Continuity of Pre-Primary Education Post Covid Using Learning Through Play, Community Engagement and Edutainment in South Africa – South Africa Addendum APS | 72067422APS00001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this USAID opportunity about?

This is a focused call for concept notes issued by USAID Pretoria under its broader Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnership (STIP) Annual Program Statement. The addendum targets continuity of pre-primary education in South Africa following COVID-19 disruptions, using learning-through-play, strong community engagement, and mass-media style "edutainment" (especially educational video and television-style content).

2) What problem is the grant trying to solve?

The opportunity is meant to help keep early learning going when normal classroom routines are disrupted. It is framed as part of a longer-term disaster preparedness mindset rather than a one-off emergency response.

3) What age group or education level is the focus?

The activity is centered on pre-primary learners (early childhood / pre-primary education) in South Africa.

4) What types of approaches does USAID want to support?

The call emphasizes learning-through-play approaches, community engagement, and broad-reach media such as educational video and television-style content. The intent is to support learning in homes, communities, and early learning settings, not only in formal classrooms.

5) What is the main activity or core intervention area?

The activity centers on expanding and distributing high-quality educational video content and related learning materials for pre-primary learners.

6) Why is educational video and "edutainment" emphasized in this call?

USAID highlights evidence that well-designed, age-appropriate educational video can capture children’s attention, reinforce key skills, influence positive social and behavior change, and support teacher development. The addendum also notes that scalable video and broad-reach media can be practical in lower-resource environments and when in-person schooling is limited.

7) Does this opportunity require digital-first or high-tech solutions?

Not necessarily. While education innovation often focuses on new digital tools, this call specifically underscores the value of scalable video, television segments, and other broad-reach media platforms, particularly where resources are limited and during disruptions to in-person learning.

8) Is the program intended only for classroom use?

No. The opportunity explicitly seeks approaches that can work in homes, communities, and early learning settings, not only inside a formal classroom.

9) What are some example activities concept notes may propose?

USAID provides illustrative directions, including:

• Developing and testing low-cost ways to disseminate and project educational video content in resource-constrained areas
• Providing families with take-home materials and in-person support activities that promote children’s learning and self-regulation skills
• Creating mobile toy or play-material libraries that travel to high-need areas and pair play resources with screenings of COVID-related or health-and-learning edutainment
• Partnering with a local higher education institution to measure outcomes for children, families, and communities
• Embedding learning-through-play methods among parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators, including potential collaboration with the LEGO Foundation

10) Are applicants expected to address every illustrative direction listed?

No. USAID indicates a preference for a set (portfolio) of partnerships that collectively advance all or most aims, but it will prioritize the strongest ideas even if only one or two of the listed objectives are pursued.

11) What does "portfolio" mean in this context?

The funding is intended to support a portfolio of partnerships and approaches, rather than necessarily a single award. The emphasis is on the most promising approaches for continuity of pre-primary education through edutainment and community-based delivery.

12) How much funding is available and for how long?

Funding is up to USD 1.5 million total over two years.

13) What type of funding instrument is being used?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

14) What is the activity category?

The activity category is education.

15) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA 98.001.

16) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is 72067422APS00001.

17) What was the original submission closing date?

The original closing date for submissions was 2022-09-26.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to local entities in South Africa.

19) How does USAID define a "local entity" for eligibility purposes?

In this addendum, a "local entity" is defined narrowly. The organization (or individual) must:

• Be legally organized under the laws of the eligible country
• Have its principal place of business or operations in the eligible country
• Be majority owned by citizens or lawful permanent residents of the eligible country
• Be governed/managed by a body whose majority are citizens or lawful permanent residents of a country receiving assistance under the relevant appropriations

20) What is USAID trying to achieve by restricting eligibility to South African local entities?

Practically, the restriction is meant to resource South African-led organizations and institutions to design, test, and scale early learning solutions that are resilient to future disruptions and can reach children beyond traditional school walls.

21) Is community input expected in designing the proposed work?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to use co-creation with communities and stakeholders to shape the final objectives.

22) Are partnerships encouraged?

Yes. The addendum signals a preference for a portfolio of partnerships that collectively advance the aims described.

23) Does the opportunity mention any specific partnership examples?

Yes. It includes partnering with a local higher education institution to measure outcomes, and it also notes potential collaboration with the LEGO Foundation in embedding learning-through-play methods.

24) What kinds of outcomes or results does USAID want measured?

The addendum mentions measuring outcomes for children, families, and communities, particularly through partnership with a local higher education institution.

25) What kinds of learning supports beyond video are included?

Beyond educational video, the opportunity references related learning materials, take-home materials for families, in-person support activities, and mobile toy/play-material libraries paired with screenings and play resources.

26) What thematic content might the edutainment include?

The illustrative directions include screenings of COVID-related or health-and-learning edutainment, alongside play resources and learning supports.

27) What legal authority governs this opportunity?

The opportunity is authorized under Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

28) Is this positioned as emergency COVID relief or longer-term resilience work?

It is framed as part of a longer-term disaster preparedness mindset, not a one-off emergency response.