Country: Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)
Project: Education Skills Strengthening Project (ESSP)
Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: IDA-D7600
Assignment Title: Development and delivery of training courses/programs in the education sector in the RMI
Reference No.: NTC Training Block Grants
Background
The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands has received USD 10 million financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Education Skills Strengthening Project (ESSP). Of this funding, USD 2.1 million has been allocated for Training Block Grants administered by the RMI National Training Council (NTC). This funding will support the NTC’s mission to equip Marshallese residents with the skills and attributes necessary for gainful employment and to contribute to a more dynamic economy that is less reliant on foreign workers. The funding program aims to address the RMI’s training needs as identified by the NTC, encompassing both hard and soft skills as follows:
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
| Engineering (marine, civil, automobile, etc) | IT (computers, app development, programming) |
| General technicians / vocational trades (mechanics, electronics, heavy equipment, hydraulic, renewable solar/ wind, construction trades, welding, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)) | Work ethics (teamwork, time management, customer service, occupational health and safety (OSHA), time and task management) |
| Environmental protection (marine, hydraulic) | Management (entrepreneurship, finance, sales, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, disaster risk management) |
Under the ESSP Training Block Grants, NTC is inviting training providers to submit an Expression of Interest followed by detailed application for funding to expand, develop and deliver short- and/or long-term skills development/TVET programs/courses that would support skills development of individuals on one or a combination of identified gap areas listed above.
These proposed programs/courses can support a range of educational pathways, including:
- The formal education system, leading to academic qualifications such as diplomas and degrees;
- The vocational education and training (TVET) system, leading to trade and technical qualifications;
- The non-formal education and training sector, providing a variety of learning opportunities for individuals of all ages.
By providing individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workforce, these programs are expected to contribute to the economic and social development of the RMI.
Eligibility Criteria
The following are eligible to apply for Training Block Grants:
- Recognized U. S. accredited higher education and TVET training providers in the RMI;
- RMI government institutions in the education/training sector, including secondary schools and local governments;
- NGO that are registered training providers in the RMI;
- Private training providers that partner with RMI accredited or registered training providers;
- RMI companies.
Applicants should provide documentation demonstrating that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants must have no record of non-compliance to the RMI laws. All applicants must be ready to present annual audit reports on request, with such reports produced by reputable auditing entities.
Selection Criteria
The NTC will select the proposals on the basis of the following criteria:
Quality of the training program
- Clarity and relevance of the training program’s objectives
- Strength of the training program’s design and methodology
- Expertise of the training program’s instructors and facilitators
- Availability of adequate training resources and facilities
- Effectiveness of the training program’s monitoring and evaluation plan
Alignment of the training program with the needs
- Demonstration of a clear understanding of the identified needs
- Tailoring of the training program to address the specific needs
- Potential for the training program to make a significant impact on the target beneficiaries
- Potential for the training program to contribute to long-term sustainable development
Value for money of the training program
- Cost-effectiveness of the training program
- Efficiency of the training program’s resource utilization
- Sustainability of the training program’s outcomes
- Potential for the training program to leverage additional resources
In addition to these criteria, the NTC may also consider the following factors:
- 2 years of experience of the applicant organization in delivering similar training programs
- Strength of the applicant organization’s partnerships and networks
- Commitment of the applicant organization to capacity building and knowledge sharing
- Potential for the training program to be replicated and scaled up
Application Process
The application process will involve two stages.
Submission of Expression of Interest (request for EOI template by email: juliuslucky@gmail.com, suekommwa@gmail.com, essprmi2021@gmail.com).
Selected applicants will be invited to submit a detailed application form which will include a sample budget template and a comprehensive budget breakdown.
Deadline for Applications
The deadline for applications is on 20th January, 2024..
Expressions of interest and application forms must be submitted via email (in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats) or in person at the NTC office. The email subject line should clearly state: “Training Block Grant – Name of the Applying Institution.”
For further information, please contact the NTC office during business hours (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Majuro time).
Julius Lucky
Director
National Training Council
director@ntcinfo.org
Phone: 692 625-4521
Cc:
Susan Kommwa
Project Manager, ESSP
essprmi2021@gmail.com; esspcord2.3@gmail.com
Phone: 6924585198