ACE Innovate: Call for Proposals - Expression of Interest (EoI)
ACE Innovate is a regional platform designed to strengthen the connection between advanced skills, applied research, innovation, and workforce training in priority economic sectors. Building on the experience of the Africa Centers of Excellence programme, ACE Innovate supports sector-focused institutional capacity that responds to employer demand, national development priorities, and regional skills needs.
This Call for Proposals invites eligible institutions in Batch A countries, The Gambia and Guinea, to submit an Expression of Interest for consideration under Phase 1 of ACE Innovate. Cote d’Ivoire is included in Phase 1 Batch B and will follow the timing communicated separately through the programme process.
The preferred model is a joint application between one Africa Center of Excellence or eligible Emerging Center and one Regional Flagship Training Institute (RFTI). The partnership should be anchored in a priority sector and should demonstrate how the institutions will work together across the skills ladder, from postgraduate training and applied research to technician and mid-level skills aligned with employer and value-chain needs.
In exceptional cases, a standalone ACE or Emerging Center, or a independent RFTI, may submit an EoI only where prior written clearance has been obtained through the agreed programme process. Applicants should use the application form that matches their approved application scenario.
For the full programme rationale, applicants should consult ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions, Section 1: About ACE Innovate.
Scope of the call
Two-stage selection process
ACE Innovate uses a two-stage competitive process. Stage 1 is the Expression of Interest (EoI) stage. The EoI is a structured concept submission focused on the essentials: sector alignment, institutional track record and readiness, programme design, partnership rationale, and expected results. Stage 2 is the Full Proposal stage. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a Full Proposal with more detailed programme, financial, procurement, sustainability, and monitoring information.
Where to read more
See Section 2 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions for the full explanation of the two-stage process.
Application scenarios
Applicants must select the application scenario that applies to them.
Scenario 1 - Joint ACE/Emerging Center + RFTI application. Use the Joint Executive Summary ACE & RFTI application form. This is the standard and preferred submission route.
Scenario 2 - Standalone ACE/Emerging Center application. Use the Independent ACE/Emerging Center application form. This scenario applies only where the applicant has received prior clearance to submit without an RFTI partner.
Scenario 3 - Standalone RFTI application. Use the Independent RFTI application form. This scenario applies only where the applicant has received prior clearance to submit without an ACE/Emerging Center partner.
Eligible countries and sectors
For Phase 1 (Batch A), eligible proposals must come from institutions based in The Gambia or Guinea. Proposals must align with the country-level priority sector communicated through the relevant national government. Applicants should not submit proposals outside the approved country priority sector.
Solution platforms and priority-sector alignment
Applicants should situate their proposal within the relevant priority sector and where applicable, the solution platforms listed in the call guidance. The solution platforms help applicants identify the sector niches, value-chain needs, research areas, training needs and innovation pathways that the EoI may address.
Where to read more
See Section 4 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions for country, sector, ACE/Emerging Center, and RFTI eligibility. See Annex 4 for the detailed Solution Platforms by sector.
Financing parameters
Each selected ACE-RFTI partnership will budget two separate grants, one for each institution. The indicative financing envelope can be accessed separately through country-specific guidance.
Civil works and construction, including renovation, rehabilitation and new construction, are capped at 25 percent of the total grant per institution. Applicants should prioritize investments in programs, people, research, innovation, and industry engagement. Civil works should be justified as necessary for program delivery and proportionate to the overall proposal.
For details, applicants should consult ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions, Section 5: Financing Parameters.
Evaluation Focus
The technical review will assess the quality, relevance, ambition, and feasibility of the EoI. Applicants should ensure that the application clearly addresses the following areas:
Sector alignment and demand-side credibility, including evidence of employer and value-chain demand.
Institutional excellence, track record, and readiness, with expectations calibrated to ACE, Emerging Center, or RFTI status.
Scale and ambition, including credible targets that reflect the available financing and institutional capacity.
Research, innovation, and practical application, including technology transfer or applied innovation where relevant.
Jobs agenda and graduate outcomes, including pathways to employment, work-based learning, and graduate tracking.
Partnership quality for joint submissions, especially complementarity across the skills ladder and research-to-application pipeline.
