UNDP announces Innovation Challenge Call for Community-based Solutions in Response to COVID-19 in Lesotho

Deadline: 8 May 2020

UNDP is soliciting proposals from interested community organizations, youth and women-led organizations, civil society, media and individual innovators for the development and implementation of solutions towards national and community-based responses to COVID-19.

The Objective of this call is to create a compendium of home- grown solutions, that are consistent  with local context and practices, which contributes to the national response to COVID-19, to reduce the spread of the virus, enable community engagement, facilitate social cohension and help reduce the socio- economic impact of the pandemic. UNDP will provide up to 100 grants  for the implementation of solutions which demonstrate clear positive impact and strategies for response, resilience building and recovery beyond the COVID-19 at community level.

Grant Categories

The grants will be in two Categories, based on the following:

• Economic Resilience (30 grants)
  • Relevant solutions in the context of the NSDP II priority sectors- manufacturing, tourism and creative arts, agriculture and technology and innovation, that may contribute to the national response to COVID-19 at community level.
  • Digital  solutions which promote ease of access to essential goods and service, to strengthen the response to the CCOVID-19 at community level.
• Social Cohension, communication and advocacy (10 grants)
  • Solutions which promote community engagement, advocacy and participation in the national COVID-19 response to ensure community resilience, adherence and observance of human rights and reduce other vulnerabilities that may be associated with COVID-19.
  • Solutions which support capacity building and engagement for participating in reducing health risks that could exacerbate infections and spread of the virus.

Funding Information

• UNDP will provide grants of up to $ 10,000.00 (based on effective UN exchange rate) to be made directly to the Innovator, based on the approved workplan.
• All solutions should be implemented by December 2020. Disbursements will be made from May 2020

Eligibility Criteria

• The grants are targeted at registered Basotho entrepreneurs and innovators, organizations and associations of innovators, having operated for at least 6 months. To be eligible, submissions must be made in line with the above criteria and objectives and be compliant to the following criteria:
  • Target Groups: The following are the specific target groups for this call:
    • Individual innovators, and SMMEs
    • Youth-led organizations and business networks
    • Women-led organizations and business networks
    • Media
    • Other community based organizations, and social enterprises.

Location of the Solutions:

The solution may be implemented in any of the 10 district of Lesotho. Care will be taken to ensure equity in the allocation of grants based on innovativeness and reach.

For more information, visit https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=65473