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Call for proposals-ATVET Institution Matching Grant

WUSC
3 days ago
On-site
Accra Ghana Ghana

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

ACTIVATE MATCHING GRANT FOR RETOOLING OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (ATVET) INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE TEACHING AND LEARNING

  1. Background

The World University Service of Canada (WUSC), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is implementing the Accelerating Change Through Innovation in Agricultural TVET (ACTIVATE) Project to strengthen Ghana’s Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) system through demand-driven, industry-responsive, and inclusive skills development approaches.

Despite the critical role of ATVET institutions in preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship in agriculture and related sectors, many institutions continue to face challenges associated with inadequate, outdated, or inappropriate tools and equipment for practical skills training. These gaps limit instructors’ ability to deliver competency-based training and reduce learners’ exposure to modern technologies and workplace practices.

To address this challenge, ACTIVATE is establishing a Matching Grant Facility for Retooling ATVET Institutions to support eligible public and private ATVET institutions to acquire essential tools and equipment required to improve practical training delivery.

The facility is designed to promote institutional ownership, sustainability, and value for money by requiring beneficiary institutions to provide significant counterpart investment before accessing ACTIVATE support.

  1. Purpose and Objectives of the Matching Grant

The purpose of the Matching Grant is to strengthen the capacity of ATVET institutions through strategic investments in tools, equipment, and learning resources that improve the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of practical training delivery.

The Matching Grant seeks to:


  1. Improve access to modern and industry-relevant training equipment for agriculture and related ATVET programmes.

  2. Enhance instructors’ ability to deliver competency-based and practical skills training.

  3. Improve learners’ exposure to workplace-relevant technologies and practices.

  4. Strengthen institutional ownership through increased financial commitment and investment.

  5. Support sustainable improvements in ATVET training quality and graduate employability outcomes.







  1. Eligible Applicants

The call is open to:

  • Public Agricultural Colleges.
  • Farm Institutes.
  • Technical Universities.
  • Accredited public and private TVET institutions.
  • Recognized training providers delivering agriculture and/or adjacent sector programmes
  • Traditional Universities .
  • Non-formal Training Service providers e.g., Hubs

Applicants must demonstrate that they:

  • Currently deliver eligible agriculture-related programmes.
  • Have qualified instructors available to use the equipment.
  • Have suitable facilities for installation and utilization.
  • Have institutional systems for managing and maintaining assets.



  1. Grant Size and Matching Contribution Requirement

ACTIVATE will provide:

  • Up to 60% of the total approved costof eligible tools and equipment.
  • A maximum ACTIVATE contribution of GHS 500,000 per institution.

The applicant institution must provide:

  • A minimum 40% counterpart contributiontowards the total investment cost.

The counterpart contribution may include:

  • Financial contribution.
  • Existing infrastructure investments required to operationalize the equipment.
  • Installation and commissioning costs where applicable.
  • Other approved in-kind contributions directly linked to equipment utilization.

Applicants must provide evidence demonstrating availability and commitment of their counterpart contribution.

  1. Matching Grant Financing Arrangement

The Matching Grant will operate under a cost-sharing arrangement.

Successful applicants will be required to:


  1. Commit and provide their institutional contribution first.

  2. Complete agreed procurement and investment milestones.

  3. Submit evidence confirming counterpart investment.

  4. Receive ACTIVATE’s contribution following verification and approval.

ACTIVATE funding will only be released after confirmation that the institution has fulfilled its matching contribution obligation.

  1. Eligible Investments

The grant will support acquisition of tools and equipment that directly contribute to improving teaching and learning, including:

Agricultural Production and Climate-Smart Agriculture Equipment

  • Demonstration farm equipment.
  • Irrigation technologies.
  • Soil testing tools.
  • Crop production technologies.
  • Greenhouse and protected agriculture technologies.
  • Nursery establishment and management equipment.
  • Hydroponics and other innovative production systems.

  • Non-traditional and emerging agriculture enterprise equipment, including mushroom production, snail farming, rabbit production, grasscutter farming, beekeeping, and other alternative livestock and crop production systems.
  • Climate-smart agriculture technologies and resource-efficient production tools.

Agricultural Mechanization Equipment

  • Farm machinery.
  • Mechanization training tools.
  • Equipment repair and maintenance tools.
  • Post-harvest handling and small-scale processing equipment.

Livestock, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Veterinary Training Equipment

  • Animal production equipment.
  • Veterinary practical training tools.
  • Laboratory equipment.
  • Poultry, small ruminant, and livestock management equipment.

  • Equipment for non-traditional livestock production systems, including rabbit, snail, grasscutter, and other emerging livestock enterprises.
  • Aquaculture and fish production training equipment.

Food Processing and Value Addition Equipment

  • Processing equipment.
  • Packaging technologies.
  • Quality testing tools.
  • Preservation and storage technologies.
  • Value addition equipment for agricultural commodities and emerging enterprises.

Digital and Smart Agriculture Equipment

  • Digital learning tools.
  • ICT equipment.
  • Agricultural technology solutions.
  • Precision agriculture and data management tools.
  • Digital tools supporting farm management and agricultural entrepreneurship.

Workshop and Laboratory Equipment

  • Practical training tools.
  • Laboratory instruments.
  • Safety equipment.
  • Equipment for practical demonstrations and competency-based skills development.
  1. Institutional Readiness and Expected Impact Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed investment will significantly improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Applications must provide evidence of:

Existing Training Gap

Applicants must explain:

  • Current limitations in practical training delivery.
  • Existing equipment gaps.
  • Number of programmes and learners affected.



