Deadline: 25-Aug-23
Qualified civil society organizations (CSOs) can now submit their applications for the Public Acceleration Challenge Fund.
The Civil Society and Media (CSM) Activity is a five-year program (2022-2027) funded by USAID in Nepal through the CSM-STAND-LWA, with The Asia Foundation as the lead implementer. USAID CSM supports independent civil society and media led by and for women, youth, and marginalized communities to advance public interest, fundamental freedoms, and accountability. Most activities will focus on Lumbini and Madhesh Provinces, with some implemented in Kathmandu.
The Public Acceleration Challenge Fund aims to bridge these gaps by providing financial resources, technical and other related skills, and expertise support to CSOs interested in expanding and diversifying networks or partnerships to further the interests of WYM groups. This Challenge Fund will encourage collaboration between CSOs, fostering an inclusive and innovative approach mostly utilizing local resources. The core of this challenge fund is to address the diverse needs of marginalized communities and accelerate access to diverse resources via networks, coalitions, or alliances. Moreover, the challenge fund will work to promote the transformational relationship between the state and citizenry which will help to recognize the importance of citizen’s ability to make and enforce collective decisions through inclusive and deliberative mechanisms.
Objectives of the Challenge Fund
The challenge fund is an opportunity to design and deliver support for public accelerators which has following three interrelated objectives:
- To address the public issues of women, youth, and marginalized communities through strengthening local voices and linking it to the relevant networks.
- To accelerate the civil society landscape through networking and coalition building among the civic actors and building capacity of grassroots civil society organizations around the provinces to advance the public interests.
- To facilitate the longevity and sustainability of issue-based networks and coalitions promoted by civic actors and civil society organizations collectively.
Theme of the Public Acceleration Challenge Fund
- The Public Acceleration Challenge Fund will support CSOs in building, expanding and augmenting networks, coalitions, and groups to strengthen civic spaces. The outcome of the fund will be to advance public interest and address issues and concerns of WYM communities. The networks, coalitions, and groups are expected to lead to generating collective voices, prompting advocacy and activism, and resolving the public issues.
Award Information
- Estimated Funding Level. Applicants can apply for grants up to USD 50,000 not exceeding (NPR 6,605,000). The Asia Foundation has no preference for funding level, and applications will be evaluated on the merit of the program with no prejudice to the levels of funding sought.
- Award Implementation Period. The grant implementation period should not exceed twelve months. The implementation period is to be driven by the logic of the program and no other consideration.
- Award Type. All awards under this Call for Applications will be cost-reimbursable grants.
Eligibility Information
- Network, coalition-based and other civil society organizations working on the issues of women, youth, and marginalized communities.
- Civil society organizations working in and are preparing to work on advocacy, and activism which aims to extend their works.
- Associations, Federations, and groups working on the issues of women, youth, and marginalized communities.
- Civil society organizations which are looking to expand their networks to and from the Madhesh and Lumbini provinces.
- Organizations led by women, youth, and marginalized communities will be prioritized.
For more information, visit The Asia Foundation.