Strengthening Pathways to Language, Literacy, and Learning for Deaf Learners (SPLD) | 720 696 23 RFA 00003

Opportunity Information: Apply for 720 696 23 RFA 00003

The Strengthening Pathways to Language, Literacy, and Learning for Deaf Learners (SPLD) opportunity is a USAID/Rwanda funding call for an education-focused cooperative agreement aimed at improving early literacy for deaf children in Rwanda. The core goal is to help Rwandan deaf learners reach reading skills that are comparable to expected early grade standards, with a clear emphasis on achieving stronger literacy outcomes for children by the end of Primary 3 (P3). In practice, this means the activity is designed to address barriers that deaf learners often face in early language access and foundational reading development, while also contributing to broader early-grade literacy improvement efforts.

USAID frames the SPLD activity around three main pathways for change. First, it seeks to improve parental and community support for deaf learners, recognizing that early language exposure and consistent reinforcement at home and in the community can heavily influence a child’s language development and readiness to read. Second, it focuses on strengthening teacher capacity by improving Rwandan Sign Language (RSL) fluency and strengthening bilingual deaf education pedagogy that bridges RSL and Kinyarwanda. This bilingual emphasis signals that the program expects instruction to be accessible in sign language while also building pathways into reading and written language outcomes. Third, the activity aims to increase youth engagement to support RSL learning and deaf learners, suggesting a community or peer-driven component where young people may play active roles in promoting sign language learning, inclusion, and support structures that benefit deaf children inside and outside school.

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means USAID anticipates substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding under the education category, with CFDA number 98.001. USAID anticipates making one award, with an award ceiling of up to $4,000,000, indicating a single, relatively sizable activity intended to operate at meaningful scale or intensity rather than being split across multiple smaller grantees.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organizations that can credibly implement education and deaf-access programming. Eligible applicants include U.S. private voluntary organizations and U.S., Rwandan, or other non-U.S. NGOs, as well as private non-profit organizations. Universities, research organizations, professional associations, and special interest associations are explicitly included, and for-profit companies may apply if they are willing to forgo profits. Public International Organizations, faith-based organizations, and community organizations are also eligible. The listing describes eligibility as unrestricted in general, but applicants are expected to follow any additional clarifications contained in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number 720 696 23 RFA 00003, with USAID-Kigali as the issuing office. The opportunity was created on March 2, 2023, with an original closing date of March 31, 2023. Applicants are directed to consult the NOFO in the related documents for the full requirements, and to send questions to the point of contact identified in Section G and D.1 of the NOFO by the deadline stated on the NOFO cover page. For technical issues related to Grants.gov registration or accessing the NOFO, applicants are told to contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

• The Agency for International Development, Rwanda USAID-Kigali in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Pathways to Language, Literacy, and Learning for Deaf Learners (SPLD)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 02, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 720 696 23 RFA 00003

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