DFID 7016 Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR)

Actual CPV code is ‘75211200 Foreign Economic-Aid Related Services’.

Objective DFID is looking for an experienced and dynamic fund manager to design the implementation of and manage the new Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR).

DFID will invest a minimum of £45m over the next ten years to fund partnerships that seek to address identified issues in the HE system, including: • Preparation of HE systems in low income countries for the future, building on learning from other contexts • Attracting new types of players within the HE system, such as funding and quality assurance bodies and private sector partners (private providers and employers) to get a dynamic and multi-disciplinary group of experts to focus on solutions to complex issues, such as graduate employability • Testing new models of delivery at scale, including online delivery.

The SPHEIR represents a step change in DFIDs support to higher education partnerships, supporting new high value partnerships operating at several levels within a separate higher education institution or across a number of institutions.

Depending on the demand and performance of the partnerships, there is scope to increase the level of funding up to a maximum of £100m.

The Supplier will need to demonstrate value for money at all times including through demonstrating that administrative costs are efficient and that management processes are designed to maximise value for money.

Full details of the Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR) can be found in the Business Case.