Deadline: 21 October 2018
The Data for Development in Nepal (D4D) Program is currently seeking proposals from interested and eligible organisations for the Data for Development Innovation Fund.
Through the Data for Development Innovation Fund, locally-led innovations that improve the use of (open) data to address development challenges will be supported. In addition to funding, awardees of the Innovation Fund will receive strategic guidance to support the development of sustainable, user-centered and problem-focused innovations that are well-placed to demonstrate impact.
Through this, the D4D Program aims to strengthen local leadership and momentum on the (open) data for development agenda and support the development of new solutions, approaches, tools, skills and open datasets. The Innovation Fund ultimately aims to improve the use of data in Nepal to inform decision-making, target interventions, monitor progress, improve accountability and evaluate development outcomes.
The Data for Development Innovation Fund is being managed by The Asia Foundation and Development Initiatives under their Data for Development in Nepal (D4D) Program with funding from UK Aid. The D4DProgram aims to improve the sharing and use of data to inform decision-making, implementation and monitoring of development efforts. The D4D Program has a specific focus on promoting open data as a tool for supporting evidence-based development. Through the D4D Program, the Asia Foundation and Development Initiatives want to contribute to the increased demand, supply and use of open data by government, civil society, and the private sector.
Awards
The Data for Development Innovation Fund will award a total amount of $30,000, divided between 3-5 projects. Awards made under the Data for Development Innovation Fund will be for a maximum of $10,000 per project. Funding will be awarded based on a two-stage process:
- Feasibility Assessment Phase
- Implementation and Review Phase
Assessment Criteria
Assessment of the applications will be based on the strength of the idea, its ability to lead to impact, and the feasibility of implementation. Applications must relate to innovations aimed at improving the use of data for development. Applications are expected to demonstrate the following:
- Use of a problem-driven approach
- Adoption of a user-centered focus
- Level of innovativeness
- Contribution strategic, long-term or widespread impact
- Value for money
Eligibility Criteria
- Nepali civil society organisations, academic organisations, companies, and media organisations can apply. The Data for Development Innovation Fund is for organisations who do not have alternative sources of funding (such as unrestricted grant funding or re-investable profit)available to them to take forward their ideas. An organization may propose more than one idea, but the Innovation Fund will support only one innovation per organization. Awardees of the previous 2017 Open Data Innovation Fund are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants must have a strong commitment towards the principle of open data as a public good and ensure their innovations do not lead to any restrictions on the sharing or use of data. By accepting funding from the Data for Development Innovation Fund, awardees are expected to incorporate strategic guidance from The Asia Foundation and Development Initiatives throughout the project and secure formal permissions and/or agreements where other stakeholders are involved (e.g. government or NGO partners). If the Feasibility Assessment Phase is deemed successful and implementation funding awarded, the awardee is expected to enter into a contractual agreement with The Asia Foundation that lays out a mutually agreed set of activities, deliverables and time frame; conduct monitoring and impact evaluation throughout and after the project period; and communicate on project progress regularly in person and in writing. Please note that payment of funds will be based on the reimbursement of actuals.
How to Apply
The proposal must be submitted in Word Format and sent via email at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit Data for Development Innovation Fund.