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 da te 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 fiv e 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 

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: