Education and training services

Tender description

This is Fund Management programme for an existing portfolio comprising of: — a Girls’ transition window (GEC-T) to continue funding successful GEC I projects and ensure that up to 1 000 000 marginalised girls transition successfully into further education or training. This window comprises of 27 projects (selected from 37 GEC I projects) located in 15 countries, — a Leave No Girl Behind window (LNGB) to fund targeted “catch up” projects for up to 500 000 highly marginalised girls who have dropped out of, or never attended school to gain literacy, numeracy and other skills relevant for life and work. This window is comprised of up to 14 projects across 10 countries The role is wide ranging and complex, encompassing portfolio and project management and oversight; proactive risk management including in Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCAS); results and knowledge management and dissemination; and supporting DFID to engage with new donors to expand the programme. The UK's Department for International Development is seeking partners/suppliers to take over management of an existing GEC2 portfolio which currently supports up to 41 projects in 17 countries at a cost of over 500 000 000 GBP (2017 – 2025). The programme is currently estimated to be reaching over 1 400 000 marginalised girls and 230 000 highly marginalised girls. Ensuring they continue to learn, complete primary school and transition on to and through secondary education and then enter further education, training, or employment, gaining literacy, numeracy and other skills relevant for life and work. It is currently anticipated that we will contract through a competitive tender for a single supplier/consortium to deliver the Fund Management requirement. Procurement will take place through the EU OJEU process. DFID encourages interest and participation from suppliers with the appropriate capability and capacity. The supplier will assume the role of fund manager for the GEC programme from June 2020 until the programme’s conclusion in March 2025. To ensure smooth transition, a handover period with the incumbent Fund Manager is anticipated from February 2020 until June 2020. All projects under the GEC2 portfolio have now been selected, designed and are largely established and so the Supplier will be taking on a reasonably mature portfolio. The programme is currently predominantly funded by DFID, with additional funding provided by USAID for project activities in Afghanistan and Somalia. There may be additional future funding provided by other donors, to expand existing project activities or to fund new projects for example. The Fund Manager is expected to support implementation of successful project sustainability strategies. This will include engagement with host governments on ongoing in-country influencing in collaboration with DFID as well as engagement with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other implementing partners. This will require an understanding of local political economy and in-country networks.