English Connects is a new programme funded by the FCO and British Council and managed by the British Council. It aims to:

• connect the UK to young people aged 18-35 and the future generation of leaders in francophone Africa through English
• improve the quality of English language learning and teaching and facilitate digital literacy, thereby creating opportunities to enable young people fulfil their potential while improving their employability, resilience and networks
• increase UK visibility across the region, improving UK access and making the UK more ‘relevant’ to senior policy makers and influencers.

Working with governments, the private sector, young entrepreneurs, future leaders, educators and learners in formal and non-formal education, the programme will reach and impact a wide audience through face to face interaction, media and digital channels and will connect UK ELT providers, institutions, media and educational technology agencies with the targeted countries.

The opportunities

RFP K – Guinea Primary English Consultancy (up to £25,000) – e-Tendering system reference BC/01006

A scoping visit to Guinea (Conakry) in May this year included a meeting with the Minister of National Education, in which it was stated that the ministry is very keen to look into the possible introduction of English into the primary state sector as a subject.

The objective is, through the provision of consultancy services, to undertake a systematic review of the current approach to English language teaching and learning in the Guinean education system in order to be able to make sound recommendations for the Ministry regarding the possibility of introducing the teaching of English into the state primary education sector.

RFP L – Niger Textbooks Review Consultancy (up to £25,000) – e-Tendering system reference BC/01009

A scoping visit to Niger (Niamey) in July this year included a meeting with the Secretary General of National Education, in which it was stated that the ministry is very keen to produce and introduce new, updated textbooks for secondary schools, which are currently being planned by the Ministry. Follow up meetings with technical staff – including the technical advisor to the minister, inspectors and the head of the textbook-writing committee helped confirm the specific areas they would like support on.

The objective is, through the provision of consultancy services, to undertake a systematic review of the current textbooks used in English language teaching and learning in the Nigerian education system in order to be able to make sound recommendations for the Ministry regarding the approach, contents and writing of the proposed new upper-secondary English language students’ and teachers’ textbooks to ensure that they are fit for purpose. This should be done by taking into account local context and capacity and capability constraints such as existing textbook-writing expertise and budget/time allocated to the project. A tiered approach to recommendations may be useful, based on the Ministry’s textbook-project available resources and time.