The purpose of this Annual Program Statement (APS) is to disseminate information to prospective applicants so they may develop and submit Applications for USAID funding. This APS: (A) describes the types of activities for which Applications will be considered; (B) describes the funding available and the process and requirements for submitting Applications; (C) explains the criteria for evaluating Applications; and (D) refers prospective applicants to relevant documentation available on the internet.
USAID/ITR anticipates awarding multiple grants and/or cooperative agreements as a result of this APS through the use of published subsequent addenda (specific calls for concept notes). However, publishing this APS does not commit USAID to publish any specific addenda or make any awards.
The STIP APS is not a Request for Applications (RFA) or a Request for Proposals (RFP). Rather, the STIP APS requests concept notes in response to addenda published to this APS. Based on those concept notes, USAID will determine whether to request a full application from an appropriate partner.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partners have been working to tackle the world’s toughest development challenges for more than 50 years. Our mission is to partner to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity. We have long invested in science, technology, innovation, and partnership (STIP) to achieve progress across many of USAID’s goals. Today’s global development landscape is rapidly evolving. Driven by scientific breakthroughs, disruptive innovation, and rapid advancements in information and communication technologies, coupled with growing contributions by the private sector, these changes offer unprecedented opportunities to leverage the world’s best thinking to solve critical global challenges.
Recognizing the value of a more focused and coordinated approach to harnessing these changes, USAID established the Innovation, Technology, and Research (ITR) Hub in November 2020 as part of the newly envisioned Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI). The ITR Hub serves to support USAID in leveraging innovative, technological, and research tools and approaches across all technical and geographic areas in which USAID works. ITR endeavors to take smart risks to test new ideas and partner within the Agency and with other actors to harness the power of innovative tools and approaches that accelerate development impact.
USAID/ITR is focused on STIP approaches as our primary tools to reach key development outcomes. We work across USAID and with the broader international development community to find innovative approaches and solutions. When a new solution or approach proves effective, we endeavor to mainstream it across USAID and with our partners to increase its impact.
Closing Date: March 04, 2024
Closing Date: Sep. 26, 2022
Through this Addendum to the Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnership (STIP) Annual Program Statement (APS) No. 7200AA21APS00003 (the STIP APS Full Announcement), USAID is making a special call for the submission of Concept Notes focused on Continuity of Pre-Primary Education post COVID-19 using Community Engagement and Edutainment in South Africa.
This activity aims to support the expansion and dissemination of relevant educational video content and other educational content and materials to pre-primary learners in South Africa. While there is much focus on the use of new and innovative technologies for strengthening educational systems and reaching learners, a historic constant has been the well-documented and compelling cases of the use of video or television segments to support developing country educational objectives. Whether as complements to broader education projects or as standalone interventions, educational videos that are well-constructed, evidence-based, and of appropriate pedagogy can uniquely capture the imagination of learners, drive social and behavior change, and provide important tools for professional development of teachers. While the use of these tools for in-classroom instruction is also effective, the expansion of educational television, and other forms of mass media instruction (collectively referred to as “edutainment” platforms), are particularly compelling in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has had enormous detrimental impacts on educational attainment worldwide. Moving forward, development of new edutainment approaches and expansion of existing ones must be part of a comprehensive disaster preparedness strategy.
