Civic Education Partnership Initiative (CEPI)

Date Issued: June 27, 2006
Closing Date: August 2, 2006

Higher Education for Development (HED), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Democracy and Governance (USAID/DG), and USAID’s Office of Education (USAID/EGAT/ED), is issuing a request for applications for a Near East/North Africa civic education partnership focused on students and youth.

HED will conduct a peer-reviewed competition to award one (1) grant of up to $1,060,000 over a three-year period, contingent on funding, for civic education activities in priority countries.

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.

1. Background

Middle East Partnership Initiative
U.S. Agency for International Development
USAID and MEPI Civic Education Activities

The Middle East Partnership Initiative

The U.S. State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative provides tangible support to reformers in the region so democracy can spread, education can thrive, economies can grow, and women can be empowered. The U.S. has devoted more than $293 million in four years to support reform through the Middle East Partnership Initiative, in addition to other significant U.S. investments in the region. For more information on MEPI, click here.

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. For more information on USAID, click here.
For more information on USAID's Democracy and Governance Office, click here.

USAID and MEPI Civic Education Activities in the Near East and North Africa

In 2002, USAID/DG launched a major initiative to advance civic education programs in the formal education systems (K-12) of selected countries. Broadly, civic education refers to efforts to instill in students and communities the knowledge, skills and values that are necessary for effective civic participation. Civic participation is linked to the recognition by individual citizens that they are responsible not only for themselves and their immediate families, but also for their communities, be they local, national or global. Civic education provides citizens with the tools they need to make a difference in the civic life of their community.During the past several years, particular priority has been given to programs in the Near East/North Africa region, where there has been little investment in civic education for youth.

Initial activities supported by the USAID/DG Office include pilot projects, conferences of civic educators, and visits for educators to observe civic education programs. These endeavors supported the incorporation and expansion of innovative civic education programs into a number of countries in the Near East/North Africa region. Two of the flagship programs are Project Citizen and Foundations of Democracy, both of which were developed by the Center for Civic Education. These programs are aimed at elementary and secondary school populations; however, they have also been used at the university level and with out-of-school populations.

An important 2002 conference in Amman, Jordan, funded by USAID/DG, brought together educators from ten Arab countries to discuss civic education. The delegates promoted the idea of establishing an Arab Civitas regional organization to support the introduction of pedagogies and curricula that feature active learning for civic engagement. Shortly thereafter, MEPI funded the establishment of a regional headquarters in Amman, Jordan to support expansion of Arab Civitas throughout the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on introducing Project Citizen and Foundations of Democracy programs. Pilot projects with MEPI support were underway with Project Citizen in eight Near East and North African countries by 2004.

2. Civic Education Partnership Initiative (CEPI)

Goals and Objectives
Request for Applications
Priority Countries
Monitoring and Evaluation

The enthusiasm of the students, parents, teachers, school administrators, and Ministry of Education officials who have participated in and/or observed MEPI and USAID funded civic education programs in the Near East/North Africa presents an opportunity to expand the reach of civic education. MEPI and USAID are working together to deepen civic education program offerings through the creation of the Civic Education Partnership Initiative (CEPI). This three-year program will identify and develop a comprehensive portfolio of civic education modules to reinforce the teaching and learning of civic values and skills in the education systems in priority countries in the Near East and/or North Africa (click here for the list of priority countries).

Goals and Objectives

Goals

• Strengthened capacity of institutions and organizations in partner countries in North Africa and/or the Near East to provide leadership in the area of civic education;

• Civic Education strengthened throughout the formal education systems in the identified partner countries focused on students in grades K – 12; and

• The development of innovative and effective materials, procedures, and modules to complement and reinforce the teaching and learning of civic values and skills in formal education systems, and to create civic links between schools and communities in the identified partner countries.

Objectives

• Higher education specialists, Ministry officials, NGOs, and other stakeholders will be engaged in the planning and implementation of civic education into the formal education systems resulting in a participatory approach to education planning and delivery;

• Existing education modules from other civic education programs will be identified and adapted for the identified partner countries, resulting in the prudent use of resources;

• Additional civic education modules will be developed as necessary to reinforce learning of culturally appropriate civic values and skills throughout the education system and to create civic linkages between schools and communities;

• Pre-service teacher training and new didactic approaches for incorporating civic education into K – 12 education will be developed as necessary to result in a more integrated and effective civic education effort; and

• Teacher training programs will promote the skills necessary to evaluate student learning, comprehension and ability to apply basic civic education principals.

