GPE KIX Observatory on Education System Resilience

Overview

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) invite proposals from individual organizations, or consortia of multiple organizations, to become implementing partners in the new GPE KIX Observatory on Education System Resilience initiative. In practice, education system resilience encompasses multiple activities at different levels. For instance, at the policy and planning level, it may focus on system strengthening, risk anticipation, planning, responding and recovering from crises, and preventing and mitigating crises.

Purpose
The purpose of the initiative is to contribute to the improvement of education system resilience of GPE partner countries through research and evidence. The task of implementing partners will be to establish and operate regional observatories, conduct applied research and mobilize its findings. The call expects to fund six regional observatories: one in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), one in East, West, Central, and Southern Africa, and four in Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, and the Pacific (EMAP). 

This call is part of the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX), a joint endeavour of GPE and IDRC. KIX supports GPE partner countries to have and use the evidence and innovation they need to accelerate access, learning outcomes and gender equality through equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. KIX facilitates direct knowledge sharing across GPE partner countries through four regional hubs and funds applied research on their priorities. KIX is part of GPE’s strategy to support transformative change for education in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).    

The GPE KIX Observatory on Education System Resilience initiative follows up on the GPE KIX COVID-19 Observatory project. The new initiative focuses on meanings and practices of education system resilience and potential future disruptions to the education sector in GPE partner countries and expands its geographic reach from the Africa region to the LAC and EMAP regions.   

Scope and Objectives of the Observatory Initiative 
Given an increasing emphasis on education system resilience and the expectation of increasingly diverse disruptions to education systems in the coming years, two aspects within education system resilience are of particular interest to the Observatory initiative:  

1. Existing practices related to education system resilience in GPE partner countries. While there is a growing emphasis on education system resilience, we have limited knowledge of how the countries actually understand and practice it, especially when it comes to their preparedness for future disruptions. We also have limited knowledge of how to build resilient education systems that promote the welfare of the most vulnerable. Generating and sharing evidence about the evolving practices of education system resilience, including those that address the needs of marginalized groups, across countries can help them to learn about such practices from each other and potentially to use this knowledge to shape their own policies.   
   
2. Anticipation of future disruptions to education systems in GPE partner countries. The pandemic and other crises have provided important lessons that can be applied to strengthen education systems and make them more resilient. However, we need more insight into potential future disruptions and opportunities, especially those that have not been experienced before, and their implications, especially for marginalized groups. Generating and sharing insights into signals of change and future disruptions is important as it can help countries to better prepare for and respond to them.

In light of the above, the main objective of the Observatory initiative is for GPE partner countries to have and use research and evidence to make their education systems more resilient and better prepared for future disruptions. The specific objectives of the initiative will be as follows:

• generate and mobilize evidence about how education stakeholders understand and practice education system resilience in GPE partner countries
• generate and mobilize insights into changing landscapes, potential future disruptions and opportunities, and effective approaches to addressing them in GPE partner countries 
• use the generated evidence to identify recommendations for crisis preparedness and the education system resilience of GPE partner countries
  

The initiative will be guided by the following research questions:

1. How do education stakeholders understand and practice education system resilience in GPE partner countries?
2. What future disruptions to education systems in GPE partner countries do education and other relevant stakeholders envision?
3. What are some potentially effective approaches to addressing these future disruptions in GPE partner countries? 

Proposals may be submitted by individual organizations or by consortia of up to three organizations. Proposals from consortia must name one lead organization, which can subgrant to the others. The lead organization must be headquartered in a low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), while consortium members may be from within LMICs or outside. Organizations/consortia must have a track record of work in GPE partner countries.  

The lead organization must be headquartered in an LMIC, while consortium members may be from within LMICs or outside. Organizations/consortia must have a track record of work in GPE partner countries.  

All applications should be submitted in English, French, or Spanish using the online application form.

KIX will allocate CAD4 million for the entire initiative through this call. 

Each individual project will be 28 months in duration. 

We ask each applicant to propose the budget considering the set budget limits, project duration and proposed activities. 

The following budget limits have been set for the regional observatories: 
•    Latin America and the Caribbean: CAD400,000
•    East, West, Central, and Southern Africa: CAD1.5 million
•    Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, and the Pacific: 
    Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia: CAD450,000
    Middle East and North Africa: CAD300,000
    South Asia and Southeast Asia: CAD1 million
    The Pacific: CAD350,000