Feasibility and risk awareness, including realistic implementation assumptions and proportionate mitigation measures.
See Section 6 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions for the full description of what reviewers will look for. See Annex 1 for reference outputs achieved under ACE Impact and Annex 2 for illustrative research-to-innovation pathways.
Queries and clarifications
Applicants should direct questions on eligibility, submission requirements, Sector Engagement Panel requirements, or use of the application forms to the official contact indicated on the portal.
Queries should be submitted by 19 June 2026 to allow enough time for responses before the submission deadline.
General Guidance
For the purpose of ACE Innovate
Read Section 1 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For the two-stage process
Read Section 2 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For the joint application requirement and exceptional standalone cases
Read Section 3 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For country, sector, ACE/Emerging Center, and RFTI eligibility
Read Section 4 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For the Sector Engagement Panel requirement
Read Section 4 and Annex 3 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For financing parameters and the civil works ceiling
Read Section 5 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For review criteria and what the reviewers will look for
Read Section 6 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For submission format, file naming, deadline, and query deadline
Read Section 7 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For reference outputs from ACE Impact
Read Annex 1 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For examples of research-to-innovation pathways
Read Annex 2 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For Sector Engagement Panel composition, engagement, and validation statement requirements
Read Annex 3 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
For Solution Platforms in Agriculture, Health, Energy, and Tourism
Read Annex 4 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions.
Eligible institutions must be based in one of the Phase 1 countries. Batch A includes The Gambia and Guinea. Batch B includes Cote d'Ivoire. The proposed Expression of Interest (EoI) must align with the priority sector identified for the applicant's country.
Priority sectors are determined by national governments and will be communicated through the relevant country channels. Proposals that do not align with the designated country-level priority sector should not be submitted.
Where to read more
See Section 4 of the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions for country, sector, ACE/Emerging Center, and RFTI eligibility. See Annex 4 for the detailed Solution Platforms by sector.
The portal documents provides the following downloadable files in both English and French.
Core call and guidance documents
ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions - English and French. Use this as the main call document. It explains the programme, the two-stage process, eligibility, financing parameters, evaluation focus, submission rules, and annexes.
ACE Innovate Financing Guidance The Gambia - English and French. Refer to this document for financing arrangements for The Gambia
ACE Innovate Financing Guidance Guinea- English and French. Refer to this document for financing arrangements for Guinea
ACE Innovate CfP Detailed Application Information- English and French. Refer to this document for detailed information on how to complete your expression of interest (EoI) application form
Application forms -the application form specific to this call is available in the Documents Section of the Portal
ACE Innovate Expression of Interest Application Form (Joint ACE & RFTI Application)- English and French. Use this form where one ACE/Emerging Center and one RFTI are applying together.
ACE Innovate Expression of Interest Application Form Independent ACE Emerging Center - English and French. Use this form only where the ACE/Emerging Center has prior clearance to apply without an RFTI partner.
ACE Innovate Expression of Interest Application Form Independent RFTI - English and French. Use this form only where the RFTI has prior clearance to apply without an ACE/Emerging Center partner.
Read the ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions, especially Sections 1 to 7 and Annexes 1 to 4.
Confirm country eligibility, sector eligibility and institutional eligibility.
Confirm whether the application will be a joint application or an exceptional independent application with prior written clearance.
Download the correct application form in the preferred language.
Convene the Sector Engagement Panel (SEP) before finalizing the Expression of Interest.
Prepare the Sector Engagement Panel (SEP) Validation Statement and include it in the final PDF.
Convert the completed application form and validation statement into one consolidated PDF.
Name the file using the required file naming convention.
Upload the single PDF through the portal before the deadline.
Applications must be submitted through the ACE Innovate application portal ONLY.
Desk Review
Evaluation details will be published with the application materials.
Evaluation Criteria
Does the proposal present a compelling, evidence-based case for investment in the priority sector or value chain? Does the proposal demonstrate clear labor market demand, workforce skills gaps, and a credible pathway from this investment to employment, productivity improvement, and economic growth?
Guidance for standalone RFTIs: Focus the assessment on the case for technician- and mid-level skills investment. The employment pathway does not require a research dimension but should be grounded in credible employer demand data and sectoral needs analysis.
