World Bank Global Partnership for Education: Systems Strengthening for Quality Education Outcomes in Fragile Contexts
The World Bank and Global Partnership for Education (GPE) have jointly announced a call for proposals focused on 'Systems Strengthening for Quality Education Outcomes in Fragile Contexts.' This is a significant funding opportunity for organizations working in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). The call is part of the GPE's 2025 strategic plan and the World Bank's Education Global Practice, which together prioritize systemic change over fragmented projects. The total funding envelope is approximately USD 500 million, with individual grants ranging from USD 5 million to USD 30 million. Programs should span 3-5 years and target countries on the World Bank's harmonized list of fragile situations. The primary goal is to improve equitable access to quality education for all, especially for girls, children with disabilities, and displaced populations. The focus on 'systems strengthening' means that proposals must demonstrate how they will improve the overall functioning of the education sector, including governance, teacher management, data systems, and financing. This requires a deep understanding of the local context, strong partnerships with government, and a robust theory of change. The call is structured as a two-stage application: first, a concept note (due October 15, 2026), and then a full proposal (due February 1, 2027) for shortlisted applicants. The donor will prioritize proposals that show evidence of past success in similar contexts, clear alignment with national education plans, and a strong commitment to cross-cutting themes like gender, disability, and climate resilience. Additionally, the donor expects proposals to have a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, with M&E frameworks that include real-time data collection and adaptive management. Financial management must adhere to World Bank fiduciary standards, including transparent budgeting, internal controls, and independent audits.
For organizations interested in applying, this call represents a chance to significantly scale their impact in some of the world's most challenging educational environments. However, it also demands a high level of technical expertise and organizational capacity. GSLI's suite of short courses is designed to fill the exact gaps that many organizations face when applying for such complex grants. Courses like 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)', 'Financial Management for NGOs', and 'Project Management for Development' provide the practical skills needed to design winning proposals and implement programs effectively. Additionally, 'Writing Winning Proposals' can help applicants craft a compelling narrative that stands out to review committees. Given the normal urgency, applicants have time to invest in training and preparation, but should start immediately due to the depth of requirements. We recommend that at least two core staff members complete relevant GSLI courses before the concept note deadline. The overview of this opportunity underscores the need for a strategic, capacity-building approach to secure funding and deliver lasting impact.
Strategic Overview
The World Bank and Global Partnership for Education (GPE) have jointly announced a call for proposals focused on 'Systems Strengthening for Quality Education Outcomes in Fragile Contexts.' This is a significant funding opportunity for organizations working in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). The call is part of the GPE's 2025 strategic plan and the World Bank's Education Global Practice, which together prioritize systemic change over fragmented projects. The total funding envelope is approximately USD 500 million, with individual grants ranging from USD 5 million to USD 30 million. Programs should span 3-5 years and target countries on the World Bank's harmonized list of fragile situations. The primary goal is to improve equitable access to quality education for all, especially for girls, children with disabilities, and displaced populations. The focus on 'systems strengthening' means that proposals must demonstrate how they will improve the overall functioning of the education sector, including governance, teacher management, data systems, and financing. This requires a deep understanding of the local context, strong partnerships with government, and a robust theory of change. The call is structured as a two-stage application: first, a concept note (due October 15, 2026), and then a full proposal (due February 1, 2027) for shortlisted applicants. The donor will prioritize proposals that show evidence of past success in similar contexts, clear alignment with national education plans, and a strong commitment to cross-cutting themes like gender, disability, and climate resilience. Additionally, the donor expects proposals to have a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, with M&E frameworks that include real-time data collection and adaptive management. Financial management must adhere to World Bank fiduciary standards, including transparent budgeting, internal controls, and independent audits.
For organizations interested in applying, this call represents a chance to significantly scale their impact in some of the world's most challenging educational environments. However, it also demands a high level of technical expertise and organizational capacity. GSLI's suite of short courses is designed to fill the exact gaps that many organizations face when applying for such complex grants. Courses like 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)', 'Financial Management for NGOs', and 'Project Management for Development' provide the practical skills needed to design winning proposals and implement programs effectively. Additionally, 'Writing Winning Proposals' can help applicants craft a compelling narrative that stands out to review committees. Given the normal urgency, applicants have time to invest in training and preparation, but should start immediately due to the depth of requirements. We recommend that at least two core staff members complete relevant GSLI courses before the concept note deadline. The overview of this opportunity underscores the need for a strategic, capacity-building approach to secure funding and deliver lasting impact.
Who is it For?
This funding call is designed for a diverse range of eligible entities that demonstrate the capacity to operate effectively in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Primary applicants include international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) with a proven track record in education programming in fragile states; local and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are deeply rooted in the targeted communities; multilateral organizations such as UN agencies (UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR) with specialized education expertise; and private sector firms (including for-profit social enterprises) that can deliver scalable education technology or infrastructure solutions. Additionally, research institutions and universities can apply if they partner with implementation-focused organizations. The World Bank and GPE are particularly interested in consortia that bring together complementary strengths—such as an INGO with technical education expertise, a local NGO for community engagement, and a university for research and evaluation. Applicants must be legally registered, with audited financial statements for at least two years. For local NGOs, capacity strengthening support may be provided to meet due diligence requirements. The call strongly encourages applications from organizations led by women, youth, or persons with disabilities, and those working in cross-border or refugee-hosting contexts. Applicants must also demonstrate strong partnerships with national ministries of education and alignment with the national education sector plan. Preference will be given to organizations that can show evidence of previous successful implementation in similar contexts, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. The minimum grant size is USD 5 million, with a maximum of USD 30 million. Applicants must have a minimum annual turnover of USD 10 million (or equivalent) overall, and at least USD 2 million in education-related programming in fragile contexts in the last three years.
