Deadline: 20-Aug-2024
Friends of Nepal (FoN) is opening its grant application period and will be supporting initiatives that address one or more of the following themes: Climate Change, Natural Resource Conservation, and Sustainability.
Prior to the current focus on Climate Change, Natural Resource Conservation, and Sustainability, FoN grants focused on efforts in support of girls’ learning. Increasing girls’ participation in education and improving the quality of their participation is an on-going challenge for Nepal’s educational system. FoN therefore particularly encourages applications that include support for girls’ learning as a component of the proposal. They will also give special consideration to projects that simultaneously address climate change, natural resource conservation, and sustainability as well as economic development. For example, how might a school science club (girls and boys) engage with their community in developing a climate-smart technique that can become a potential income source for some members of the community?
More examples of projects they are interested in sponsoring are:
- Natural Resource Management,
- Natural Disaster Mitigation,
- Efforts to Protect Land and Wildlife,
- Educational Programs that engage students in local climate change mitigation and conservation activities,
- Waste Management: Projects to reduce open defecation, and improve community hygiene; this could also focus on community management of solid waste and recycling efforts,
- Seed Saving, Soil Improvements, Home Gardens, and other Sustainable Farming Methods,
- Pollution Mitigation (air, water, soil etc.).
Funding Information
- This year, they have a total amount of $25,000 to award. In the past, the average grant size has been approximately $5,000 per project. Normally FoN makes awards to multiple grantees in any given grant cycle.
Sponsor Role and Responsibilities
- Sponsor Role:
- As FoN is an entirely volunteer run organization and it’s not possible to make frequent field visits, they rely on sponsors to vet the viability, relevance and sustainability of proposed projects while also promoting accountability (e.g., meeting targets, spending according to intended use of funds, reaching appropriate communities, adequate reporting etc.). FoN expects sponsors to engage with successful applicants throughout the project cycle. Successful proposals must demonstrate sponsor role in and commitment to the project (note: the application evaluation matrix explicitly takes into account sponsor role and viability of sponsor’s responsibilities as articulated in the proposal). As sponsors are the primary liaison between project and FoN they must have an in-depth knowledge of the project design and, ideally, the implementing organization, geographic location and community served. Sponsors are encouraged to actively explore project cost-share opportunities (e.g., through local government, I/NGOs, private foundations, community organizations etc.) to maximize impact. FoN will work with sponsors to help them fulfill the responsibilities described below starting with an orientation post-award.
- Sponsor Criteria:
- Must be an active FoN member with significant ties to Nepali communities (non-members can join before submitting a proposal). Historically sponsors have been RPCVs as well as those with extensive experience in and knowledge of Nepal (e.g., development practitioners, Fulbright scholars etc.).
- Ideally sponsors have a pre-existing connection to the applicant organization. Absent such a connection there must be a clear rationale for the sponsor’s association with the Nepali organization/project.
- Must have a solid understanding of the project design, activities, target community as well as applicant organization’s resources and capacity.
- Must be continuously engaged with the project from inception to wrap up.
- Must clearly articulate the sponsor’s role in the project.
- Sponsor Responsibilities:
- Vetting project proposal
- Liaising with FoN
- Project monitoring & evaluation
- Project management troubleshooting
- Oversight on narrative and financial reporting
- Athough not a requirement, ideally sponsors can help link projects to other funding and/or relevant technical expertise.
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-profit organizations, schools, and community groups are welcome to apply.
- FoN generally does not provide scholarships to individuals.
- FoN prefers to work with organizations with a proven track record.
- They particularly encourage proposals that implement activities in remote areas and/or among disadvantaged populations.
- Organizations must be based in either the United States or Nepal, and be providing direct services in Nepal/have authorization from the government of Nepal.
- Beneficiaries of the project must be actively involved, as demonstrated by donations of volunteer labor, materials, or money.
- Projects must be sponsored by an active FoN member who has significant ties to Nepal. The sponsor has until the application due date to join FoN. The organization applying must submit a letter of recommendation from the sponsor along with the proposal. Please see the Sponsor Role and Responsibilities section. Any potential sponsor must read the Role and Responsibilities section before agreeing to sponsor.
- To broaden the grant pool and programmatic reach, FoN normally does not award more than two consecutive grants to the same organization. Compelling cases, however, may be considered.
- Overhead costs are not typically covered in awards.
For more information, visit FoN.