Request for Applications

HED seeks applications that identify 2 to 3 countries from the list of priority countries for a program to: (1) review existing civic education modules and programs to identify strengths and opportunities for new programs; (2) engage key stakeholders in the review of these programs and in the development of new modules to address the identified opportunities; (3) institutionalize the new modules in pre-service teacher education programs in the identified countries; and (4) develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to measure the impact of the civic education initiatives on participants.

The Awardee is expected to work closely with existing MEPI/USAID funded civic education programs. Applicants must clearly articulate MEPI and USAID's civic education achievements in the identified host countries and indicate how they will build on these achievements.

Partners will identify innovative and tested civic education modules presently used in civic education programs and present them for discussion with Ministries of Education, civil society and educational leaders. Through a process of discussion and collaboration with these partners, the successful applicant will develop new modules and approaches to achieve integrated, effective and sustainable civic education efforts. Activities are expected to expand on current offerings.

The successful applicant will demonstrate that the U.S. institution or consortium of institutions possesses a depth of experience and a wealth of contacts in the identified countries and is able to work successfully in partnership with Ministry of Education officials, academic leaders, NGOs, and other partners to achieve these objectives. Please note that applicants are strongly discouraged from contacting Ministries of Education prior to the awarding of the grant.

Applications must propose a program that develops materials, procedures and modules that complement and reinforce the teaching and learning of civic values and skills throughout the education systems. Partners must consider a wide variety of civic education approaches, including classroom-based approaches as well as approaches that specifically aim to link schools to communities (e.g., school-local government linkages, student councils engaging in service learning activities in their communities, etc.).

Proposed activities must include:

• Conducting and inventory of existing civic education modules and approaches that will later be vetted by CEPI partners. This inventory should be organized and documented in such a way that it can serve as a reference booklet.

• Workshops for key decision makers and civic education specialists in the host countries. These initial discussions will showcase existing programs and identify needs, gaps and synergies, set the stage for the development of new civic education modules, and invite leaders to identify host country specialists to participate in the development of these modules;

• Workshops where educational authorities from the Near East and/or North Africa would be introduced to the modules;

• Training workshops for master trainers from Ministries of Education and teacher training institutions where participants would learn the necessary skills to apply the modules and train others. These training workshops would prepare the master trainers, in concert with Ministries of Education, to initiate pilot programs in selected schools in the identified countries. A cadre of educators should also receive training in monitoring and evaluation methods to be applied in the assessment of the pilot programs; and

• Workshops on evaluation for educational leaders, teacher trainers and appropriate educators to impart a foundation of knowledge, skills and tools in evaluation theory and practice supplemented with the tools of the evaluation trade — qualitative and quantitative inquiry methods, survey design, communication skills, and computer database analysis experience — gleaned not only from time in the classroom, but also from internships and collaboration with evaluation professionals in real-world settings.

Activities should promote the adoption of civic education modules in pre-service teacher education programs and build a base of skills, experience and leadership in these institutions necessary to perpetuate and expand the programs.

Applicants are encouraged to explore opportunities to further civic education efforts through the innovative use of media and internet communication technologies (ICT) and through partnerships with nontraditional actors, such as the private sector. Applicants must indicate how they will ensure the active engagement of youth and students throughout the entirety of the program.

*NOTE: Applicants should budget $600,000 of the award total for the first year, with the remaining award amount for the second and third years.

Priority Countries

Applicants must identify two or three (2-3) partner countries from the Near East and/or North Africa region.

To build on previous achievements in civic education, MEPI and USAID recommend that applicants consider the following list of priority countries. While this list represents MEPI and USAID's priorities for CEPI, it is not meant to be exclusive.

Algeria
Bahrain
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Morocco
Oman
Qatar
United Arab Emirates
Yemen

Monitoring and Evaluation

Applications must contain a program monitoring and evaluation plan that contains:

• Evidence of an overall monitoring and evaluation plan over the life of the award that reflects a realistic effort to assess partnership effectiveness;

  Evidence of well-defined project objectives that describe planned activities and expected outcomes and/or changes as a result of those activities;

• Provision for a concise and thorough baseline description of the identified countries’ civic education environment;

• A clear monitoring plan that tracks progress of activities related to stated goals and objectives; and

• Evidence of a mechanism and plan to evaluate impact of activities related to stated goals and objectives.

3. Application Format, Submission and Review

Application Format
How to Submit an Application
Peer Review
Application Review Guidelines

Application Format

Use the Application Checklist to ensure you have included all necessary elements. 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 below).

5. Appendices (Attachments beyond the stated appendices will not be read nor taken into consideration):

• Annual workplan for the funding period (use HED form).

• Summary and annual budgets (4 forms only, use HED form).

• Budget detail (use HED form).

