Funding Window 1
Provider-Driven Labor Market Relevant Quality TVET
Window | Sub-window | Target for Grant |
Window 1: Provider-Driven Labor Market Relevant
| Sub-window 1
| Public, Private and non-profit |
Sub-window 2
| Out-of-school unemployed or under-employed youth |
Window 1: Provider-Driven Labor Market Relevant Quality TVET - Studies
The purpose of this window is to improve access of Sierra Leoneans to good quality demand-responsive TVET programs with special attention to girls and other disadvantaged youth. Window 1 is divided into two sub-windows, from now on referred to as Tiers, focusing on formal and non-formal TVET respectively. Funding provided under Window 1 is to be used to finance expenditures of the TVET institutions for the updating of curricula, purchasing learning resources, training of trainers and instructors, industrial attachments,
twinning arrangements, career counselling, internships, training needs assessments, and tracer
Window 1, Tier 1: Targets Formal TVET Institutions
The purpose of this window is to improve access of Sierra Leoneans to good quality demand-responsive TVET programs with special attention to girls and other disadvantaged youth. Window 1 is divided into two sub-windows, from now on referred to as Tiers, focusing on formal and non-formal TVET respectively. Funding provided under Window 1 is to be used to finance expenditures of the TVET institutions for the updating of curricula, purchasing learning resources, training of trainers and instructors, industrial attachments,
twinning arrangements, career counselling, internships, training needs assessments, and tracer
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants under Window 1: Formal
Funding provided under Tier 1 of Window 1 is expected to focus on higher level skills. Training is expected to be provided by public or private TVET institutions. Although it is not a pre-condition that applicant must develop proposal in collaboration with potential employer, it is desirable that applicants provide estimate of demand for the training program and the expected impact, in terms of employment. The following eligibility criteria must be met by applicants for funding under this window:
- Applicant (institution) must be a formal (public, private or Non-profit) training provider in
Sierra Leone. - In the case, the training provider is a public entity; it must be registered with the MTHE.
In the case the institution is private or non-profit entity, it must provide evidence of an
up to date certificate of registration. - Providers that apply as a consortium must include a signed letter from the entities in the
consortium indicating their agreement to form a consortium for the purposes of the grant.
However, each member of the consortium must satisfy the basic criteria as regards
registration (public, private or non-profit) - The training provider has a track record of operating functional training program(s) in
subject areas related to the application. For new proposed formal TVET courses under
sub-window 1, the training provider must have a track record of operating functional
training program(s) in the department where the new course will be offered. - The training provider must have the required teaching staff and facilities necessary for
providing the proposed training course(s) at an acceptable level. - Applicant should provide justification that there is demand for the training being
proposed and that there is likelihood of graduates finding gainful employment or be self–employed after completion. However, it is not a pre-condition to provide evidence that
the proposal has been developed in collaboration with a potential employer of the
prospective graduates. - Applicant should indicate planned follow-up activities intended to ease the trainees’ entry
into the labor market and provide the methodology for post-training monitoring and
evaluation to ascertain the effectiveness or otherwise of the training provided. The
applying training institution must have been in existence for at least two years. - Applicant that is formally part of the tertiary education system (University), should be a
recognized dedicated Centre, Program or Institute offering middle manpower training in
any of the five priority sectors. The training proposed for funding should not
lead to the award of a University Degree or target students training for University Degree.
Ceiling and co-funding Arrangement
The maximum grant an applicant can apply for is the Sierra Leone Leones equivalent of US$750,000 (seven-hundred and fifty thousand USD) at the Bank of Sierra Leone mid-rate at the date of application. Of the above amount, 90 percent shall be the Grant element and 10 percent co-funding from the applicant. In-kind1 co-funding of 10% of the total cost of training. This could include the cost associated with provision of land or training venue, teacher salaries, staff cost for grant administration, etc. All trainings are expected to take place in Sierra Leone. However, in very rare cases, where a relevant training program for specific skill is not available in Sierra Leone or cannot be organized in Sierra Leone at a reasonable cost, the SDF will sponsor such training outside of Sierra Leone. However, this has to be sufficiently justified with documented evidence for approval by the Skills
Window 1: Non-Formal TVET - Tier 2
Tier 2 of funding Window 1 corresponds to non-formal TVET. The non-formal TVET refers to short-term training programs aiming at providing the trainee with a qualification than enables him or her to engage in some sort of gainful employment or self-employment. Non-formal training is not assessed or certified by a higher authority (like NCTVA) and there is no formal entry requirement, but typically the trainee receives a certification of attendance. The duration of the training is typically between 3 to 6 months but may be shorter. In rare cases, non-formal TVET courses are designed with the purpose to upgrade the competences of already qualified workers, e.g. craftsmen in the informal sector. Non-formal TVET delivery is done by a mix of public, private and NGO providers.
- The primary focus of non-formal TVET is on transition from `unskilled’ to `semi-skilled’, and targeted at unemployed or underemployed youth (age 15-35) who have completed BECE or less (but do not have WASSCE) and who are currently neither in training or education. In some sectors (like agriculture), short non-formal courses may lead to upgrading to skills levels up the skills continuum (like `skilled’). The focus of this Window is to support short-term training programs for out-of-school unemployed or under-employed youth.
Eligibility Cirteria for Window 1 Tier 2
The training provider could be a mix of public, private or non-profit organization. However, the focus here is to design and implement short-term programs aimed at impacting skills sets to out of school unemployed or underemployed youth. The following criteria apply to applicants under this window:
- Applicant (institution) must be a formal (public, private or Non-profit) training provider in
Sierra Leone. - In the case, the training provider is a public entity, it must be registered with the MTHE.
