Sawiris Foundation x ZED FC Life Skills Program - Call For Proposals

Deadline Thu, Jul 07, 2022

Extended Deadline till 7/7/2022


Sawiris Foundation and ZED FC are looking to contract a qualified third party capable of designing, managing and implementing the Sawiris Foundation x ZED FC Life Skills Program, as well as assessing its effectiveness and impact.


About Sawiris Foundation

The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) was established in 2001 with an endowment from the Sawiris Family as one of the first philanthropic organizations in Egypt. Since its establishment, SFSD has focused on addressing the most pressing issues facing the most marginalized Egyptian communities such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to quality education. Over the past 20 years, SFSD has succeeded in funding and delivering programs aimed at achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, in partnership with the governmental and private sectors, as well as civil society. SFSD implements its work through three technical sectors: Economic Empowerment, Education & Scholarships, and Social Empowerment.

Sawiris Foundation has funded diverse educational programs through which (and in alignment with global literature) the importance and impact of enhancing students’ life skills has become critical to quality educational experiences that enable students to become active citizens.

About ZED Sports Club

ZED Sports Club’s main vision when it comes to sports is to help alter and integrate lives through sports. Through the different pillars – specifically football – having a holistic approach is a must to accomplish that; helping sports participants use sports to achieve livelihoods and give back to communities.


Targeted Group

20 athletes from marginalized communities that have been scouted by ZED FC’s coaching staff from across Egypt’s governorates. Age groups targeted are those in the following birth years: 2012, 2011, and 2010. In addition to that, 10 coaches and members of ZED FC who work closely with the athletes will receive trainings.


Aim of The Program

The aim of this program is to provide 20 athletes with a multidimensional life skills program that enhances their leadership skills, in effect enabling them to become positive role models as well as exemplary Egyptian ambassadors wherever they go. The 12 life skills that will be focused upon are those outlined within the UNICEF’s Life Skills and Citizenship Education (LSCE) framework that works on the following pillars: Active Citizenship, Personal Empowerment, Employability, and Learning.

The program should also work on enhancing athletes’ English language skills to open up new opportunities for the players, as well as provide them with higher chances of playing abroad.


Expected program outcomes include

  1. Athletes should have acquired the relevant outlined life skill set, as well as gained a learning mindset that will enable them to continuously work on improving their capacities, hence becoming capable of facing the challenges that may come their way.
  2. Athletes completed TOEFL or IELTS test with an average score (to be set).
  3. Athletes to become community leaders in ZED sports teams.
  4. Incentivize sports in order to improve learning and social skills.
  5. A better living standard and widened job opportunities.
  6. Having ZED be placed as the holistic entity in Egypt when it comes to building lives through sports and education.

Program Design

In this call for proposals, Sawiris Foundation and ZED FC are looking to contract a qualified third party capable of designing, managing and implementing the program, as well as assessing its effectiveness and impact.

It is up to the implementing partner to identify the appropriate mode of implementation that suits the target athletes’ existing schedules. Program delivery modality can range from or include a combination of workshops, sessions, trainings, and other learning experiences.


Available resources in addition those to be covered by the budget include

  • ZED west: Football courts and their facilities, dorms, and meal allowances.
  • ZED east: Football courts and their facilities.

Key program activities

  • Conduct an assessment to identify each individual athlete’s areas of strength and weakness and outline opportunities and challenges that may face program implementation.
  • Develop and deliver customizable programs that enhance life skills and English language skills.
  • Deliver team building activities that foster a sense of community and that raise awareness of the program’s benefits and implications to ZED’s broader community.

Key challenges identified by ZED Team

  • Having coaches and players accept the idea of outside support.
  • Delivering education and life skills within the players’ schedules.

Eligibility Criteria of Interested Consultants

  • Applying consultants should be companies, NGOs, or other legal entities, but not individuals.
  • No less than 5 years of extensive experience in scholarship management.
  • Interested consultants should submit their establishment decree, tax card, and commercial register, if applicable.
  • Interested consultants should submit a proof of their previous experience and references.

Program Timeline

  • June 27, 2022: Info session to all companies. Session will be attended by all stakeholders.
  • July 5, 2022: Companies to email inquiries and questions.
  • July 7, 2022: Extended deadline to receive technical and financial proposals.
  • July 2022: Selection of implementing partner with best proposal.
  • Program Duration: 12 Months.

For inquiries, please contact

Mr. Mohamed Shawky, Education Programs Manager. Email: mshawky@sawirisfoundation.org

Ms. Hana El Dakroury, Senior Programs Officer in the Education and Scholarships Sector. Email: heldakroury@sawirisfoundation.org

You can also watch the recorded info-session in which we answered the received inquiries and FAQs about the program here.


To apply, interested consultants should submit the following

  1. Soft copy of the technical and financial proposals to be submitted to the same email not later than July 7, 2022 at 11:59 PM. With the subject line “SFSD-ZED Life Skills Program: Organization Name - Application”
  2. Signed and stamped hard copy of the proposals to be delivered to the Sawiris Foundation premises in 10 Diwan St., Garden City, Cairo, no later than July 7, 2022 (Sawiris Foundation working hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM).

Any proposals received after the mentioned deadlines will not be considered.