Special Initiative RFA
Pakistan: Partnership for Women in Science, Technology and Engineering (STE)
Date Issued: September 4, 2007
Closing Date: November 15, 2007
HED expects to make one award of up to $200,000 for a two-year higher education partnership, with funding from the U.S. Department of State and USAID.
For further information regarding this RFA, please contact Jennifer Sisane (202-243-7680; jsisane@hedprogram.org).
Background
Higher Education for Development
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded a Leader with Associate Cooperative Agreement in September 2005 to the American Council on Education (ACE), with 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). The agreement (AEG-A-00-05-00007-00) is sponsored by USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Office of Education, and administered by the Higher Education for Development (HED) office.
U.S. Agency for International Development
USAID’s historic partnership and collaboration with the higher education community has repeatedly demonstrated that institutions of higher education are important engines of development, economic growth, good governance, and healthy societies. The community’s contributions in the areas of training, applied research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and program implementation have been critical to USAID’s portfolio. USAID has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years. Visit the USAID website for more information.
Pakistan: Partnership for Women in Science, Technology and Engineering (STE)
Introduction
As an outcome of the 2006 United States - Pakistan Presidential Dialogue on Education, the U. S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development agreed to support Pakistan’s goals for science and technology education, including continued support for academic and professional exchanges. Through a partnership linking regional institutions of higher education for women in Pakistan (Fatimah Jinnah Women University and Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University) with a partner institution in the United States, this new effort will model successful strategies to facilitate the matriculation of greater numbers of women in science, technology and engineering (STE) disciplines and increase their participation in related research and career opportunities.
The U.S. Department of State’s South and Central Asia Bureau has provided $200,000 to HED to implement this pilot program. U.S. colleges and universities demonstrating a strong track record of gender-specific training and programming in STE, and a history of mentoring women for STE leadership roles, are strongly encouraged to apply.
USAID and its predecessor agencies provided Pakistan with approximately $7.9 billion in assistance from 1948 to 1990. In August 2002, the U.S. Government (USG), through USAID, signed a five-year $100 million agreement with the Government of Pakistan to support its Education Sector Reform initiative. From 2002 to 2007, the U.S. provided $256 million in assistance to Pakistan’s education sector, $171 million for basic education and $85 million for higher education. In fiscal year 2007, U.S. support for Pakistan’s education sector reform totaled almost $125 million in foreign assistance funds.
USAID’s existing education strategy includes support to basic education and higher education. It has supported the Government of Pakistan’s education reform strategy in the following areas: improving education policies and administrative and management capacity; providing support to teacher education and professional development; improving access to education facilities and also addressing special needs in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the earthquake-affected areas. In terms of higher education, USAID’s programs foster greater access by providing needs and merit-based scholarships to Pakistani students and by supporting the world’s largest Fulbright scholarship program.
Partnership Description
The goal of this partnership is to increase women’s access to academic opportunities at the undergraduate and Master’s level in fields related to science, technology and engineering (STE)and to increase the opportunities open to women to participate in STE research in Pakistan.
Objectives
· Provide policy guidelines to increase women’s access to training in STE for study, research, careers and linkages with the US;
· Promote recruitment of women students for STE studies at the partner institutions in Pakistan, resulting in more women matriculating in related disciplines;
· Foster engagement of women in U.S. -linked research projects, resulting in increased numbers of women students pursuing research in STE fields; and
· Develop internships and in-service training, resulting in increased numbers of women graduates preparing for employment in STE fields.
Suggested Activities
Activities to achieve partnership objectives must reflect human and institutional capacity building, for example:
· The partners should develop institutional policy guidelines for increasing the participation of women in STE studies in the Pakistani partner institutions
· The partners should design a system for tracking women candidates for admission into undergraduate and graduate STE programs at the Pakistani partner institutions and mentoring new women students in STE fields
· The partners are encouraged to identify internship and in-service training programs for female STE graduate students and researchers in STE fields for improved career tracking and placement
· Faculty exchanges with the U.S. should focus on the mentoring of women entering STE professions
· Faculty training in the U.S. should strengthen the STE education curriculum
· Partners should provide scholarships for undergraduate study in STE fields at the Pakistani partner institutions;
· Partners are encouraged to develop plans for career counseling, in-service training and internship programs linked to job placement in STE fields
· The partners are encouraged to develop a plan for career counseling and mentoring programs for women in selected secondary schools for STE studies and careers
Contact Information
Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission in collaboration with USAID/Pakistan has designated the following Pakistani institutions as partners:
The primary contact at Fatimah Jinnah Women University is:
Professor Dr. Saeeda Asadullah Khan, Vice Chancellor
+92-51-927-1167
fax: +92-927-1168
fjwuvc@comsats.net.pk
The primary contact at Sardar Bahadur Khan (SBK) Women’s University is:
Dr. Shahida Jaffrey, Vice Chancellor
+92-81-920-1377
fax: +92-81-856-180
sbkwu@yahoo.com
Both institutions have strong potential for improving science, technology and engineering education streams in the long term and short term. U.S. applicant institutions should partner with both the above institutions.