Expected Training Improvement

Applicants must demonstrate:

  • How the proposed equipment will improve practical instruction.
  • Which programmes will benefit.
  • Expected number of learners and instructors benefiting.
  • How frequently equipment will be utilized.



Institutional Readiness

Applicants must demonstrate:

  • Availability of appropriate training spaces.
  • Qualified instructors capable of using the equipment.
  • Institutional approval for the investment.
  • Equipment management and maintenance arrangements.
  • Commitment to continued utilization after the grant period.







Sustainability

Applicants must describe how they will:

  • Maintain equipment.
  • Ensure continued access by learners.
  • Integrate equipment into institutional training plans.
  • Leverage partnerships with industry where possible.

  1. Non-Eligible Costs

The grant will not finance:

  • Staff salaries or allowances.
  • Routine operational expenses.
  • Institutional debts.
  • Unrelated equipment purchases.
  • Construction of new buildings.
  • Investments without clear links to teaching and learning
  • Land purchase, etc..

9. Proposal Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit both a Technical Proposal and a Financial Proposal using the prescribed templates provided by ACTIVATE by 31st July 2026

A. Technical Proposal

The Technical Proposal should include the following:


  • Institutional profile, including ownership, mandate, location, accreditation status, and relevant experience in delivering ATVET programmes.

  • Existing ATVET programmes, including agricultural and adjacent related programmes/courses currently offered by the institution.

  • Description of existing equipment gaps and training limitations, including how these gaps affect practical skills development and learner outcomes.

  • Proposed equipment investment plan, clearly outlining the tools and equipment requested and their relevance to improving teaching and learning.

  • Expected training improvements, including how the proposed investment will enhance practical training delivery, instructor effectiveness, and learner competency development.

  • Beneficiary numbers and learner profile information(see details below).

  • Equipment utilization and sustainability plan, including arrangements for maintenance, management, accessibility, and continued use of the equipment beyond the grant period.

  • Gender equality, disability inclusion, and environmental considerations, demonstrating how the proposed investment promotes inclusive and environmentally responsible training delivery.

  • Detailed teaching and operationalization calendar, indicating specific timelines and training schedules showing when and how students will be exposed to the tools and equipment, including practical sessions and usage arrangements.

Beneficiary Numbers and Learner Profile Information (to be completed and attached)

Applicants must provide the estimated number of ATVET students and instructors who will directly benefit from the proposed retooling investment.

Applicants are required to complete and submit the ATVET Students Profile Information for all relevant learners (including students pursuing agriculture and adjacent related programmes) using the ACTIVATE Project Participants Onboarding Template.

The beneficiary profile should include, where applicable:

  • Total number of students expected to benefit from the improved training facilities and equipment.
  • Disaggregated learner information by:
    • Sex (male/female).
    • Age category.
    • Disability status.
    • Refugees and Displaced Persons (RDP) status.
    • Programme of study/trade area.
    • Year/cohort of study.
    • Location of origin.
  • Number of instructors/trainers expected to utilize the equipment.
  • Current and projected enrolment for the relevant programmes for the 2027 academic year.

Applicants must ensure that all beneficiary information provided is accurate, complete, and aligned with official institutional records.

The completed ACTIVATE Project Participants Onboarding Template will serve as the basis for beneficiary verification, monitoring, reporting, and assessment of project outcomes throughout implementation.

B. Financial Proposal

Interested institutions must submit a detailed financial proposal using the prescribed matching grant budget template. The financial proposal should include:


  • Itemized breakdown of requested tools and equipment, including specifications, quantities, and estimated costs.

  • Minimum three (3) supplier quotationsfor each major equipment category or procurement package, where applicable.

  • Institutional counterpart contribution, clearly demonstrated within the matching grant budget template.

  • Evidence of institutional readiness and availability of appropriate space/facilitiesto house, operate, and safeguard the requested tools and equipment.
    • The cost of existing facilities/space should notbe included as part of the institutional contribution.

  • Installation and commissioning costs, where applicable.

  • Institutional contribution towards the cost of tools and equipment, as required under the matching grant arrangement.

  • Electrical works and other supporting infrastructure requirements, where applicable, including associated costs.

  • Procurement timeline, indicating key procurement milestones.

  • Detailed procurement, delivery, installation, commissioning, and operationalization plan.

Applicants must ensure that all costs presented are realistic, reasonable, justifiable, and directly linked to improving teaching and learning outcomes. The proposed budget should clearly demonstrate the institution’s commitment to co-investing in the retooling of its training facilities.

ACTIVATE reserves the right to validate all information provided by shortlisted applicants during the second phase of the selection process. This may include verification of institutional facilities, counterpart contributions, enrolment data, equipment needs, and other supporting documentation to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of submitted information. Any misrepresentation or submission of inaccurate information may result in disqualification from the grant process.

  1. Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

Criteria Weight

Relevance of proposed equipment investment to training needs 25%

Expected improvement in teaching and learning outcome 25%

Strength and credibility of institutional co-investment 20%

Institutional readiness and sustainability arrangements 15%

Inclusion, gender responsiveness, and environmental consideration 15%

Total 100%

  1. Grant Management Requirements

Successful institutions will:

  • Sign a grant agreement with WUSC.
  • Implement approved procurement activities.
  • Maintain records of purchased assets.
  • Participate in monitoring and verification visits.
  • Submit progress and completion reports.
  • Provide evidence of equipment utilization.

  1. Expected Results

The Matching Grant Facility is expected to contribute to:

  • Improved availability of modern tools and equipment within ATVET institutions.
  • Enhanced practical learning opportunities for students.
  • Improved instructor capacity and training delivery.
  • Stronger alignment between ATVET training and agricultural industry requirements.
  • Increased institutional ownership and sustainability of training investments.