Request For Proposals: Development Of Curriculum And Training Materials For An Online Program Management Training

PartnersGlobal seeks a consultant or firm to design a curriculum and learning package based on the "Program Management Specialized Training" framework (Annex 1). This Request for Proposals (RFP) outlines the scope of work and application process.

• Duration: The estimated contract implementation period will be from November 24, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
• Application deadline and Point of Contact: Applicants should submit proposals by 11:59 PM EST on November 17, 2025, through the BambooHR Platform. Questions should be sent to Procurement@partnersglobal.org.
• Geographic Location: Remote (no travel required)

1. BACKGROUND

For 35 years, PartnersGlobal has been forging more resilient communities by working with our network of local sister organizations (the Partners Network) and with other CSOs worldwide to support local leaders and create partnerships that transform conflict, strengthen democratic institutions, and achieve sustainable development. PartnersGlobal's international network, which brings over 240 local experts in the field of democracy and peacebuilding, emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach to help effect positive change and good process in all activities.

As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen partners' capacity to manage U.S. Government (USG)-funded programs, PartnersGlobal seeks to develop an online training program on Program Management. This training is designed for organizations and professionals managing complex development projects, with a focus on design, implementation, and learning under USG and other donor frameworks.

2. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

2.1. Proposal/Letter of Interest

Applicants should submit a proposal (maximum 6 pages, excluding cover page & budget) in PDF or Word format, following these guidelines:

• Cover page (not counted in page limit) with contact information
• Numbered pages on letter-size paper

Proposal must include:

• How will you meet the scope of work
• Professional qualifications, including experience developing curricula and training materials
• Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating development programs

2.2. Budget

As this is a USG-funded project, all federal procurement regulations will apply. The budget should include standard costs associated with the consultancy. The budget should be submitted in MS Excel or Word format with a budget summary tab and a detailed line-item breakdown. An accompanying budget narrative may be written in Excel or PDF/Word format that details the total number of working days.

2.3. Required Attachments

Resume (or CV) of Consultant or Team Lead (if submitting as an organization);

List of two references, including contact information for work performed for each reference within the last three years;

A sample document or web link from your portfolio of past consultancies.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

PartnersGlobal seeks a consultant or firm to design a curriculum and learning package based on the "Program Management Specialized Training" framework described in Annex 1. The selected consultant will be responsible for:

• Developing the curriculum content and materials (including slides, session agendas, questions for knowledge checks, supporting documents and detailed facilitator notes).
• Collaborating with PartnersGlobal's instructional designer to transform this content into an interactive online course hosted on our e-learning platform.
• Ensuring the curriculum integrates adult learning principles, participatory approaches, and practical examples relevant to NGO professionals managing donor-funded projects.

The consultant will work under the supervision of PartnersGlobal's Program Management and Training teams and will perform the following tasks:

Phase 1: Curriculum Design

• Review existing framework and background materials.

• Develop a detailed training outline with learning objectives, session descriptions, and instructional approach.

• Prepare session plans, including:

• Presentation slides (PowerPoint)

• Detailed facilitator notes

• Participant handouts or reference materials

• Sample exercises or case studies

• Incorporate PartnersGlobal's feedback before finalizing the draft.

Phase 2: Collaboration with Instructional Designer

• Work with the assigned instructional designer to adapt the curriculum into an interactive online format (including quizzes, short videos, downloadable tools, and learner reflections).
• Participate in coordination meetings and provide technical input to ensure content accuracy and effective online delivery.
• Support testing and validation of the online course prototype.

This training's primary audience includes USG grantees, some of whom are first-time recipients of direct funding, and some have limited experience executing federal assistance.

In addition to the activities mentioned above, the contractual party is expected to perform, within its capabilities, any complementary activity that guarantees the successful development of the online program. If you need further information, please contact the Partners Point of Contact.

3.1. Deliverables

• A written program framework: providing a detailed outline of the online course structure, including learning objectives per module or submodule, sequencing, and methodology. Estimated delivery date: Two weeks after signing the contract.
• Draft Training Materials: Draft Slides, detailed agendas per session, facilitator notes, and proposed exercises or interactive activities, as well as questions or exercises to assess knowledge increase, to be reviewed by the PartnersGlobal team. Estimated delivery date: Four weeks after signing the contract.
• Final Training Materials: Final and editable versions of slides, detailed agendas per session, facilitator notes, and proposed exercises or interactive activities, as well as questions or exercises to assess knowledge increase that incorporate the PartnersGlobal's team feedback and recommendations. Estimated delivery date: Six weeks after signing the contract.
• Collaboration with Instructional Designer: Content integration for online course based on the Instructional Designer's feedback and requests. Review of prototype content (videos, reading segments, knowledge checks, etc.) In this estimated delivery date: Weeks six to nine.

