Deadline: 22-Aug-23
The HELVETAS Sri Lanka invites qualified organizations to submit proposals under the small grant programme of EMPOWER project which aims to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism, enhance social cohesion, and promote a sense of purpose in communities in Ampara, Batticaloa, Colombo, Kalutara, Kandy and Kurunegala districts during 2023-2024.
This program is funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) and will provide small grants of (LKR 6.5 -15 million) to eligible organizations to implement initiatives targeting youth in the selected six districts for 12 months. Proposed projects should focus on providing opportunities to enhance intercommunal and inter-religious dialogue.
Purpose
- The purpose of the Call for Proposals is to identify eligible Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and registered youth and women networks for prospective program implementation with HELVETAS Sri Lanka to support achievement of results outlined.
- The call for proposals has three specific results areas as listed, this includes institutional level engagement of adolescent and youth to address their attitude, behaviour and sensitize them on Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) which would result in improved trust among youth of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Youth to be empowered as mediators of conflicts/ PVE.
- Organizations working with youth to develop and implement campaigns, outreach activities to counter misinformation/ hate speech, promote positive narratives on ethnic harmony/ multiculturalism, build resilience against hate speech/ racism and misinformation and create wider awareness among youth on threat of violent extremism and prevention of violent extremism, communities and general public through media, social media and creative art components.
Funding Information
- Small Grants of LKR 6.5 -15 million.
Expected Results
- Specific results of the interventions:
- Expected result 1: Enhanced capacity of youth to engage and advocate to local level government/ law enforcement authorities improving the trust and to play a protagonist role on mediating conflicts and preventing violent extremism (Result area C).
- Expected result 2: Enhanced trust and interactions between youth and people from other religious and ethnic communities and between students from different education institutions with improved critical thinking among students (Result area D).
- Expected result 3: Enhanced youth awareness on the threat of violent extremism and resilience against hate speech, and disinformation campaign, with better access to positive messaging (Result area E).
Eligibility Criteria
- Be legally registered with NGO Secretariat of Sri Lanka (at national or district level). Individuals, political parties, and organizations with political affiliations are not eligible to apply.
- Following the statutory requirements (including NGO reports) and availability of annual audits of last 3 years.
- Minimum 2 years’ experience within last 5 years on the thematic area in the proposed project implementation district.
- Projects with components of creative arts will be highly encouraged to apply.
Selection Criteria
- Criteria for shortlisting
- Assessment of the project proposal: proposals are evaluated against selection criteria – relevance, impact, quality, innovativeness and efficiency of implementation.
- The projects that are seeking to contribute to the specific results with realistic and innovative activities and relevance of the proposed approach.
- The proposal that mainly focuses on the achievement of the results targeting appropriate beneficiaries in the specific locations. Activities must be based on a problem analysis to be addressed and realistic budget coherent with the proposed activities and outputs.
- Having appropriate organizational capacity and prior experience in implementing donor-funded projects.
- Proposals with potential for sustainability and ability to scale up.
- Final selection criteria
- All the shortlisted organizations will be assessed based on the following criteria for the final selection.
- Experience with project implementation focused on PVE, social cohesion, peacebuilding, enhancing gender relations and conflict transformation in programme locations.
- Recognized ability to comply with good programmatic, financial, and administrative practices, credibility among stakeholders.
- Experience in community engagement, proven records of acceptance and trust by state, non-state actors and communities.
- Experience in youth empowerment and youth leadership projects.
- Experience in project implementation by giving priority to gender and diversity.
- Ability to implement activities in the new normal conditions of the country, including the capacity to integrate adaptation methods and innovative project strategies during strict health guidelines and travel restrictions.
- Financial accountability and transparency.
- Organizations with existing Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms in place.
- Consideration of existing mechanisms in place by other stakeholders on Prevention of Violent Extremism when developing project proposal approaches and activities.
For more information, visit HELVETAS Sri Lanka.