Priorities
The World Bank and GPE have outlined a set of global priorities and key performance indicators (KPIs) for this call, which are structured around four pillars: (1) equitable access and learning, (2) teacher effectiveness and professional development, (3) system strengthening and governance, and (4) resilience and crisis response. Under equitable access and learning, the donor expects proposals to target out-of-school children, especially girls, children with disabilities, and displaced populations. KPIs include net enrollment rate increases (target: 10-15 percentage points), completion rates for primary and lower secondary (target: 80%), and learning outcomes in foundational literacy and numeracy (measured by EGRA/EGMA gains of 20-30%). Teacher effectiveness requires proposals to include pre-service and in-service training with classroom coaching, teacher absenteeism reduction (target: below 5%), and improved teacher-pupil ratios (target: 1:40). System strengthening priorities focus on strengthening education management information systems (EMIS), school-based management, and pedagogical supervision. KPIs include functional EMIS in 90% of schools, school improvement plans in place, and reduced grade repetition. Resilience and crisis response demands integration of climate-adaptive school infrastructure, disaster risk reduction curricula, and continuity of learning during emergencies (including remote learning solutions). The donor also emphasizes cross-cutting themes: gender equity (with gender-responsive budgeting), disability inclusion (with at least 5% of budget for accessibility), and conflict sensitivity (with do-no-harm analysis). Financial KPIs require spending at least 65% of the budget on direct program activities, less than 15% on management and administration, and leveraging at least 20% co-financing from other sources. Proposals must also demonstrate a clear theory of change that links outputs to intermediate outcomes (e.g., improved teacher practice) and final outcomes (learning gains), with a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making.
Eligibility
Eligibility is strictly defined across four dimensions: financial, spatial, legal, and operational. Financially, applicants must have a minimum annual turnover of USD 10 million (or equivalent in local currency) for the last two fiscal years, with at least USD 2 million of that from education programming in fragile contexts. Additionally, the applicant must have a financial management system that provides accurate and timely financial reporting, with annual audits by an independent auditor. The donor requires that the organization be able to handle advances of up to 30% of the grant amount. Spatially, the proposal must target a country or region on the World Bank's list of fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS); for multi-country proposals, at least 70% of the budget must be allocated to FCAS countries. Preference will be given to proposals that include refugee-hosting areas, cross-border zones, or regions with high internal displacement. Legally, the applicant must be a legally registered entity in its country of origin (or in a country where it operates), with documented authority to operate in the target country (e.g., memorandum of understanding with the relevant ministry). The proposal must be endorsed by the national ministry of education, which is also expected to be a partner in implementation. Operationally, the applicant must demonstrate at least three years of continuous presence and program implementation in the target context, with a minimum of two staff members who have advanced degrees in education, public policy, or related fields. Additionally, the organization must have clear policies on safeguarding, anti-fraud, and environmental sustainability. Any organization that has previously been found in non-compliance with World Bank or GPE fiduciary standards is ineligible for a period of up to five years. Joint ventures or consortia are allowed, but the lead applicant must meet all eligibility criteria individually; consortium partners must each meet 50% of the financial criteria. The applicant must also submit a due diligence package including audited financial statements, organizational chart, and proof of registration.
Path to Success
To secure funding from this World Bank/GPE call, organizations must follow a strategic roadmap that leverages GSLI's capacity-building courses to strengthen the proposal and implementation plan. Step 1: Conduct Rigorous Organizational Readiness and Needs Assessment (Months 1-2). Begin by performing a gap analysis against the donor's eligibility and technical requirements. Map your existing competencies in education system strengthening, fragility context experience, and M&E frameworks. Enroll key staff in GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to design a robust data collection and learning agenda. Also, take the 'Financial Management for NGOs' course to ensure your financial systems meet the donor's fiduciary standards. Step 2: Develop a Theory of Change and Alignment with National Priorities (Months 2-3). Engage with the Ministry of Education in the target country to align your proposal with the national education sector plan. Use GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course to develop a logical framework that connects inputs (teacher training, materials) to outputs (teacher attendance) to outcomes (learning gains). Ensure that cross-cutting themes (gender, disability, climate) are integrated. Step 3: Build a Strong Consortium and Secure Endorsement (Months 3-4). Identify partners that complement your strengths; for example, a local NGO for community mobilization and a research institution for evaluation. Use GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to craft compelling narratives for the consortium arrangement, highlighting risk-sharing and comparative advantage. Obtain a formal letter of endorsement from the Ministry of Education. Step 4: Write a Comprehensive Proposal with Detailed Budget and Risk Management (Months 4-6). Draft the proposal following the donor's guidelines, ensuring that each requirement is addressed. Use the 'Procurement & Supply Chain' course to design efficient procurement processes for educational materials and school infrastructure. The 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' course can help you demonstrate co-financing commitments. Finally, conduct a thorough risk assessment and mitigation plan, drawing on the 'Public Health & Epidemiology' and 'WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)' courses if your program includes school health components. The 'Grants Management' course will help you design a financial management plan that includes internal controls and audit readiness. Throughout this process, GSLI's experts can provide review and feedback on drafts. The proposal should highlight how your organization's experience and GSLI-trained staff ensure efficient, effective, and compliant implementation.
Recommended GSLI Courses
- Project Management for Development
- Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
- Grants Management
Deadline: 2026-10-15
Persona: General
Urgency: Normal