Is there meaningful, documented engagement planned with employers, industry associations, and relevant government agencies? Is the Sector Engagement Panel (SEP) credible and representative of private sector /employer demand with a role that goes beyond a purely advisory function?
Are the proposed training programs, research and innovation activities (as applicable) clearly defined and applicable to the ACE/RFTI mandate? Are the proposed activities logically linked to expected outputs, outcomes, and impact? Are targets specific, measurable, and ambitiously proportionate to the available financing? Is the results framework credible and realistic?
Are the roles of the ACE and RFTI clearly defined and genuinely complementary? Does the pairing cover the skills ladder from technician level through to advanced skills and applied research? Does the partnership make coherent sense for the proposed sector? Is the sum greater than its parts? Pairings are expected to receive the same score.
Guidance for standalone applications: Assess whether the rationale for submitting without a partner is clearly articulated and justified.
Guidance for Emerging Centers: Assess whether the proposed programs and innovation activities represent a credible step toward regional excellence, even if they may not yet extend to postgraduate training or peer-reviewed research. Evaluators should focus on the plausibility of the growth trajectory rather than the current stage of development.
Does the proposal articulate clear opportunities for applied research, entrepreneurship, commercialization, or knowledge transfer within the selected sector? Is there a plausible and specific approach proposed for translating knowledge into practical industry application?
Guidance for RFTIs and Emerging Centers: Assess innovation in terms of relevance to good, modern teaching and learning practices and industry engagement, including use of industry-standard equipment, collaborative programming, industry training, and integration of work-based learning models — not postgraduate research output expectations.
Does the institution demonstrate a credible track record and the leadership, management systems, and implementation capacity needed to deliver the proposed program successfully?
For returning ACEs (ACE Impact alumni): Consider ACE Impact performance (DLI achievement, quality of outputs, student outcomes, etc.) and how lessons learned are reflected in this proposal.
For new ACEs and RFTIs: Assess the broader academic track record, experience managing large grants, institutional governance, and trajectory. A new institution is not penalized for lacking ACE Impact experience but must demonstrate credible foundations. Assess the quality and relevance of existing training program, faculty, accreditation status, facilities, and management capacity.
Does the proposal demonstrate potential for regional excellence and cross-border benefits? This could include student and faculty mobility, research with regional intent, knowledge sharing, or wider regional impact beyond national boundaries.
Is the host institution of the proposed ACE/RFTI supportive? Do the proposed institutional strengthening activities bring value to the ACE/RFTI and wider set of stakeholders within the institutions? Are there credible arrangements to sustain program benefits, partnerships, and institutional capacity beyond the funding period?
Does the proposal meaningfully integrate gender equality, and social inclusion—in student recruitment targets, program design, faculty composition, partnerships, and access strategies—or is it treated as a compliance exercise with generic commitments?
Does the proposal set bold but realistic targets? Does it aspire to genuine sector leadership or regional impact, or is it modest in scope?
Is there a credible case that this investment will generate proportionate and meaningful returns in skills, research outputs, industry engagement, and economic impact relative to the financing requested?
Could this intervention help shift the trajectory of the sector, the institution, or the regional skills and innovation landscape?
Application Documents
| Document | Format | Size | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
ACE Innovate Expression of Interest Application Form (Joint ACE & RFTI Application) | DOCX | 111.2 KB | Download |
ACE Innovate Expression of Interest Application Form Independent ACE Emerging Center | DOCX | 84.5 KB | Download |
ACE Innovate Expression of Interest Application Form Independent RFTI | DOCX | 85.6 KB | Download |
ACE Innovate Financing Guidance The Gambia | 225.6 KB | Download | |
ACE Innovate: Financing Guidance for Guinea | 225.7 KB | Download | |
ACE Innovate CfP Detailed Application Information | 422.2 KB | Download | |
ACE Innovate CfP Guidance Instructions | 636.0 KB | Download |
Frequently Asked Questions
The call for expression of interest is managed in batches given the country’s readiness. Eligibility for this round (Phase 1-Batch A) is restricted to institutions based in The Gambia and Guinea.
