Request for Application Kenya Play Project Job in Nairobi Recruiting by IREX

Description

REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA)

For IREX

Issuance Date:October5th, 2022

Closing Date: October 21st, 2022

Closing Time:5:00pm EAT

Subject:Request for Application (RFA) Number 01

Kenya Play Project

Reference:Issued Under an International Research and Exchange Board (IREX)

This Request for Applicationoutlines the information required by the applicant for the development and submission of a proposal for consideration. The potential applicant is expected to review, understand, and conform with specifications contained in this RFA. Failure to do so will be at the applicant’s own risk.

All reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the sub-grant program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards may be charged under the sub-grant.

This RFA is being issued and consists of this cover letter, Schedule A, and Annexes.

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of Kenya Play (KPLAY) /IREX nor does it commit KPLAY/ IREX to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. The application is submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense.

Thank you for your interest in KPLAY and IREX activities.

Sincerely,

Alexis Field

Program Officer KPLAY/IREX

SCHEDULE A

SECTION I: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION:

a.Kenya KPLAY (KPLAY) is funded by the LEGO Foundation and implemented by IREX.KPLAYis a holistic, gender-responsive approach to scaling Learning Through Play with Technology (LTPT) in coastal Kenya Kwale and Kilifi Counties. The project is working to integrate playful learning with technology in the implementation of the competency-based curriculum (CBC) to improve learning outcomes and empower learners with 21st Century skills. KPLAY is also working to build the capacity of primary school teachers and education officials, particularly Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) to facilitate workshops and offer teacher support in integrating technology in learning, through regular coaching. This project is building the basic digital literacy skills of the teachers and CSOs as well as introducing them to creative coding using Scratch.

IREX invites interested local organizations to submit a proposal to partner with IREX in implementing KPLAY activities. Please see program description and Scope of Work description in Section IV.

b.Program Purpose: KPLAY promoteslearning through play with technology through hybrid teacher-training and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Play Labs.

SECTION II: AWARD INFORMATION:

SECTION III: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

Cost share is not required.

Section IV. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND SCOPE OF WORK

Project objectives:

The aim of the KPLAY project is to:

Target population:

The KPLAY Project will be implemented with teachers in grades 3–6 (grade levels aligned with the CBC’s ICT focus) to build awareness of and skills in LTPT and apply it effectively in the classroom across Kilifi and Kwale Counties.

KPLAY will build the capacity of 1400 teachers to experience learning through play and technology and will assist 600 school leaders, 200 teacher leaders, and 30 system-embedded coaches to support these teachers. Local partners will work with communities to support LTPT at home and in school. These efforts will equip at least 90,000 skills measured by Kenyan exams, and the creative, learning-to-learn, and collaborative skills the CBC has introduced.

Project Outcomes:

The KPLAY approach is embedded within national and county educational systems to equip teachers as LTPT experts and champions, and to create a Kenyan-owned LTPT scaling model for coastal Kenya. KPLAY works with educators to design curriculum-linked, age- and context-appropriate approaches, methods, and materials that scales Learning Through Play with Technology in our Kenyan classrooms.

Our team works with education officials to create sustainability strategies in years 1 and 2. By year 3, the Kenyan-built and led strategy will be finalized and be in operation, laying the groundwork to continue LTPT after project completion.

Key Components and Activities:

The project activities are implemented through the following components:

Component 1: Teacher Professional Development

In four years, KPLAY will reach teachers in 50% of the schools in Kilifi and Kwale Counties. KPLAY has piloted its approach in 11 diverse schools, then scale to reach 100 strategically selected schools per year in years 2–4. Every year, KPLAY will gather data on materials, methods, and approaches, and on introducing LTPT to teachers, school leaders, and others, to iterate and refine the project. It will take note of school contexts (rural vs. urban, level of tech, language group, religion), to understand their effect on LTPT uptake. KPLAY will emphasize impacts on student learning to support scale and uptake. Advocacy and communications strategies around positive impacts of LTPT will promote it in communities neighboring KPLAY schools, priming LTPT for scale within target counties.

KPLAY staff trains the teacher leaders, Curriculum Support Officers in Kilifi, and Kwale Counties on the following concepts: introduction to play and technology, introduction to hand-on learning activities, introduction to coding and Scratch.

The CSOs will conduct zonal teacher training sessions with their respective teacher cells.

Component 2: PlayLab Development:

PlayLabs are customized school-based spaces for playful interactions and creativity that support the K-PLAY program. PlayLabs are spaces that contain context-appropriate lo-fi and high-tech LTPT resources that speak to girls and boys. PlayLabs, whether indoors or outdoors, fixed or mobile, will be child-centered and have values of playfulness, experimentation, curiosity, collaboration, and connection to the community.

KPLAY Project will develop PlayLabs in each target school to create a place for students to practice their application of ICT. In the ICT Play Lab, teachers will form small groups (five to 10) of girls to collaborate in teams and practice diverse concepts requiring CBC skills of collaboration and teamwork. The project will equip the ICT PlayLabs with materials for making and tinkering, a Play Station for building, and a Technology Station. The Play Station will be a central area of the floor, where students can sit and play with building blocks and other locally available materials. The technology station will be equipped with a laptop, tablets, and a Mi-Fi connection. Students will have access to Scratch for operating basic online and offline coding activities. Furthermore, there will be a collaboration table that allows students to carry out group STEM activities.

