Request for Proposals: Play Learn Thrive - Proof of Concept (POC)

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations that: are formed and legally incorporated entities are legally registered to do business in at least one of the four priority countries (Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon, and Jordan) have an active presence in at least one of the four priority countries will be implementing the program directly in at least one of the four priority countries can successfully perform activities in their technical area can receive and administer funding 

The following applicants are ineligible: Individuals For-profit entities Sole proprietorships Unincorporated trusts and partnerships Government institutions United Nations country offices 
*Social entrepreneurs that are interested in applying should ensure they have the legal capacity to enter into a contract with Grand Challenges Canada. 

• Projects must be implemented in at least one of the four (4) priority countries (Lebanon, Jordan, Uganda, or Kenya). 
• Your innovation must align with: Section 4.1 POC General Scope Section 4.2 POC General Areas of Focus 
  *Section 3.2 outlines what GCC will not fund. 
• The Project Lead(s) for each project must be affiliated with the applying organization. The Project Lead(s) will be the point of contact for Grand Challenges Canada.
• A Project Lead can only be listed on one (1) application. Single institutions can submit multiple applications, but each needs a different Project Lead.
• The Review Committee will only consider applications that include all required information and answers to all questions. 
• Applicants must obtain any legal and/or regulatory approvals, consents or reviews required to accept foreign grant funds and/or conduct the project activities, before concluding a funding agreement. Applicants are responsible for understanding and complying with these regulations and laws before receiving funding from Grand Challenges Canada. 
• Grand Challenges Canada may, at any time and at our sole discretion, change the eligibility criteria for applicants, Project Leads and/or eligible countries, as long as it does not substantially undermine the review process.

Summary

Funding for new, untested ideas and approaches to determine whether they are effective. These are grants of up to $250,000 CAD per project over a maximum of 24 months.

POC funding supports early- stage innovations to test and refine bold ideas. Our goal is to strengthen the pipeline of tested ECDiE and EiE innovations that focus on children from birth to 12 years of age in at least one of four countries (Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon, and Jordan).

We seek Proof of Concept innovations that focus on: 

• Strengthening children’s (from birth to 12 years of age) education and/or development, with a focus on those who are left behind and whose developmental and educational needs are not being met; OR 
• Strengthening the capacity and/or wellbeing of the support networks around children, including but not limited to their educators, caregivers, community care providers, etc. OR 
• Supporting children AND their support networks. While we would encourage and consider proposals that only focus on one of the first two options, preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate a dual focus on children and key figures in their support networks. 
• Integrate play-based solutions in their programmatic concept (please see Appendix A for illustrative examples of play-based solutions). 
• Preference will be given to proposals that align with the sub-themes listed in Appendix B. Please note that we would still encourage and consider proposals that do not explicitly focus on these sub-themes, so long as they align with the other general areas of focus described in this section. 
• Are culturally sensitive and community-driven, accounting for the complex social, cultural and environmental drivers contributing to children’s early learning and development in at least one of the four priority countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, Uganda). 
• Have project teams that are led by effective, results-driven leaders, capable of developing, testing and refining these initiatives and their delivery. The team must be involved in project implementation directly. 
• That are whole child focused (see Section 2.2), understanding that children’s access to safe and supportive learning environments, both in and out of school, affects their overall development and growth outcomes

At the POC stage, innovators are not expected to have a previously established evidence base for their innovation but should provide a clear plan to monitor and evaluate outcomes related to children’s development and early learning and/or their support networks. Successful applications will include at least one relevant priority outcome that the innovation will set out to achieve, with clearly defined targets and plans to measure and evaluate progress. See Section 2.5 and Appendix C for guidance on priority outcome definitions, measurement tools, as well as other key monitoring and evaluation requirements. POC innovators are also expected to report against any additional outcome and output indicators that are relevant to demonstrating success of their innovation.

Overhead

Innovators are entitled to up to 10% of its Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) to cover indirect costs. 

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

POC applications will be accepted over a three-month period between January 21, 2025 and April 24, 2025. The final application deadline is on April 24th, 2025, at 2 pm ET. 

Language: While this Request for Proposals is translated in Arabic and French, only applications that are submitted in English will be reviewed. Applications in any other language will be rejected without review. Note that quality of the English language proposal will not play a factor in the evaluation of the proposal unless it significantly affects the clarity of the information. 

Timeline: POC funding could take up to nine months to move through the application process from submission of the application to the start of the project.

Additional Resources

Using RMS:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.