Academic Hub to Anchor India Data Capacity Accelerator – Request for Proposal (RFP)
Deadline January 10, 2023
Background and Overview
data.org is a platform for partnerships to build the field of data for social impact (DSI). Launched in 2020 by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation, we work with organizations from all over the world to increase the use of data to improve the lives of millions of people. Through one of our key initiatives, the Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN), we have committed to help train one million, purpose-driven data practitioners by 2032. As a part of CAN, following the launch of our Workforce Wanted report, we are currently building Data Capacity Accelerators in low- and middle-income countries that will train the next generation of data practitioners with the interdisciplinary skills needed to be successfully working at the intersection of climate and health.
India Data Capacity Accelerator
Data for social impact is a growing field in India with limited academic courses, training, or leadership development programs available. To transform the social impact sector and enable it to benefit from the data revolution, there is a strong need to address how we educate, train, and upskill the next generation of talent. The India Data Capacity Accelerator will catalyze the application of data to address systemic challenges at the intersection of climate and health. This accelerator is expected to produce a cohort of 150-200 data professionals with interdisciplinary subject-matter expertise in climate and health data over two years with a key focus on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) and intersectionality. Adjacent to each accelerator, 20-30 social impact or public sector organizations working with climate and health data will be supported to enhance their data science capabilities, including through some students from the cohort being placed with fellowship positions in these organizations upon graduation through projects curated by our partner, The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab South Asia (JPAL-SA). JPAL-SA would also work closely with the academic partner(s) to create internship opportunities for some students during their academic training.
Through this RFP, we seek an academic partner(s) that can design and anchor the training components of the Data Capacity Accelerator and work closely with JPAL-SA in ensuring the overall success of the program in India.
The academic partner(s) will have the opportunity to receive financial support for up to two years to host India’s first Data Capacity Accelerator. The total available funding is ~$600K USD for this initial phase with potential for follow-on funding.
Scope of Work
The selected academic partner(s) will serve as an academic hub for developing and deploying interdisciplinary and experiential learning curricula for training students and early to mid-career professionals. The academic partner(s) will create and curate the academic resources, co-develop programs and train individuals on data science and analytics to catalyze social impact in the climate and health sector.
We invite applications from eligible academic institutes to design and deliver on one or both components of the overall program, as listed below:
1. Specialization program in Data for Social Impact (DSI): The academic partner will curate a set of modules and run a one-year specialization program in data science and analytics, climate and health at the postgraduate level. The program may be offered as an integrated master’s, extension to a bachelor’s, certificate, post-graduate diploma or an equivalent program. Typically, this may be offered to recent graduates and early career professionals as
a full-time academic program. This may be delivered through in-person/hybrid modes to at least 60 students over two years.
2. Professional and executive development program (PEDP): The academic partner will develop a short or long-duration (could be from a few weeks up to a year long) executive and professional development program for early to mid-career professionals working in social impact contexts connected to climate and health and looking for opportunities to upskill or transition into the DSI space addressing the more immediate needs of the sector. This may
typically be undertaken alongside ongoing professional pursuits. This may be delivered through online/hybrid modes to at least 100 practitioners over two years.
Academic rigor blended with the practitioner’s perspective will be key for the success of such a program. The scope of work for an initial two-year engagement, with the potential for a longer-term partnership, is given below:
1. Develop an experiential, modular and interdisciplinary learning program.
- Develop 6-8 modules with at least one focusing on climate emergency, one on health and others on data science and analytics leveraging climate and health data and use cases. Ensure academic rigor.
- Design the program structure, curriculum, pedagogy tools, training methodology and learning resources with key subject matter experts from relevant fields as per the needs of the social impact sector. Integrate a practitioner’s perspective in the design of the program.
2. Deploy and deliver the program with the first cohort of learners starting by August 2023.
- Deliver the program to at least two cohorts of diverse data practitioners focused on social impact in the 2023-2025 time frame with the intent to institutionalize it for future delivery.
- Ensure Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) and intersectionality principles in inviting student applications, curriculum delivery and student and staff experience.
- Integrate experiential learning opportunities, as appropriate, such as project-based learning, case study approach, and internships in climate and health-focused initiatives during the coursework or at the end of the program.
- Enable student learning and growth opportunities by identifying linkages to career pathways.
3. Sustain and advance the programs beyond the initial pilot phase.
- Explore and create financial avenues to run the program sustainably and independently.
