Deadline: 7-Oct-22
Europe Foundation is pleased to announce a request for proposals (RFP) for grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) to participate in the Small Grants Competition.
The call is specifically designed to strengthen the organizational capacity of grassroots CSOs and to increase their effective and sustained engagement in the decision-making processes at a local level, so as to address the problems of their constituencies.
The development of relatively new grassroots CSOs into significant civic actors is often delayed by their weak institutional capacity, including problems in management and governance that in turn hinder these CSOs to raise funds sufficient for their development and build sustainable connections with their constituencies. In addition, recently founded CSOs lack a strategic approach to their development, practical experience in effective networking, and lasting partnerships with their peers as well as with more experienced civic actors.
Competition Goal: The goal is to contribute to the improved institutional capacity of recently established grassroots CSOs so that they are proactive participants in solutions to communities’ salient problems and, as a result, foster inclusive and democratic governance practices at the local level.
Competition Objectives
- Support activities directed at the enhancement of the capacity of newly established grassroots CSOs in terms of institutional development through effective interaction with communities, and partnership with different stakeholders.
- Support CSOs’ civic monitoring and advocacy efforts that are focused on identifying and resolving issues of local concern in cooperation with community members, experienced CSOs, and the media.
Funding Information
- The maximum grant award for each proposal is GEL 30,000 (thirty thousand Lari) with project activities lasting at least twelve months or longer.
Use of Funding
- Grant funds may be used for the following:
- Expenses related to the collection of data and evidence;
- Direct costs for project-related events, e.g. rental of facilities, translation, equipment, etc;
- Communication between partner organizations, e.g. phone, fax, e-mail;
- A pro-rated portion of salaries for key participants, e.g. director, accountant, and modest honoraria for project experts;
- Transportation of project participants;
- Purchase of a limited amount of equipment (e.g. computer, software) and stationery;
- Other expenses that are directly related to project implementation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Only newly established grassroots civil society organizations that are legally registered in Georgia and have a proven record of operations of at least one year are eligible to apply for this opportunity.
- Civil servants, members of the current parliament, staff of public broadcasting, and/or leaders and members of political parties cannot participate in a grant project as a director or any grant remunerated participant.
Criteria
- Degree of compliance with the objectives and conditions of the call;
- Degree of compliance with the Foundation’s mission and mandates;
- Effective, feasible, and result-oriented project methodology;
- Scope and importance of the project’s impact
- Well-thought-out project monitoring and evaluation plan for objectively measuring and evaluating the project’s impact;
- Sound analysis of internal and external risks and efficient methods of risk mitigation;
- Demonstrated commitment from major stakeholders, including concrete information about formal and informal partners;
- Organization’s capacity to implement a project as demonstrated by:
- relevant qualifications of the involved personnel and/or experts,
- experience in civic monitoring and advocacy, and
- capacity to manage a grant;
- Gender-based analysis to ensure equal access of men and women to project activities and products to influence decision-making processes;
- Analysis of minority considerations that relate to direct or indirect effect of the project activities and expected results on different minority groups;
- Qualifications and relevant experience of the project implementing team and invited expert(s) (if any);
- Cost-effectiveness of the project.
- Sustainability of the project results.
Ineligible
- The following Program Activities will not be Supported by the Foundation:
- Humanitarian activities
- Support for a particular political party ((however work that includes all parties on issues like electoral processes may be possible if it is inclusive, unbiased, and objective)
- Lobbying for political purposes (EF may advocate for issues, which bring about public and social good)
- Court cases and disputes of a grantee
- Religious activities
- Capital construction projects for commercial purposes
- Small credits and loans for start-up businesses
- Military projects of any kind
- Theoretical and market research
- Individual and/or travel grants
- Purchase of medical equipment.
For more information, visit https://epfound.ge/en/news/singleview/1588-small-grants-competition-empowering-grassroots-civil-society-organizations