FAQs
Application Process
Applicants can apply for research funding by downloading the Expression of Interest-EOI template available on DARE-RC’s official website www.darerc.org and reviewing the “Call for Applications-Cycle 3” document.
The EOI template is available on the DARE-RC webpage. Instructions are mentioned in section 10” Solicitation process and timelines” of the “Call for Applications-Cycle 3”.
The applicant organisation may submit multiple EOIs.
The submission of EOI and the supporting documentation shall be made by the lead applicant organisation.
Timeline
The deadline for submitting the EOI is 11:59pm (Pakistan Standard Time) on 10th January 2025.
Responses to questions/queries will stop on 7th January 2025.
Content and Structure of EOI
Research supported through this call aims to provide evidence for scaling effective education reform interventions. Scaling has been defined as “expanding, adapting and sustaining successful interventions (policies, processes, programs or projects) in different places and over time to reach a greater number of people. For more details, please refer the Call for Applications-Cycle 3 document.
The overall objective of this Call for Applications-Cycle 3 aims to address critical evidence gaps in what works in scaling education interventions in Pakistan. It aims to identify system-level interventions that have been successfully scaled or have the potential to scale and explore what works in scaling. We seek to build on the emerging body of evidence on how to scale not only children’s access to education but also access to an education that helps them learn the skills they need to be successful in life.
The EOI template has a half page section “Timeline and Budget estimates” Please provide indicative timelines for the research study and an indicative high-level budget that has justification on the major heads (by staffing, research costs including data collection etc.).
Applicants must justify their budget request in line with their research design, research timeline and approach to answering research questions.
Ethical Approval
Ethical approval may be obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Higher Education Commission-recognised institutions in Pakistan or similar national or international institutions.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Applications with collaboration between Pakistani and international experts are welcome. However, the lead applicant organisation must be a Pakistani entity.
Yes, collaborations between academia and local organisations, including public sector departments are encouraged.
The submissions must be carried out by the lead applicant organisation.
Yes, an international expert may be engaged as Lead Researcher/Principal Investigator as long as they meet the criteria given in the Call for Applications-Cycle 3 along with the research team comprising of Pakistani individuals.
Evaluation process
Complete applications (containing EOI and supporting documentation mentioned above) will undergo evaluation by the DARE-RC’s technical review and Fund Management teams. The decision of DARE-RC will be considered as final.
EOIs will be assessed based on the following criteria, assigned weightage, and scoring metrics defined below.
1 – Policy relevance and scalability potential 30%
✓ responds to critical policy issues
✓ enabling environment
✓ cost effectiveness
✓ adaptability to government systems
2 – Research design, approach and methodology 30%
✓ responds to the research questions
✓ adopts the relevant methodology to answer the question
✓ sampling and proposed data collection methods are appropriate
✓ Value for money of the proposed methodology
3 – Applicant organization 40%
✓ established reputation, relationships and track record of researchers
✓ proposed team including the principal investigator/s and research experience (publications to demonstrate)
The successful applicants will be contacted by DARE-RC with details of the next stage.
An applicant organisation can lead on multiple EOIs in the Call for Applications-Cycle 3 and there will no risk of disqualification on such basis. However, should multiple EOIs move to stage 2 (proposal development stage), the lead applicant organisation will have to explain overlaps between research teams (if any) and justify their ability to successfully manage more than one research grant. DARE-RC will keep the above in consideration at the time of awarding of grants.
Conflict of Interest
Any conflicts of interest should be disclosed in the application using the “disclosure form”
For information regarding methodologies and approach, please refer to “Call for Applications Cycle-3”.
Research grants are competitive in nature and follow a pre-defined eligibility criteria and solicitation process, operating on a deadline-driven basis. Only the best research ideas submitted by eligible applicants within the deadline, will be awarded a research grant.
Under this call we invite research proposals for a period of 12-16 months. This period covers the full research cycle as well as dissemination of key findings to relevant stakeholders.
These research grants will range from PKR 17,500,000 – PKR 52,000,000
depending on the type of study being proposed.
1 – When an organisation fails to meet any condition of the eligibility criteria outlined in the terms and conditions and fails to submit their EOI and supporting documentation.
2 – At any stage of the grant cycle (shortlisting, selection, and implementation), if an organisation is found to be involved in any unfair practices or wrongdoings, including but not limited to misrepresentation, misdeclaration, attempts to influence the process, concealing of information, collusion, or conflict of interest, the said organisation shall be excluded and blacklisted for any future financial support from OPM. FCDO will be notified of such cases by DARE-RC.
Our call is limited to research in K-12 education.
This grant is primarily for institutions/organisations and individuals are not eligible to apply. Furthermore, prior research experience in education, especially in the themes under the DARE-RC Research Agenda is a prerequisite.
A Principal Investigator or Lead Investigator/Researcher is a person who is leading the proposed research.
The EOI must be submitted by the lead applicant organisation. Supporting documentation required at the EOI stage must be shared along with the EOI at grants@rcdare.org. The list of these supporting documentation is given under “Solicitation process and timelines” in the Call for Applications-Cycle 3 document.
The entire process from submission of EOI to approval of proposals including due diligence might take at least 3 months starting from the EOI submission deadline.
The relevant experience of the research team as required by DARE-RC will be considered. However, the organisation shall meet the eligibility requirements along with submission of supporting documentation in accordance with the Call for Applications-Cycle 3 document.
FCDO is funding the project and has ownership of the Intellectual Property rights as per their procedures and protocols. All research products including the data and data sets grantees generate will also be open source. The research products generated under the grants will be published under the name of the researcher however FCDO’s contribution must be acknowledged.
An entity registered in Pakistan can apply for research grants. Applications having collaborative Pakistani and international expertise are welcome. Furthermore, prior research experience in education, especially in the themes under the DARE-RC Research Agenda is a prerequisite. Consortiums are also eligible, provided that the lead applicant organisation is legally registered to operate in Pakistan.