All the materials should be developed in an editable version (Word, PowerPoint, etc.) in English. The deliverables and periods could be adjusted during the negotiation process.

3.2. Logistical Support

PartnersGlobal will provide preparatory and logistical assistance to the selected contractual, including:

• Background information on the program, including desk review materials;
• Meetings, phone/email communication

PartnersGlobal will not cover any costs other than those provided by the applicant in the budget. Please refer to section 2.2.

3.3. Role and Competencies

The Contractor will coordinate regularly to define and agree on key deliverables with the PartnersGlobal staff. The Contractual is expected to have the following competencies:

Education

Minimum bachelor's degree in education, finance, social sciences, law, economics or related fields. Master's degree preferred.

Work Experience

• 10 years of experience designing and delivering training programs in program/project management, preferably for NGOs or donor-funded projects.
• Proven experience developing curricula and training materials and working with e-learning instructional designers.
• Familiarity with USG award management, project design, monitoring & evaluation, and adaptive management preferred.
• Experience facilitating adult learning and applying participatory training techniques.

Knowledge, Skills, and Languages

• Strong writing skills (list of publications desirable);
• Strong research and communication skills;
• High level of organization and ability to meet tight deadlines, accuracy and attention to detail when completing tasks;
• Innovative and proactive problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise integrity and sound judgment in complex situations.
• Fluency in spoken and written English required.

4. PROCUREMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

4.1. Selection Process

All submissions will be evaluated by the PartnersGlobal selection panel based on the following criteria:

• Maximum possible score: 100 points
• Curriculum Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives- 55 points

Applications should clearly articulate how the team or consultant will jointly plan and undertake the proposal. The plan should demonstrate the consultant's technical understanding and logistical capacity.

• Technical Team Capacity and Record- 30 points

Applications should demonstrate at least seven years of working experience designing and implementing USG-funded programs. Applicants should also provide evidence that they have developed capacity development programs for diverse civil society actors.

• Cost Effectiveness and Justification of Costs- 15 points

PartnersGlobal strongly encourages applicants to demonstrate cost-effectiveness in their application. If the applicant is a firm, applications should include budgets with reasonable overhead and administration costs and provide clear explanations and justifications for these costs to the work involved. If the applicant is an individual consultant, the daily rate of said individual needs to be supported by the level of experience and history of the daily rate for other comparable assignments. All budget items should be clearly explained and justified to demonstrate their necessity, appropriateness, and link to the program objectives.

4.2. Negotiations

Upon completion of the selection process, PartnersGlobal may negotiate with the most competitive contractual to establish a final scope of services and an appropriate budget for such services. PartnersGlobal reserves the right to move straight to award and budget negotiations based on evaluation.

5. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

• PartnersGlobal reserves the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any and all submissions in response to this request, waive irregularities, or take whatever action is deemed necessary in the organization's best interests.
• All materials submitted regarding this RFP become the property of Partners.
• PartnersGlobal is not responsible for any costs incurred by Consultant prior to awarding a contract or its rights, title, or interest therein, or Consultant's authority to execute a subcontract with any other person, company, or corporation with the prior written consent of the Partners.
• PartnersGlobal reserves the right to conduct reference checks with any client listed in the documents for further information and verification of the Consultant's qualifications.
• PartnersGlobal complies with U.S. Sanctions and Embargo Laws and Regulations including Executive Order 13224 on Terrorist Financing, which effectively prohibit transactions with persons or entities that commit, threaten to commit, or support Any person or entity that participates in this bidding process, either as a prime or sub to the prime, must certify as part of the bid that he or it is not on the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List and is eligible to participate. PartnersGlobal will disqualify any bid received from a person or entity that is found to be on the List or otherwise ineligible.

ANNEX 1: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SPECIALIZED TRAINING FRAMEWORK

Module 1: Designing for Impact and Effective Implementation

• Understanding the design process and the connection between design quality and implementation success
• Understanding how funders evaluate coherence, feasibility, risk, and impact
• Building the design framework: problem analysis, stakeholder mapping, theory of change and results framework.
• Designing with implementation in mind: aligning technical design with realistic timelines and budgets.
• Early risk identification and mitigation planning

Module 2: Work Planning and Implementation Management

• Work planning as a participatory process (GANTT, RACI, narrative plan)
• Linking workplans to budgets and timelines
• Integrating adaptive management and "do no harm" principles
• Travel planning and authorization processes (TA forms, logistics memos)
• Coordination across teams and partners during implementation

Module 3: Reporting, Monitoring, and Learning

• Narrative and financial reporting requirements (frequency, coordination)
• Reviewing partner reports and providing feedback
• Output vs. outcome tracking; building a simple Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and Performance Indicator Tracking Table (PITT)
• Reflection tools: learning circles, after-action reviews, adaptive management