In the case the institution is private or non-profit entity, it must provide evidence of an up
to date certificate of registration. - Providers that apply as a consortium must include a signed letter from the entities in the
consortium indicating their agreement to form a consortium for the purposes of the grant.
However, each member of the consortium must satisfy the basic criteria as regards
registration (public, private or non-profit) - The training provider has a track record of operating functional training program(s) in
subject areas related to the application. For new proposed formal TVET courses under
sub-window 1, the training provider must have a track record of operating functional
training program(s) in the department where the new course will be offered. - The training provider must have the required teaching staff and facilities necessary for
providing the proposed training course(s) at an acceptable level. - Applicant must provide justification that there is demand for the training being proposed
and that there is likelihood of graduates finding gainful employment or be self-employed after completion. However, it is not a pre-condition to provide evidence that the proposal
has been developed in collaboration with a potential employer of the prospective
graduates - Applicant must indicate planned follow-up activities intended to ease the trainees’ entry
into the labor market and provide the methodology for post-training monitoring and
evaluation to ascertain the effectiveness or otherwise of the training provided. The
applying training institution must have been in existence for at least two years. - Applicants from the tertiary education system do not qualify for Window 1, Tier 2.
Ceiling and Co-Funding Arrangements
The maximum grant an applicant can apply for is the Sierra Leone Leones equivalent of US$200,000 (two-hundred thousand USD) at the Bank of Sierra Leone mid-rate at the date of application. Of the above amount, 90 percent shall be the Grant element and 10 percent co-funding from the applicant. In-kind co-funding of 10% of the total cost of training could include the cost associated with provision of land or training venue, teacher salaries, staff cost for grant administration, etc.
Eligible Costs and Initiatives under Window 1 Tiers 1 & 2
Only costs associated with training are eligible. This includes curriculum development, development of learning and assessment material, teachers training, and equipment, tools and instruction materials, upgrading of class rooms, laboratories, workshops, training farms, etc. that are associated with the training proposed. Costs associated with major infrastructure and facilities are ineligible. Examples of eligible costs are described below:
- Training initiatives on practical skills: Preference will also be given to training initiatives that primarily focus on enhancing practical skills of the trainee, though the necessary accompanying theoretical training can be sponsored as well. While it is required that the theoretical training be provided at a formal TVET institution, it could also be provided at a private industry or business, provided the trainer/instructor has the required professional qualification recognized by the competent authority.
- Trainers/instructors: Trainers and instructors in formal and non-formal TVET institutions can be trained from grants provided under Window 1 of the SDF. Training of instructor/trainers will be in the form of targeted short-term tailor made training programs industrial attachment with the aim to upgrade competency of the instructor/trainer with industry input.
- Training abroad or support for Experts: In instances where the required expertise is not
available in Sierra Leone, the cost of bringing the training expert(s) from other countries will
be funded by the SDF. In addition, in few instances where no relevant training programs for
trainers/instructors are available in Sierra Leone or can be established at a reasonable cost,
the SDF will sponsor training taking place outside of the country within the Western Africa
subregion. - Priority will also be given to initiatives that foster partnerships between TVET institution and
private sector industries or businesses to design and implement job market demand-led
training courses. Also, partnerships between TVET institutions in Sierra Leone and other TVET
institutions in another country will receive priority attention of the SDF. - Purchase of equipment for GoSL owned TVET institutions. The SDF can be used to finance the
purchase of equipment for GoSL owned TVET institutions where it is essential for training
purposes only. At the end of the training or end of the project, ownership of the equipment
will be vested to the to the institution or transfer it to another institution. - Skills upgrading initiatives: Skills upgrading initiatives that increases the employability of trainees and/or increase the productivity and competitiveness of a partnering private sector
industry/business is eligible. Although preference for support will be given to training courses
that are already formally accredited by a competent authority (NCTVA or University), this will
not be a precondition for application for funding under Window 1. Table 5.4, provides a list of
activities that are eligible to be financed under Window 1 categorized by Tiers. These must be
related to the proposed TVET course(s) in the grant application.
The eligible activities must be related to the TVET program(s) for which funding is sought, e.g. if a
provider intends to deliver demand-responsive training to 100 students in auto-repair, the various
activities for funding like curriculum development or equipment should be related to auto-repair.
The identified activities should be based on a needs assessment and a clearly articulated theory
of change (i.e. thinking through what inputs and processes are needed to achieve the Window 1
objective).
Eligible Activities under Window 1
Eligible Costs and Tasks |
Sub window 1 Formal TVET | Sub Window 2 Non Formal TVET |
Upgrading and/or development of competency-based demand responsive curriculum, including upgrading and/or development of existing syllabi and course content | ü | ü |
Competency-based assessment of trainees | ü | ü |
Minor infrastructure (repair, rehabilitation, construction of workshops, farms, etc.) cannot exceed 10% of the grant amount | ü |
|
Small equipment, tools, and materials related to the training cannot exceed 15% of the grant amount | ü | ü |
Training of master trainers and instructors | ü |
|
Industrial attachment program (for trainers and students) | ü | ü |
Twinning (with regional, national or international training institutions) | ü |
|
Career counselling/employment facilitation | ü | ü |
Internships/apprenticeships for trainees | ü | ü |
Market research, training needs assessment, tracer studies | ü | ü |
Remuneration of trainers – where the provider does not have permanent in-house staff to deliver training |
| ü |
Business advisory and/or development services (in conjunction with technical training only) | ü | ü |
Training on literacy, numeracy, soft skills (in conjunction with technical training only) | ü | ü |
Capacity development activities for management of TVET institutions | ü | ü |
Printing of relevant training material | ü | ü |
Tracer studies | ü | ü |
Training on literacy, numeracy, soft skills (in conjunction with technical | ü | x |
Call for concept note
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