- Explore the possibilities of converting the program into a degree course and/or integrating modules created in existing degree programs, as appropriate.
- Identify avenues for dissemination of content created, especially making some of it available digitally to a wider audience by working with an instructional design expert. data.org requires all resources and assets developed to be available through Creative Commons license 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Selection of Academic Partner(s)
1. Eligibility criteria: We invite applications from Indian academic institutes that:
- Have access to expertise from faculty in Data Science, Analytics or Computer Science as well as Climate & Environment and Health Sciences through existing departments or dedicated schools within the institute or have access to such expertise through Centers of Excellence or other potential collaborations and are able to ensure the successful delivery of the program as envisioned above.
- Have existing physical and digital infrastructure to run such programs.
- Are committed to launching a specialization program in DSI and/or PEDP by August 2023.
- Are eligible to receive grant funding from foreign sources to run/host such programs adhering to any Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) or other compliance requirements, as applicable.
2. Assessment criteria: We will shortlist a few potential academic partners with exhibited experience and capabilities in data science and analytics, climate and health with a key focus on social impact and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) and intersectionality. The potential academic partners will be called in for a discussion/interview with an esteemed panel of experts with a deep understanding of data science, health, climate and higher
education, amongst other areas and experience working in academia, government, social impact organizations, philanthropy and research. The final selection will be made by data.org based on various criteria, including the documents submitted, inputs from the panel of experts, alignment of core values & principles, and any background verification that data.org deems necessary.
The academic institutes will be assessed against the technical and financial proposals submitted in
response to this RFP.
1. The technical proposal must include (but not limited to) details about the academic institute’s credentials, subject matter expertise, including key faculty members that will be involved, approach and methodology, and action plan for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) and intersectionality. The format for the technical proposal is given in sections 1 & 2 below.
2. The financial proposal must include (but is not limited to) the academic institute’s budget requirements for standing up such a program with details on any overheads, taxes, cost share and leverage (including other sources of internal or external funding being tapped into) alongside other miscellaneous expenses for up to two years of engagement. Preference will be given to institutes offering the program(s) for free or at minimal cost to the participants
The technical and financial proposal will be evaluated based on the following key criteria:
Evaluation Criteria – Weightage
Technical proposal
Credentials & Credibility 25%
Approach & Methodology 25%
Team Structure & Activity Timelines 15%
IDEA & Intersectionality 15%
Financial proposal
Budget & Financials 20%
Total 100%
Timelines
Task Timeline
RFP issued – 28th November 2022
Clarification window for the RFP – 28th November – 8th December 2022
Information session on the RFP – 8th December 2022
Submission deadline – 10th January 2023
Notification of outcome to academic institutes – 31st January 2023
Interview for shortlisted academic institutes – 6th – 20th February 2023
Partner(s) identified – 6th March 2023
Expected program launch – August 2023
Proposal Submission Details
Kindly send your response to the RFP as attachments through email to submit@data.org by 10th January, 2023, 23:59 IST at the latest. Proposals received after the deadline will not be evaluated.
We will host an information session to clarify any questions or concerns for the RFP on 8th December 2022 at 5-6 pm IST. The registration details to attend this session will be available at https://data.org/events/
The academic institutes can send any questions to submit@data.org before 8 th December, 2022 and we will answer them on the information call for the benefit of all. All applicants will be informed about the status of their application latest by 31st January, 2023. Only shortlisted academic institutes
will be invited for the final interview.
Response Format
1. The RFP has three sections. The first section seeks information on the academic institute’s existing credentials, processes and expertise. The second section seeks a detailed and unique proposal tailored to the DSI and/or PEDP program. The third section seeks a financial proposal to develop & deploy the program(s).
2. If the academic institute plans to deliver both components of the programs, i.e.,
(a) Specialization program in Data for Social Impact (DSI), and
(b) Professional and executive development program (PEDP), they must highlight it clearly in the technical and financial proposals and their approach towards both programs.
3. All the answers must be answered in English in the proposed format and submitted as a single document (.doc, .docx). Kindly name the submission document in the following manner: “”
4. The font style and size should be consistent in the response. (Font style: EB Garamond; Size: 11 or 12pt).
5. Kindly add all the additional information as attachments in the annexures.
Thank you for your interest in collaborating with data.org on this important work
The academic partner(s) will have the opportunity to receive financial support for up to two years to host India’s first Data Capacity Accelerator. The total available funding is ~$600K USD for this initial phase with potential for follow-on funding.
