Knowledge and innovation for achieving gender equality and social inclusion at school

Overview

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) invite proposals for applied research projects to generate and mobilize evidence in support of contextualizing and scaling the impact of innovative approaches to strengthen gender-responsive and socially inclusive education and safe schooling experiences for all children, especially those facing multiple forms of gender inequalities and marginalization, in GPE partner countries. 

The objectives of this call are to:  

• Generate evidence about how to scale the impact of innovative approaches to address challenges of gender equality and social inclusion at school.  
• Strengthen the capacities of relevant stakeholders to use that knowledge and innovation.  
• Mobilize the evidence developed to improve policy and practice in education systems.  

The challenge has two subthemes: 

Subtheme 1: Inclusive and gender-responsive curriculum, pedagogies and leadership    
Subtheme 1 focuses on educational innovations and their potential to have a broader impact by implementing inclusive and gender responsive curricula and school management and leadership. Areas of research interest include understanding how to adapt, contextualize and scale innovation that addresses:   

1. Designing and implementing curricula that authentically reflect the experiences, contributions, and perspectives of individuals of all genders, and addresses harmful gender norms.   
2. Promoting equitable participation and learning among all students through inclusive and gender-responsive teaching methods and pedagogical strategies that cater to diverse learning styles and preferences.   
3. Facilitating leadership and professional development opportunities for educators, school principals and management, enabling them to deepen their understanding, application, and advocacy of gender-responsive and inclusive pedagogies and strategies.   
4. Understanding how gender norms and expectations influence girls’ and boys' experiences, academic outcomes, and educational trajectories and identifying strategies to promote positive and inclusive masculinities.

Subtheme 2: Safe, inclusive, and supportive schools for all 
Topics of research interest include understanding how to adapt, contextualize and scale innovation that addresses:   

1. gendered patterns of marginalization and victimization - including school-related gender-based violence - with a particular focus on teenage mothers returning to school, children with disabilities and LGBTQI+ students.   
2. students' socio-emotional well-being and their mental and physical health, including access to water and sanitation hygiene and sexual and reproductive health services and education for girls in particular.    
3. crisis management and emergency preparedness in schools situated in fragile and conflict-affected situations to minimize learning disruptions.   
4. how gender norms and expectations influence learning and school safety for girls and boys, and how strategies can be implemented to promote positive and inclusive masculinities.   
5. support for teachers, school leadership, and management structures for building positive school culture – both in-person and virtually, where applicable – to promote safety and inclusion.    

Proposals may be of any of the following three types:  

• Single-country grants: targeting impact in a single country; tailored to specific national needs, in direct association with national policymaking institutions 
• Multi-country grants: targeting impact in three or more countries with direct relevance to specific priorities in those countries  
• Regional/global grants: targeting impact more generally at a regional or global level, with grounded work in at least three countries; generating public goods such as toolkits or platforms

Proposals must target, and be grounded in, GPE partner countries (see Annex A for the list of countries).  

Single-country grant proposals must be submitted by national organizations based in the country of focus. They may apply as individual organizations or lead a consortium that includes other organizations whether from within or outside the country. 

Multi-country grant proposals must be submitted by an organization based in a low- or middle-income country. Other consortium members may include organizations from within or outside the region; national, regional, or international offices of multilateral organizations; or international NGOs. 

Regional/global grant proposals may be submitted by any organization that meets the general eligibility criteria, as an individual organization or leading a consortium.

• Single-country grants: 300,000-500,000 for up to 24 months
• Multi-country grants: 800,000-1,500,000 for up to 36 months
• Regional/global grants: up to 2,500,000 for up to 36 months