Scope of Work Approach for Subawardee:

Thescope of work provides information on activities to be completed by the sub-awardee, in partnership with the KPLAY team, and implemented in Kwale and Kilifi counties with Training of Trainers (ToTs), Teacher Professional Development (TPDs), Coaching Sessions, PlayLab roll out and development of gender responsive content. The scope of work covers the implementation over a two-year program, November 2022 – December 2024. The activities and deliverables listed below are, therefore, broad, and illustrative. Good faith efforts will be made to revise, adapt, and adjust the scope of work, deliverables, budgets, and timelines as appropriate.

b. Terms of Reference- Detailed Task

In collaboration with the KPLAY training team, the sub-awardee tasks include the following:

In support of Component 1: Teacher Professional Development

In support of Component 2: PlayLab Development

Tasks:

Deliverable

Output

1. Launch of PlayLabs

-Develop workplan for the implementation of the PlayLab in 148 schools to assist in planning and procurement.

-Equip the PlayLab with ICT resources to enable schools engage in LTT hands-on activities.

-Support schools in developing the PlayLab activities and managing the PlayLab for sustainability

-Assist teachers with effective ways of integrating PlayLab activities in the classroom.

-Assist in the development of evaluation questions on use of the PlayLabs

2. Teacher Training and Coaching

-Sensitization and Teacher Professional Development Training sessions for Grade 3–6 teachers. The TPDs are 1-day workshops,and each day is 8hours.

-Offer continuous support to the teachers through coaching sessions. The coaching sessions will be weekly for 1 hour, and will target the Curriculum Support Officers, CSOs.

-Training of Trainers sessions through teach outs.

-Participate in MEL activities that will engage the teachers who went through the training.

-Participate in coaching and mentorship of the CSOs to ensure the CSOs serve as coaches to the teachers.

Section V: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

a.Application Overview

Any questions concerning this RFA should be submitted in writing no later than five days prior to the closing date shown above toAlexis Field, Program Officer, KPLAY,

b. Restrictions:

Sub-award funds provided under the terms of this RFA shall not be used to:

C.Late Application

Late applications are marked as “late” and are ineligible for review or award; however, IREX reserves the right to accept and include late applications in the review and award process when it is considered within the best interest of IREX to do so and if applications that were received on time have not been opened and reviewed. Applications that are submitted late or incomplete run the risk of not being considered for review.

SECTION V: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION:

II.Within ten working days of the deadline for submitting applications, a technical review committee will convene. Throughout the evaluation process, IREX shall take steps to ensure that members of the committee do not have any conflicts of interest or the appearance of such with regard to the organizations whose applications are under review. An individual shall be considered to have the appearance of a conflict of interest “if that person, or that person’s spouse, partner, child, close friend, or relative works for or is negotiating to work for or has a financial interest (including being an unpaid member of a Board of Directors) in any organization that submitted an application currently under the panel’s review.” Members of the committee shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from parties to the awards.

Note: Under unusual circumstances the technical review committee may be delayed.

Verification of the application submission requirements will be conducted by the IREX field grants manager. Awards will be made within ten working days after the technical evaluation committeecompletes its review.

The application will be evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set below. To the extent necessary (if an award is not made based on initial applications), negotiations may be conducted with each applicant whose application, after discussion and negotiation, has a reasonable chance of being selected for award.

b.Evaluation criteria

a. Technical Merit 15 points

Relevance to program goals

Sustainability of project results

Technical proposal for recruiting facilitators and leading trainings

Technical proposal for working with schools and community-based organizations

Technical Proposal for engaging partners and local communities in ICT and/or LTPT Topics

Technical experience with ICT with primary school children.

Experience conducting program analysis and monitoring

Anticipated impact on the beneficiaries

b.Past Performance / Organizational Capacity 25 points

Past performance in similar projects

Relevant staff skills and structure to implement the proposed project

Experience in geographical region

Experience in building relationships with public schools

Experience facilitating with youth

Experience with virtual trainings

Written accounting and procurement procedures

Capacity to communicate with IREX DC and Kenya based IREX consultant

Capacity to adhere to DOS financial guidelines

Capacity to securely receive and disperse funds to project stakeholders in compliance with program objectives

Capacity to communicate virtually with Mombasaand DC based IREX staff and consultants, and potential stakeholders across Kenya

c.Feasibility and Cost Effectiveness 10 points

Are costs reasonable, allowable, and allocable

Is the proposal cost effective

Section VI: AWARD AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

The recommendation or selection of an application in accordance with established procedures does not guarantee an award. All applicants must demonstrate that they possess, or have the ability to obtain, the necessary management competence to practice mutually agreed upon methods of accountability for funds and other assets provided.

A successful applicant can expect to receive an Award Letter, signed by the program. The award letter will be addressed to the organization’s point of contact as stated in the application.

Following the Award Letter, final negotiations will take place before the signing of a sub-grant agreement.

A description of reporting requirements will be included in the Sub-Grant Agreement. The types of reporting required, along with the schedule of reporting, will depend on the sub-grant type and project duration. Reporting forms will be provided to sub-grant recipients. Types of reporting will include the following:

Issuance of the final installment of sub-award funds is contingent upon KPLAYreceipt and acceptance of Final Financial and Final Program Reports.

SECTION VII - OTHER INFORMATION

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of IREX, nor does it commit KPLAY/ IREX to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application.

IREXreserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted. Further, IREX reserves the right to make no awards as a result of this RFA.