CFPs: Strengthen School Readiness and Grade 1 Learning Outcomes (Nepal)

Deadline: 20-Sep-2026

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking partners to strengthen children’s school readiness and Grade 1 learning outcomes in Nepal through structured pedagogy, improved early childhood education, and stronger transition support. The initiative aims to help the Government of Nepal and local communities provide inclusive, high-quality early learning opportunities for children. The partnership will focus on developing evidence-informed teaching and learning materials, strengthening teacher support and quality assurance, and building the capacity of trainers, government officials, and teachers for sustainable implementation.

About the UNICEF Nepal Partnership Opportunity

This call for expression of interest seeks partners to support efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of early learning in Nepal. The initiative is focused on ensuring that children enter Grade 1 better prepared for formal schooling and receive effective support during the transition from early childhood education to primary education.

The partnership will work closely with:

- The Government of Nepal. - Local governments. - Provincial Education Training Centers (PETCs). - Teachers. - Trainers. - Education officials. - Local communities. Key Objectives The partnership aims to strengthen early learning and Grade 1 education through a coordinated approach.

Key objectives include:

- Improving children’s school readiness. - Strengthening Grade 1 learning outcomes. - Improving the quality of early childhood education. - Supporting effective transitions from early childhood education to Grade 1. - Introducing and strengthening structured pedagogy. - Developing evidence-informed teaching and learning materials. - Improving teacher support systems. - Establishing quality assurance mechanisms. - Strengthening education-sector capacity. - Supporting sustainable implementation through government systems. Structured Pedagogy Approach Structured pedagogy will be an important component of the initiative. The approach is intended to provide teachers with practical and organized support for classroom instruction while helping ensure that children receive consistent, age-appropriate, and effective learning opportunities. The partnership is expected to contribute to the development of a package of materials that can support teachers and education stakeholders in implementing structured approaches to early learning and Grade 1 education. Development of an Evidence-Informed Package A major activity under the partnership will be the development of an evidence-informed package of materials. The package will be developed through a government-led technical consultation and co-creation process.

This process is expected to:

- Bring together relevant education stakeholders. - Identify appropriate learning and teaching needs. - Incorporate available evidence. - Co-create practical materials. - Ensure alignment with government priorities. - Adapt resources to the Nepalese education context. The package will subsequently be refined based on implementation experience and feedback from stakeholders. Government-Led Technical Consultation The initiative places strong emphasis on government ownership. A government-led technical consultation and co-creation process will help ensure that the materials and approaches developed through the partnership are relevant to Nepal’s education system.

This approach is intended to encourage:

- Government ownership. - Stakeholder participation. - Evidence-based decision-making. - Context-specific solutions. - Collaboration between education authorities and implementation partners. Teacher Support and Quality Assurance The partnership will establish mechanisms to support teachers beyond the initial development of materials. Teacher support and quality assurance mechanisms are expected to help educators apply the structured pedagogy approach effectively and consistently. The initiative will use implementation experience and stakeholder feedback to identify areas for improvement and refine the package over time. Capacity Building Capacity building will be a core part of the partnership. Training and professional development will target: - Trainers. - Government officials. - Teachers. The aim is to build the skills and knowledge required to implement the new approaches effectively and maintain them within existing education systems. Support Through Provincial Education Training Centers The initiative will establish ongoing support mechanisms within Provincial Education Training Centers (PETCs). PETCs can play an important role in supporting teachers and education personnel through continued capacity development and technical assistance. The partnership is expected to help establish mechanisms that can continue supporting structured pedagogy and early learning improvements after the initial implementation period. Role of Local Governments Local governments will also be important to the sustainability of the initiative. The partnership will support the development of ongoing mechanisms within local government systems to help ensure that early learning and Grade 1 support can continue beyond the initial project activities. This approach is intended to strengthen local ownership and integrate implementation support into existing education structures. Improving the Transition to Grade 1 Moving from early childhood education into Grade 1 is a significant stage in a child’s educational journey. The initiative seeks to improve this transition by strengthening connections between early childhood education and primary education. Better transition support can help children: - Enter Grade 1 with stronger foundational skills. - Adjust more effectively to formal schooling. - Experience greater continuity between early learning and primary education. - Receive appropriate support during the transition. - Improve their early learning outcomes. Inclusive and High-Quality Early