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Call for Research Concept Notes for Studies on ECCE Interventions in Rwanda and Sierra Leone

  • EOF
  • 6 days ago
  • 2 min read

Project Background 


The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) invites concept notes for analytic research studies that will generate evidence, learnings, and actionable insights on the interventions implemented under the early childhood care and education (ECCE) outcomes funds in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. These research findings will be central to the programme’s learning agendas and contribute to broader, collaborative knowledge generation efforts running parallel to the interventions. 


EOF, a UNICEF-hosted fund, is dedicated to improving the education and employment outcomes of children and youth. In the pursuit of additional, more equitable, and more efficient funding for skills and education programs, we support governments to utilize outcomes-based financing (OBF) instruments at scale, including outcomes funds. The Governments of Rwanda and Sierra Leone, committed to improving the quality of and ECCE through the scaling of cost-effective, evidence-based interventions, have partnered with EOF to launch the world’s first outcomes funds exclusively dedicated to ECCE. 


Multiple civil society organizations (hereafter referred to as “implementing partners”) are contracted and financed under these outcomes funds (hereafter referred to as “programmes”) to deliver ECCE interventions aligned with national policy priorities. This call reflects the Rwanda and Sierra Leone programmes’ preliminary learning agendas, collaboratively shaped to reflect key stakeholders’ priority learning needs and national ECCE evidence gaps. Submission of concept notes represents the first in a two-stage selection process. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full technical and financial proposals in a subsequent call for proposals. 

 

Further information 


  • Individual research grants will range from $50,000 to $350,000, with data collection funded separately. 

  • Research grants will run from 2025 to 2030, covering the duration of the programmes (2025-2029) as well as the additional time required for analysis, writing and dissemination activities. 

  • EOF will award research grants to organisations on a competitive basis. There will be seven types of funding awards available through this call, and applicants may submit concept notes for one, multiple, or all funding categories. 

  • This grant is open to both individual organisations and consortia of organisations. 

  • EOF encourages applications by consortia of research organisations where organisations have complementary thematic and geographic expertise. 

  • Applicants may apply for one, multiple or all grant categories but should submit one concept note per research area applied for. 

  • Eligible organisations and entities include UN agencies and civil society organisations (CSOs). CSOs are further sub-categorized as one of the following: international NGOs, national NGOs, community-based organisations, academic institutions such as universities, research organisations or think tanks, and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)/Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies. 


For more information and submission, register via the UN Partner Portal (UNPP): https://lnkd.in/ebncJrVn   


Key Dates: 


  • Submit your questions by 22 June 2025, 20:00 UTC via UNPP or to procurement@edufundmea.org 

  • Webinar for interested organizations: 23 June 2025, 13:00 UTC 

  • Webinar recording & written Q&A shared by 27 June 2025 

  • Submission deadline: 31 July 2025 

  • Shortlisted applicants notified and invited to submit full proposals by 29 August 2025 

 

Download the full Call for Concept Notes Here: 



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