Request for Applications - Pakistan Reading Project, Small Grants Program
Mumtaz Ahmed
The Pakistan Reading Project is a five year project supported by the Government of Pakistan and funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The goal of Pakistan Reading Project is to improve the quality of reading by supporting at least 2.5 million additional primary school students to read at a level commensurate with standards at their grade level.
Reading is a fundamental component of learning: students who do not learn to read at initial grade levels tend to fall behind in all other areas of cognitive development. Hence, strong reading instruction is a foundation for a country’s development. Pakistan is one of the only countries in the world in which illiteracy is growing. The lack of public discourse about reading has made it a low priority in classrooms, homes, and communities.
To overcome this issue, Pakistan Reading Project has initiated a Small Grants Program with the purpose of engaging Pakistani civil society organizations to develop and lead projects aimed at piloting or scaling-up effective models to stimulate reading, introduce additional reading materials at the community level, and support research related to reading acquisition and correlating factors. There are two types of grant opportunities outlined in the attached RFAs:
Complementary Reading Project (CRP) Grants: CRP Grants will support local organizations to design and implement projects that promote reading and to undertake activities that promote innovation in reading techniques, sustainability of reforms, education research, public education, and consensus building. Eligible applicants include registered Pakistani NGOs (LNGOs), the private sector, under-developed LNGOs, organizations specializing in operational research or other stakeholders.
Closing Date: March 6, 2014 at 17:00 Pakistan local time. Applications should be submitted at the regional Pakistan Reading Project office in both hard and soft copy.
Community Managed Reading (CMR) Grants: CMR Grants will fund Pakistani organizations to promote a culture of reading in Pakistan by working with local communities to promote and embrace the importance of reading and engage communities in demanding quality education. Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Parent Teacher Associations, School Management Committees, Student Groups, and other education-focused stakeholder groups are eligible for this grant.
Closing Date: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications should be submitted at the regional Pakistan Reading Project office in both hard and soft copy.
