Steps to Working with HED
Our work begins when a Mission approaches HED to help address a priority objective. HED then collaborates with the Mission via the process below to determine how higher education can best meet the targeted objective.
The end result is a successful partnership between USAID and HED that meets Mission needs by engaging the higher education community to help build human and institutional capacity within the host country.
The following steps comprise our approach to creating such partnerships:
Step 1: The Mission AOTR sends a request for the proposed activity to the EGAT/AOTR Gary Bittner (gbittner@usaid.gov). The EGAT/AOTR determines if the request falls under the program description of the USAID LWA cooperative agreement with the higher education community.
Step 2: The Mission AOTR then prepares a written outline of the proposed activity, obtains feedback from colleagues and the contract officer, and sends it to HED.
Step 3: HED reviews the outline of proposed activity and arranges contact with the Mission AOTR to discuss overall design and feasibility. The discussion results in an agreement of the program description, schedule, and budget that then form the substance of an Associate Award.
Step 4: The Mission AOTR sends the program description, schedule, and budget to the Mission acquisition officer for inclusion in an Associate Award.
Step 5: The Mission acquisition officer then obtains necessary certifications and a marking plan from HED and prepares the Associate Award for signature.
Step 6: Finally, the Mission officer sends the Associate Award and cover letter to HED and to the budget officer at the American Council on Education for signature. Once this has occurred, the agreement is in place and activities may begin, which may include a merit-based competition for partnership awards.
Suggested Projects
Assignments are designed to meet the specific needs of the requesting USAID Mission. The following are just a few examples of HED projects that might be undertaken in close collaboration with USAID development specialists:
• Program development activities such as:
o analytical research;
o country studies;
o analysis of strategic objectives;
o input into planning and design of objectives; and,
o consultation on program development.
• Project design activities such as:
o needs assessment;
o recommendations for interventions programs;
o solicitation designs; and,
o development and implementation of roundtables, programs, workshops, and training activities.
• Monitoring, reporting and evaluation activities such as:
o identifying reporting indicators;
o monitoring plans for tracking interventions at all levels;
o evaluation designs for impact assessments;
o assistance with database design;
o analysis of results and preparation of program histories; and,
o preparation of success stories, lessons learned, and promising practices.
Finally, HED does not often undertake technical assistance projects because we focus instead on building sustainable higher education capacity. However, our team is equipped to provide certain support to USAID Missions in this area via:
• baseline surveys;
• recommendations on work plan targets for indicators;
• development and assessment of programs; and,
• field research, training, and outreach.
Contact HED
For more information about how Missions can successfully engage with HED, please contact HED Director of Communications Stephanie Morris at smorris@hedprogram.org or Communications Associate Lynn Simmonds at lsimmonds@hedprogram.org.