The priority sectors will be communicated to applicants by the relevant national government. Proposals must align strictly with these sectors; submissions outside the identified priority areas will not be considered for evaluation or funding. In most priority sectors, there are also ‘solution platforms’ that address areas critical to regional development. Proposals should identify at least one ‘solution platform’ within their sector to guide and inform their priorities
No. Applications must be joint submissions between one ACE and one RFTI. Independent submissions are only allowed in exceptional cases with prior approval require prior consultation and written approval from the World Bank. In such cases, only the relevant EoI application (ACE or RFTI, as applicable) should be submitted rather than a joint package.
No. Under the current project financing arrangements, budget allocations are country-specific and tied directly to financing provided to each government. Consequently, both the ACE and the corresponding RFTI must be based within the same participating country.
Mature Centers: previously participated in proven track record in ACE programs and leaders expected to lead in research, innovation, and commercialization.
Emerging Centers: earlier-stage institutions focused on building foundational capacity. Emerging status must be confirmed in advance by the World Bank/AAU in consultation with government.
The submission must include a Joint Executive Summary (2 pages), ACE EoI (12.5 pages + annex), RFTI EoI (12.5 pages + annex), and a Sector Engagement Panel (SEP) validation statement (1 page). In approved independent cases, applicants should submit only the corresponding EoI.
Submit one single consolidated PDF using the required naming convention. Submission must be made by Government to AAU, and incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.
Submission deadline: June 26, 2026 (11:59 PM GMT). Query deadline: June 19, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
It is an independent narrative presenting sector focus, partnership rationale, and expected impact. NB: It is not a summary of the other sections.
It must be endorsed by the relevant Ministry of Education or Higher Education, ACE leadership, RFTI leadership, and the SEP Chair and Vice Chair.
A mandatory panel composed mainly of private sector members (≥50%), at least one line ministry representative, and chaired by the private sector.
Each application must establish one shared SEP.
The SEP validates sector priorities, confirms labor market demand, and informs program design, and remains engaged beyond submission. A validation statement is required. A validation statement describing membership and engagement, confirming review of the proposal, attesting to demand relevance, and signed by the Chair and Vice Chair is required.
Advanced training (PhD and Master’s), research (academic and applied), and innovation and commercialization.
Technician and mid-level workforce training, work-based learning, and workforce development. RFTIs typically serve broader parts of the value chain. The RFTI must be a recognized/accredited TVET or equivalent institution.
It must demonstrate complementarity across the skills ladder and integration of research, application, and workforce skills.
RFTI proposals must focus on specific, sector-aligned programs rather than the institution as a whole. They should prioritize a small number of programs with clear strategic focus, show program consolidation if fragmented, emphasize depth over breadth, and demonstrate that each program responds to employer and sector needs with credible delivery arrangements and realistic scope.
Each applicant should use the indicative envelope per RFTI and ACE provided in the country-specific guidance; separate grants apply to the ACE and RFTI.
Civil works: maximum 25%. Institutional strengthening: maximum 10%. Civil works must be clearly justified and proportionate.
Program delivery, research and innovation, industry engagement, and workforce training systems.
ACE: postgraduate graduates, publications, and innovation outputs. RFTI: technician graduates, apprenticeships, and employment outcomes.
Strong graduate employment rates. RFTIs must report the percentage employed or advancing within six months, with a clear pathway from training to jobs/earnings.
Targets should exceed previous ACE benchmarks where appropriate, be ambitious but realistic, be appropriate to the institution’s stage of development, reflect the funding envelope, emphasize strong program foundations where needed, and avoid overextension across too many programs or results areas.
Demand-side credibility, regional reach, innovation and application, partnership quality, scale and ambition, feasibility and risk management, quality and coherence of program design, and focus on a limited number of well-developed programs. Sector alignment and demand credibility, excellence and track record, scale and ambition, research and practical application, jobs and employment outcomes, partnership quality, feasibility and risk management, and focus on few high-quality programs.
The process has two stages:
Stage 1 – EoI (technical review and shortlisting)
Stage 2 – Full Proposal (detailed submissions including curriculum, financing, procurement, and MEL). Shortlisted applicants will receive feedback to inform their proposals.
Strategic Alignment & Demand Relevance
Misalignment with priority sectors
Weak employer engagement
Lack of work-based learning
Poor ACE–RFTI integration, Program Design, Scope & Quality
Treating the Executive Summary as a summary