Deadline: 5 August 2019
Counterpart International (CPI) Bangladesh is currently inviting interested CSOs to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the opportunity to apply to receive limited grants for the Promoting Advocacy and Rights (PAR) Support for Civil Society (CS) Initiatives through Advocacy and Networking to complement Government of Bangladesh efforts to combat drug abuse and its adverse social and economic consequences through effective social mobilization. Counterpart is currently evaluating the possibility of engaging local partners who have the management and technical capacity, including innovative social mobilization strategies to provide high quality service delivery with regards to this program.
The goal of the Advocacy Grant is to support Civil Society (CS) advocacy and networking initiatives to complement. Government of Bangladesh (GOB) efforts to combat Drug Abuse in targeted sub-national locations (districts). These are anticipated to have direct impact at the local level with ripple effects at the national level-, becoming pilot projects that may be replicated elsewhere if proven effective. The program emphasizes the need for engaging a wide range of stakeholders including political and community leaders, media, educational, cultural and religious institutions, government health-care providers and rehabilitation centers, specialized CSOs, research institutions, marginalized groups and local governments as partners. As a result, the grantee will be able to establish cross-sectoral partnerships to combat drug abuse.
Objectives
The two primary objectives of the grant program are:
- To raise the level of awareness at household and community levels about the adverse consequences of drug abuse through social mobilization and in targeted districts, and
- To sensitize and influence local governments and sub-national level politicians to introduce effective policy measures and increase allocation of resources to combat drug abuse in targeted districts.
This Advocacy and Networking Grant is intended to conduct effective advocacy to address the drug issue within its social dimension, including health, youth, community awareness, among other issues. Massive social mobilization cross-cutting all segments and strata of the society with crosssectoral involvement can make a difference in the fight against drug abuse. Illustrative areas where civil society advocacy through networking may bring positive results includes, but is not limited to, are:
- Evidence-based social awareness building at the family and community level about drug abuse;
- Appropriate and science-based education about the harmful effects of drugs in educational institutions and
- Functional social mechanism to monitor the enforcement of existing laws and policies.
This advocacy program needs to take measures to ensure the following: use evidence-based advocacy; engage relevant and influential stakeholders; inform the community for a strengthened understanding of the benefits of the advocacy against drug use; carefully plan the advocacy campaign activities; and that the advocacy program team has a clear vision and has cultivated good relationships with key government officials and institutions. The program should also ensure that the networks are well coordinated, and members regularly communicate.
Grant Information
CPI anticipates awarding one (1) grant with an anticipated implementation of up to two (2) years and estimated value of the grant will be up to BDT. 16,800,000 (sixteen million eight hundred thousand).
Eligibility Criteria
EOIs will be evaluated to determine the eligibility of organizations as per criteria below, with the possibility of inviting grant submissions for a full project proposal from selected organizations/CSOs. The minimum eligibility requirements for an organization to be considered for this program are:
- Be officially registered as a Bangladeshi CSO and working in compliance with relevant Bangladeshi laws.
- Proposes activities that contribute to two program objectives outlined above
- Describes expected outcomes and results consistent with and linked to the project’s objectives.
- Has not been debarred from receiving USG funding and or listed in the U.S.G Excluded Parties
- List and the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.
- Has experience in working on projects related to combating drug abuse and its consequences
- Has experience in conducting advocacy in partnership with other CSOs.
- Ensures that the program is inclusive in nature with appropriate gender representation including gender diverse groups and representation of youth and marginalized groups including ethnic, other gender, people with disability and indigenous groups.
- Has relevant experience and organizational capacity to manage larger grants of $200,000 or more.
Evaluation Criteria
The EOIs will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Relevant past performance in managing advocacy campaign against drug abuse
- Organizational network and past performance in target districts
- Technical expertise in designing and implementing advocacy campaign
- Past experience in addressing social inclusion issues (participation of religious, gender, ethnic minority groups and persons with disabilities) and implementing innovative projects in partnership with other CSO partners and stakeholders
- Organizational capacity and commitment in managing larger grants
How to Apply
Applicants should send their Expressions of Interest electronically at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit https://www.counterpart.org/call-for-expressions-of-interest-for-advocacy-and-networking-grant-combatting-drug-abuse/