New education fund will serve marginalized and vulnerable learners in Latin America and the Caribbean

USAID taps RTI and United Way to support inclusive access to quality education

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has selected RTI International, a nonprofit research institute and international development organization, to lead its Latin America and Caribbean Fund to Expand Inclusive Access to Quality Basic Education (The Fund). 

In collaboration with United Way Latin America & the Caribbean (United Way LAC), RTI will implement the five-year project, which aims to strengthen equity-focused evidence and learning throughout the region through grants to local organizations. 

“RTI and United Way LAC will work to find the most promising ideas, matching them with capital as well as technical and operational support, to make a lasting impact on marginalized learners.,” said Tim J. Gabel, RTI president and CEO. “This partnership will provide critical resources and foster a culture of evidence-based decision-making in education, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and prosperous future for Latin America and the Caribbean.” 

The Fund will provide grants and technical support to organizations engaged in scalable activities that improve foundational learning outcomes, especially for marginalized groups. In collaboration with USAID missions throughout the region, The Fund will strengthen grantee capacity and leverage resources in support of The Fund’s objectives. RTI will manage the Fund, applying its global experience in improving foundational learning outcomes at scale to support grantee implementation and rigorous monitoring of impact. 

United Way LAC will support grant efforts in key partner countries and grow their network of investment partners. “Partnership is at the heart of our work. United Way Worldwide's extensive global network uniquely positions us to mobilize resources, identify solutions, and connect people – to services, funding opportunities, and to each other. Thanks to the support of USAID, we are excited to collaborate with RTI and with partners across the region to support quality basic education and ensure a brighter future for children and youth in Latin America,” added Angela F. Williams, president & global CEO United Way Worldwide. 

In 2023, United Way LAC raised $23 million from more than 500 partners to support education and other social investments. Building on this success, RTI and United Way aim to leverage significant resources in support of the program’s objectives through co-investments with private sector, philanthropic and nongovernmental organizations. 

The Fund will engage grantees in capacity strengthening interventions aligning with each organization's needs and priorities. It will also support grantees to improve technical and operational practices and monitor progress, bringing additional technical assistance as needed. 

Evidence generated by The Fund will guide key policy decisions at the country level to help indicate which equity-focused strategies work best and attract more investment to support effective interventions. This will improve access to quality basic education for marginalized and vulnerable learners over time. 

The Fund will contextually adapt and apply the equity-centered framework developed by RTI’s Transformative Research Unit for Equity (TRUE) Center, which provides a roadmap for embedding equity principles in research and practice. The framework will guide the selection and support of grantees, ensuring their work aligns with equity principles, including incorporating approaches to shift power to minoritized and marginalized communities to achieve social transformation.  

Read USAID’s announcement 

About USAID 
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the United States’ government agency that leads international development and humanitarian assistance efforts to partner countries. For more information, visit https://www.usaid.gov/.  

About RTI International 
RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach — one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.rti.org.  

About United Way Latin America & the Caribbean  
United Way Worldwide is a global nonprofit with deep roots in communities – which makes us remarkably unique. We can do the work on the ground in targeted communities and among specific populations but also scale up solutions at the national and global level. 
United Way for Latin America & the Caribbean has operations in 14 countries with more than 40 years of experience, collaborating in early development, health, nutrition and reduction of inequalities. For more information on United Way-LAC, please see https://www.unitedwaylac.org/