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. Institutions with a strong track record of gender-specific training and programming in STE, and a history of mentoring women for leadership roles in science and technology, are strongly encouraged to apply. U.S. colleges and universities are encouraged to apply in partnership with other institutions, including minority-serving institutions and private sector partners.
Application Review Guidelines
Peer reviewers will use the following criteria to evaluate the applications:
I. Partnership Design and Potential Results (40 points)
· Fit of the design to the goal and objectives stated in the RFA to increase women’s access to academic opportunities in STE studies
· Strength of plan to develop institutional policy guidelines to increase women’s access to STE training and participation in STE study, research, careers and linkages to the U.S.
· Strength of plans to track women candidates for admission into undergraduate and graduate STE programs at the Pakistani partner institutions
· Strength of plans for career counseling and mentoring programs for new women STE students
· Strength of plans to identify collaborative U.S. linked research opportunities for women in STE fields
· Applicability of the experience and expertise of the partnership personnel
· Feasibility of the implementation plan and timetable
· Likelihood of a sustained relationship between the U.S. and Pakistani institutions beyond the end of program funding
II. Collaboration with Host Country Institution (15 points)
· Strength of collaboration with the Pakistani partner institutions to build host country institutional capacity to prepare women for careers in STE fields
· Strength of plans to improve undergraduate and graduate training for women in STE
· Strength of plans for internships and in-service training as preparation for employment in STE fields
III: Scholarships and Faculty Exchanges (20 points)
· Promotion of recruitment of women students through local undergraduate scholarships
· Provision of scholarships for faculty at the Pakistani institutions to travel to the U.S. to learn about mentoring women for careers in STE fields
· Strength of plans for exchanges to improve faculty capacity to mentor women entering STE fields
· Strength of plans for exchanges to improve capabilities of faculty in STE curriculum development
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
· 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)
· Effectiveness of the methodology for collecting baseline data on women’s admission and retention in STE studies at the Pakistani institutions, and tracking partnership activities
· Clear description of the monitoring and reporting plan and how results will be communicated and reported to the USAID and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission
· End-of-partnership plan for assessing impact of activities
Total Points: 100 points
Application Format, Submission and 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-V (see above).
The 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/Pakistan through HED, and an end-of-partnership impact assessment plan.
5. 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).
* Projected Indicator Worksheet (use HED form).
* 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 institutions in the United States, in addition to signed letters from the proposed U.S. and overseas partnership directors, and letters of support from the overseas partner institution.
* 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 Daylight Time (EDT), November 15, 2007. Faxed or electronically transmitted applications will not be accepted. All elements of the application must be received by the deadline. Faxed copies of the application title page and letters that include all necessary signatures may be used as a placeholder 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:
Special Initiative: Pakistan
Higher Education for Development
1331 H Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
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 panels comprised of higher education and international development experts, and representatives of the Department of State’s South Asia Office and USAID’s Asia and Near East Bureau. Awards will be made on the basis of reviewers’ recommendations of merit, and USAID/Pakistan concurrence. Peer review of applications is slated for early December 2007.
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
The minimum suggested total cost share from all U.S. partners is 25 percent of the requested award amount. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their ability to leverage additional resources from other sources. 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.
Partnerships among higher education institutions with private sector partners are encouraged. Applicants should itemize all cost sharing, including waivers of tuition and other academic costs, faculty release time, stipends, professional development funds, internship value, travel, supplies, equipment, other direct costs, indirect costs, etc.
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. Contributions not meeting the terms of “cost share” should be indicated in a separate statement of contributions.
Execution of Awards
Awards will be executed as subagreements 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 subagreements to review. The Awardee will be expected to submit a marking plan as part of the subagreement that clearly indicates the support provided by USAID for activities conducted under the award.
Please note that no award or cost share funds may be expended prior to a fully executed (i.e., signed by both parties) subagreement between ACE and the designated U.S. institution unless preaward expenses have been approved as a part of the negotiation of the subaward. Activities are expected to commence immediately after the subagreement 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 on-line 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. Click here for information on the USAID HAC insurance program. The cost of HAC for participants must be included in the budget.
Reporting
Awardees will be required to submit to HED:
* Semi-annual progress reports via e-mail;
* Financial expenditures and cost sharing reports every quarter;
* 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 subagreement closing date).