Saudi Arabia: Special Educational Needs market assessment call for concept notes 2026 to 2027
British Embassy Riyadh is inviting concept notes by 21 September under the Gulf Strategy Fund in the range of £60,000 to £80,000 to be delivered by February 2027.
Saudi Arabia is undertaking significant reform of its education system under Vision 2030, including an evolving legal framework that strengthens provision for students with special educational needs (SEN).
Emerging requirements address:
- the early identification of developmental and behavioural disorders
- the inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream education where appropriate
- suitable educational support, assistive technologies and adaptive resources
- specialist centres and digital learning options where full inclusion is not feasible
- support for gifted students
- greater private-sector, non-profit and foreign participation in education
This call for concept notes is issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF), a non-ODA programme fund that supports strategic programming to strengthen UK partnerships across the Gulf. The project will assess the implications of these reforms and identify practical, commercially realistic opportunities for UK SEN operators and specialist organisations to enter, partner and grow in Saudi Arabia, supporting the wider UK International Education Strategy. Outputs will be used by FCDO, British Embassy Riyadh, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Department for Education (DfE) and the UK SEN sector.
Programme objectives
The primary objective is to produce a practical, evidence-based assessment of Saudi SEN provision and the resulting opportunities for UK organisations. Specific objectives include:
- analysing Saudi laws, regulations and policies affecting SEN provision, inclusion, specialist education and private-sector participation
- assessing current SEN provision and identifying material gaps, including early identification, assessment, mainstream inclusion, specialist staff, teacher capability, assistive technology, adaptive resources and specialist centres
- mapping the main Saudi government, regulatory, education, commercial and non-profit stakeholders
- identifying specific, commercially realistic opportunities for UK SEN providers, professional bodies, specialist schools, training organisations and education-technology companies
- assessing UK market-entry requirements and barriers, including licensing, foreign investment, ownership, local partnerships, professional accreditation, safeguarding, data protection and workforce
- recommending practical partnership and market-entry models and a prioritised 6 to 12-month action plan for FCDO, DBT and DfE
The project should deliver analytical, evidence-driven and strategically oriented insight that supports decision-making rather than purely descriptive outputs. All legal provisions cited must be independently verified using authoritative Saudi sources, clearly distinguishing requirements already in force, implementing regulations, policy direction and areas of legal uncertainty.
Scope of work
The Implementing Partner will conduct desk research, independent legal and regulatory verification, stakeholder consultation and analytical synthesis across four areas:
- legal and regulatory analysis
- SEN ecosystem and stakeholder mapping
- SEN provision and market-gap assessment
- UK capability, opportunities and market entry
The work should culminate in a practical, externally shareable final report, a prioritised market-opportunity matrix, a market-entry guide for UK organisations, a 6 to 12-month action plan and a senior stakeholder presentation.
Funding and delivery
The project will be funded through the FCDO Gulf Strategy Fund and must be delivered by February 27, within the current financial year. The project budget must not exceed £80,000, inclusive of all delivery, administrative and staffing costs. Payments will be milestone-based, made in arrears on FCDO approval that deliverables meet the required standard. No payment can be made in advance of need.
Eligibility and procedural requirements
Eligibility
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we accept concept notes from non-profit organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, think tanks and research organisations, professional bodies and private companies, subject to appropriate due diligence
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the project must be led by a single lead implementer holding full accountability for project delivery and budget. A lead implementer may, subject to the British Embassy Riyadh’s agreement, sub-contract some activities to a third party
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applications are open to organisations based in the UK or Saudi Arabia. Priority will be given to organisations that can demonstrate SEN or SEND expertise, experience in inclusive and specialist education, and access to qualified Saudi legal and market expertise, including the ability to review authoritative Arabic-language sources
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SEN expertise and Saudi legal capability are minimum requirements. The proposed team should include a senior SEN specialist, a Saudi legal or regulatory specialist, an education-market or commercial specialist and an experienced project lead
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ethics and do no harm: concept notes must include adequate ethical risk assessments, including in relation to data, safeguarding, data protection and other relevant ethical issues
How to apply
We would encourage potential applicants to discuss project ideas with the British Embassy Riyadh Programmes Team before applying or to seek further clarification. You may contact the Programmes Team by sending an email to Riyadh.Programmes@fcdo.gov.uk with any questions.
See .
Submit the below forms to Riyadh.Programmes@fcdo.gov.uk by 21 September 2026. Please rename the forms after your organisation.
- – this template must clearly indicate the planned expenditure, including delivery, administrative, and staffing costs itemised
Timeline
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 21 September 2026 | Submission deadline. |
| 3 October 2026 | Successful implementers with be invited to submit full project proposal. |
| Mid-October 2026 | Communication of funding decisions. |
Process
Projects will be assessed as per the below appraisal criteria, for approved projects, and prior to awarding grants, the embassy will begin the mobilisation process, including:
- due diligence assessments
- preparation and signing of an accountable Grant Agreement (AGA) / Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) / or Commercial Contract
Appraisal criteria
| Criteria | Explanation | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic fit | The degree to which the proposed project advances the purpose and scope in this document, supports the UK International Education Strategy and UK–Saudi partnership priorities, and delivers practical, actionable outputs. | 20% |
| Technical quality and methodology | Rigour, feasibility and practicality of the proposed approach, including independent verification of legal provisions and clear, actionable analysis. | 20% |
| SEN expertise | Depth and relevance of SEN/SEND and inclusive/specialist education expertise. Minimum requirement. | 20% |
| Saudi legal and market expertise | Access to qualified Saudi legal/regulatory expertise, Arabic-source capability and knowledge of the Saudi education market. Minimum requirement. | 15% |
| Value for money | FCDO defines value for money as making the best possible use of all resources to maximise impact. Cost-effectiveness and realism of the Activity Based Budget. | 15% |
| Capability of implementing organisation and team | Proven track record in comparable work and the strength of the proposed team and delivery plan. | 10% |
Further guidance
In awarding and overseeing programme funds British Embassy Riyadh is obliged to comply with all Cabinet Office and FCDO rules and guidance, including but not limited to those set out in the FCDO Programme Operating Framework (PrOF). Potential implementing partners should especially take note of the following requirements:
- FCDO can only pay for costs that are incurred after signature of the Grant Agreement (GA) or MoU and between the start and end date stated in a funding agreement. No payment can be made in advance of need. All projects must align with the Paris Agreement and assess climate and environmental impact and risks, taking steps to ensure that no environmental harm is done
- all projects must demonstrate how their interventions will impact gender equality, disability inclusion and those with protected characteristics
- all projects involving paid-for communications activity must receive clearance from the Professional Communications Assurance (PCA) team prior to signing a GA / MoU
- all approved projects will be expected to comply with FCDO mandated reporting requirements using templates provided, including: (i) Monthly Actual Based Budget (ABB) forecasts; (ii) Quarterly Monitoring Reports (QMR) and (iii) Project closure report (PCR)
- all projects’ activities must be completed within the financial year for which the funding is approved
Background to the GSF
The GSF is a UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) fund within the FCDO’s International Programme. It supports Saudi’s ambitious ‘Vision 2030’ agenda for modernisation and economic diversification, while enhancing mutual prosperity by promoting inward investment and creating opportunities for UK companies, especially in the education, technology, culture, tourism, sport and finance sectors. The GSF is also expected to align with the UK Government’s strategic priorities in Saudi Arabia.
Contact
Programmes Team, British Embassy, Riyadh: Riyadh.Programmes@fcdo.gov.uk.