Frequently Asked Questions:
Synthesis-Ready Evidence Repository – Expression of Interest (EoI)
See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about our Synthesis-Ready Evidence Repository Expression of Interest (EoI) call.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What qualifies as a consortium?
A consortium refers to two or more organisations applying jointly, bringing together complementary skills and perspectives – for example, a Ministry of Education partnering with a research institute, firm or university. In such cases, one organisation should serve as the lead applicant (responsible for managing the grant), while others contribute as technical or implementation partners.
2. Can government entities apply directly?
Yes. Government teams, including units within Ministries of Education, can apply directly or in collaboration with external partners such as research organisations or EdLabs.
3. Can non-government entities also apply?
Yes, but you must provide evidence of a clear pathway to senior decision-makers in your country. For example, this could be through an established relationship with a government counterpart, demonstrated through a memorandum of understanding, letter of support, or formal collaboration record. We are open to considering other forms of decision-makers relevant to your country (eg regional government, national practitioner networks or teacher federations).
4. Can teams apply if they work in languages other than English?
Yes. We encourage applications from teams working in a variety of local language contexts. The synthesis-ready evidence repository, its user interface, and learning sessions will be delivered in English. For this reason, participating teams will need at least some members who can engage in English for the purposes of using the tools and joining the sessions. We do not expect all team members to be English speakers, and teams working primarily in other languages are very welcome.
We recognise that non-English-speaking teams can bring valuable perspectives on how evidence is interpreted and used in diverse contexts, and we see this as a strength in the synthesis process.
5. Will proposals that focus on non-low-and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts be eligible?
This call will prioritise proposals focused on low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. However, proposals that focus on non-LMIC contexts may be considered where the applicant organisation demonstrates very strong and formalised partnerships with its own government or senior decision makers and alignment to policy and practice needs.
We recognise that such intermediaries can provide valuable insights into how the repository supports government decision-making, and their participation can help strengthen the repository’s development and use as a global public good.
6. What data should we expect to access in the repository?
The synthesis-ready evidence repository brings together data from major global datasets spanning early childhood education (ECE) to secondary-level outcomes. At this stage, for low- and middle-income contexts, the strongest coverage is for primary level learning outcomes although the repository also includes studies from early childhood and secondary education.
If selected for the RfP stage, applicants will receive more detailed information on the repository’s structure and data coverage. This will help guide topic selection and refinement to ensure that proposed syntheses are well aligned with the available evidence.
7. How should I estimate a funding range for my proposed synthesis? What types of scope are acceptable for this call?
As indicated in the EoI, the requested funding should reflect the ambition, scope and feasibility of the proposed work within April 2026–January 2027.
We expect the funding amount to vary based on both the scope (how broad or multi-dimensional the policy question is) and the depth (the type and intensity of synthesis method proposed) of your study. We encourage you to propose a level of effort that is realistic for your capacity, context and intended outputs. You may also produce multiple outputs and aggregate the budget–for instance, two short, focused syntheses for up to 40,000.
The following guidance may help:
| Indicative Range (CHF) | Typical Focus and Effort | Examples of Possible Synthesis Types |
|---|---|---|
| 20,000 | Short, focused synthesis or evidence scan addressing a single, well-defined question | Rapid evidence scan, short narrative synthesis. |
| 20,001 – 40,000 | Targeted synthesis exploring one policy issue or reform area in depth, drawing on repository data and complementary local sources | Rapid evidence review, thematic synthesis, or focused realist synthesis. |
| 40,001 – 70,000 | Broader or multi-source synthesis integrating several data sources, potentially incorporating consultations or comparative perspectives | Realist synthesis, mixed-methods synthesis, scoping or mapping review. |
| 70,001 – 100,000 | Comprehensive, higher-intensity multi-output synthesis, involving extensive use of repository data, advanced analysis, or strong policy translation components | Systematic review, meta-analysis, or large-scale mixed-methods synthesis. |
Kindy note that these ranges are only offered as guidance. All syntheses are expected to use the repository as a data source, supplemented by additional data/ datasets.
8. How well defined should the proposed synthesis focus be at this stage?
At the Expression of Interest (EoI) stage, your proposed synthesis topic can be indicative rather than final. We are not expecting a full research protocol or fixed question(s) yet. However, you should use it to demonstrate that your proposed area of focus:
- Aligns clearly with current education priorities in your country or region;
- Shows potential policy relevance, particularly for government or similar decision-making; and
- Illustrates your experience and analytical strengths in evidence synthesis.
The goal is to understand how you think about evidence and policy-practice connection, not to lock you into a specific synthesis topic. Shortlisted applicants will have the opportunity to refine and finalise their potential synthesis question(s) during the RfP stage, informed by further understanding of the repository’s datasets and feedback from the evaluation team. At that stage, applicants will be asked to submit a focused expansion of their proposed synthesis focus and approach.
9. Can an organisation be part of more than one EoI or consortium?
Yes. An organisation may be involved in more than one EoI or consortium but may lead on only one. It is preferred – but not required – that in-country organisations lead consortia.