• Résumés of the proposed U.S. institution director(s) and other expert 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 a signed letter from the proposed U.S. partnership director, and letters of support from other participating organizations.

• 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), August 2, 2006. 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.

NOTE: HED has a new mailing address. Applications should be sent to:

2006 Request for Applications: CEPI
Higher Education for Development
1331 H Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005

Applicants should submit the original application plus seven (7) hard copies of the complete application package containing title page, abstract, table of contents, 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.

MEPI and USAID program representatives may share abstracts with U.S. Embassy and USAID Mission officials for opinion in advance of the peer review process. One additional copy of the abstract should be attached separately.

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 a representative of MEPI and USAID. Awards will be made on the basis of reviewers’ recommendations of merit and USAID and MEPI concurrence. Peer review of applications is slated for late August 2006.

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 the award is expected following the completion of peer review. Upon final announcement of award, 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.

Application Review Guidelines

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

I. Rationale for Countries Identified (20 points)

• Compelling and clearly defined rationale for countries identified that includes a concise description of why the current environment in the countries identified is appropriate for proposed activities; and

• Quality and extent of experience and contacts of key personnel in the countries identified.

II. Institutional Knowledge and Experience (20 points)

• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the development of civic education and evaluation curricula; and

• Demonstrated ability to engage with stakeholders of all levels, including youth and Ministries of Education.

III. Design of Activities (40 points)

• Strength and appropriateness of the overall plan for activities proposed (curriculum development for civic education, workshops for decision-makers, teacher training workshops, evaluation training, choice of methodologies for student-centered learning);

• Quality of the activity plan and timetable, and likelihood of achieving results;

• Potential of activities to build a base of skills and capacity in the identified countries to teach civic education and successful long-term integration into teacher training; and

• Well-articulated plan to engage Ministries of Education and other key stakeholders during activity implementation.

IV. Plan for Monitoring, Reporting and Assessment (10 points)

• Evidence of an overall monitoring and evaluation plan over the life of the award that reflects a realistic effort to assess partnership effectiveness;

• Evidence of well-defined project objectives that describe planned activities and expected outcomes and/or changes as a result of those activities;

• Provision for a concise and thorough baseline description of the identified countries’ civic education environment;

• A clear monitoring plan that tracks progress of activities related to stated goals and objectives; and

• Evidence of a mechanism and plan to evaluate impact of activities related to stated goals and objectives.

V. Budget (10 points)

• Appropriateness and adequacy of the budget and budget narrative; and

• Correlation between the budget and proposed activities.*

Total Points: 100 points

*NOTE: Applicants should budget $600,000 of the award total for the first year, with the remaining award amount for the second and third years.

4. Terms of the Solicitation

Eligibility
Cost Share Requirements
Execution of Awards
Annual HED Conference
TraiNet Requirements
Health and Accident Insurance
Reporting

HED will conduct a peer-reviewed competition to award one (1) grant of up to $1,060,000 over a three-year period, contingent on funding, for civic education activities in priority countries in the Near East and/or North Africa.

Applicants should budget $600,000 of the award total for the first year, with the remaining award amount for the second and third years.

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 that are committed to advancing civic education in the Near East and North Africa. HED encourages applications from or with the participation of minority-serving institutions.

Cost Share Requirement

The minimum expected total cost share from all U.S. partners is 10 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. Both the quality and the quantity of cost sharing and other contributions proposed in the application will be taken into account by the peer reviewers.

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; provision of internships for students hosted by the U.S. partner(s) and American students hosted by the partner(s); and, indirect costs. Contributions not meeting the terms of “cost share” should be indicated in a separate statement of contributions.

Execution of Awards

The award 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 MEPI and USAID for activities conducted under the award.

No HED award or any cost share funds may be expended prior to a fully executed (i.e., signed by both parties) subagreement between ACE/HED and the designated U.S. institution. 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 ACE/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.

Annual HED Conference

Applicants must budget funds (travel and per diem) to cover the required participation of at least one representative from the U.S. institution and from each of the identified partner countries in HED’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., during each year of HED funding. (Additional partnership personnel may attend if they are funded by other sources.)

TraiNet Requirements

To comply with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Department of State 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 at least 6-8 weeks for the processing of visas when planning activities in the United States.

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. The cost of HAC for participants must be included in the budget.

Reporting

Awardees will be required to submit to HED:

• Quarterly progress reports via e-mail to address progress toward program objectives;

• Biannual progress reports via e-mail to report progress toward program objectives and quantifiable information about participants;

• Financial expenditures and cost sharing reports at least quarterly; and

• A final report to HED within 30 days of the closing date of the subagreement.
  

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