Deadline: 01-Jul-2020
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has announced a call for proposals which will be led and supported by diaspora actors and may focus on:
- Containing the spread of COVID-19
- Supporting communities where COVID-19 has – or is expected to – worsen already strained protection, social and economic situations
- Advocating for refugees, internally displaced people, migrants and host communities that are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 or its derived social and economic effects
With the spread of COVID-19 and consequences that it is expected to have on communities in Afghanistan and Somalia, the diaspora has a crucial role to play in the provision of localized responses.
To contain and lessen the negative effects of COVID – 19, DRC aims to support diaspora organizations to play a significant role in assisting communities in their countries of origin. Specifically, it enables Afghan and Somali diaspora organizations in Denmark to contribute to localized responses in their countries of origin in collaboration with their local partners and directly with target communities.
Activities
Activities supported by this call should clearly provide relief and support to communities that are currently or are expected to be affected by the spread of COVID-19.
Outlined below are examples of activities that could be supported. This is, however, not exhaustive and new ideas to provide solutions would be assessed positively.
In relation to (i) containing the spread of COVID-19, activities could focus on issues such as:
- Awareness-raising of how to limit or stop the spread of COVID-19 via radio, TV, social media or WhatsApp campaigns, community networks or other channels that may be accessible to the diaspora
- Remote knowledge transfer activities by diaspora health care professionals to local health care facilities
- Learning packages for children about COVID-19, for example workbooks, school supplies, or educational flashcards
- Identifying relevant places for and setting up community washing stations (while keeping in mind social distancing) with awareness campaigns on how to effectively wash hands
In relation to (ii) supporting communities where COVID-19 has – or is expected to – worsen already strained protection, social and economic situations, activities could focus on issues such as:
- Supporting livelihoods, e.g. training for tailors to make protective face masks
- Mental health services, e.g. setting up virtual psychosocial counselling or virtual anonymous peer-to-peer helplines
- Delivering care packages to vulnerable groups, including elders, children and persons with disabilities
- Supporting community members who are not able to carry out essential daily life activities due to COVID-19
In relation to (iii) advocating for refugees, internally displaced people, migrants and host communities that are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 or its derived social and economic effects, activities could focus on issues such as:
- Advocacy toward local and national authorities calling for e.g. making COVID-19 responses more socially inclusive
- Setting up mechanisms for communities to report protection issues to the government in coordination with elders
Funding Information
Diaspora organizations may apply for up to DKK50,000 per intervention that may last up to four months. Each organization may apply for up to two interventions. A maximum of DKK500,000 has been allocated for this call.
Eligibility Criteria
This call is open to Afghan and Somali diaspora organizations based in Denmark. Activities should be planned to be carried out with local partners or directly with target communities.
For more information, visit https://drc.ngo/relief-work/diaspora-programme/what-we-do/diaspora-project-support/dips-covid-19-funding
