The deadline for all Letters of Inquiry submissions is
MAY 15, 2013
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur-Foundation http://www.macfdn.org/about or http://www.macfdn.org/programs/fellows
supports creative people and effective institutions committed to
building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the
MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global
conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how
technology is affecting children and society.
Background: Secondary
school education is measurably associated with positive effects on health,
well-being, and productivity (Alvarez 2003). For girls, research shows that
those with more years of education marry later (Ozier 2010), have smaller
families (Schultz 2002), and survive childbirth at higher rates (McAlister and
Baskett 2006). They experience reduced incidences of HIV/AIDS (Hargreaves et
al. 2008), earn more (Psacharopoulos and Patrinos 2004), and live in societies
with higher national rates of economic growth Read-more http://www.ngoportal.org/article-374-MacArthur+Foundation-background.html
Purpose: The aim of the
Partnership to Strengthen Innovation and Practice in Secondary Education (PSIPSE)
is to accelerate innovation in secondary education programming, research, and
development in selected countries. It is led by a group of private donors and
donor advisors, including ELMA Philanthropies Services, Human Dignity
Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, MasterCard Foundation, and Wellspring
Advisors, who have come together to encourage a new wave of innovation and
learning in secondary education. This collaboration was born from the
principles of the Global Compact on Learning, which underscores the importance
of collaborative action to achieve quality learning outcomes, and supports
goals of the UN Secretary General’s Global Education First initiative.
Participating donors not only work with each other, but also actively aim to
enrich the knowledge base of the wider secondary education field.
The PSIPSE began in early 2012, when
a Call for Proposals was issued to solicit projects that could help inform the
imminent expansion and transformation of secondary education. The 2012 Call
yielded over 500 letters of inquiry and, ultimately, 19 projects were selected
for over $8 million in support. The 2013 Call for Proposals builds on this
momentum and channels attention to critical gaps research has identified in the
delivery of more widespread and quality secondary education. Donors have
allocated $10 million for the 2013 Call subject to the quality of proposals
received.
Strategic Focus: The PSIPSE’s focus
is both upper and lower secondary education. Where schooling at the upper level
is further divided between traditional general secondary education and
vocational education, PSIPSE is focused on increasing the relevance of general
secondary education learning. PSIPSE supports programs and projects
targeted to the formal education system and informal programs that help
students transition to or re-enter the formal system. PSIPSE is
interested in four thematic areas: demand, improving teacher effectiveness,
promoting employment-relevant skills, and alternative educational models for
learning (see ‘Thematic Areas of Interest’ section below). Read-more http://www.ngoportal.org/article-375-MacArthur+Foundation-Strategic+Focus.html
The geographic focus for
this Call for Proposals is East Africa, Nigeria, and India (see ‘Geography’ section
in full call for proposals below). The Call is open to organizations (but not
to individuals), including private sector entities proposing projects with
charitable purposes, and working on specific education challenges in these
places. The PSIPSE is particularly interested in collaborations between
non-profit or public stakeholders and private sector entities.
Download http://www.ngoportal.org/store/files/PSIPSE_RFP_FINAL_April_1-192.pdf
the full 2013 Call for Proposals to learn more about thematic areas of
interest, types of projects eligible for support, application process, and
more.
Video on Investing
in Girls' Secondary Education in Developing Countries http://www.macfdn.org/videos/394/
