowledge and experience in the proposed host country or in other MENA countries with a similar context; and,
- Evidence of institutional commitment (engagement of faculty, students, and administrators) among all partners and degree of collaboration in designing and implementing activities.
V. Cost-Effectiveness and Cost Share of Overall Budget (15 points)
- Cost sharing (recommended at 25% of the award amount), including expected cash or in-kind contribution from all the partners;
- Demonstrated cost-effectiveness in program design; and,
- Equitable distribution of funds between U.S. and host country partners.
VI. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation Plan (10 points)
- Evidence of valid and reliable methodology for collecting baseline data, monitoring partnership activities, and reporting outcomes; and,
- Clearly articulated plan for an external evaluation to assess the partnership’s impact.
Total Points: 100 points
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, workplan 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-VI (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 MEPI and USAID through HED.
6. Appendices (Attachments beyond the stated appendices will not be read nor taken into consideration):
* Annual workplan 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), May 23, 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)
U.S.-Middle East University Partnerships Program: 2008
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 early June 2008.
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 and MEPI branding requirements as part of the sub-agreement that clearly indicates the support provided by USAID and MEPI 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
(Note: The U.S. Department of State requires quarterly reporting on MEPI partnerships.)
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).