Deadline: 30-Nov-20
Entries are now open for the 2021 Ockenden International Prizes for successful self-reliance refugee projects on identifying solutions to the challenges faced by displaced people, raising awareness of their needs, and rewarding outstanding projects.
For Ockenden International its the ninth annual quest to find and reward the most effective self-reliance projects for refugees and/or displaced people.
Funding Information
- The GBP100,000 prize money is to be shared equally by four winners who will each receive GBP25,000 to extend their projects and programmes.
- The cash prizes recognize and reward innovative work that promotes self-reliance among refugees and/or displaced people anywhere in the world – a distinguishing feature of Ockenden International and its predecessor organisation, Ockenden Venture, since 1951.
- Submissions for the GBP25,000 prizes are sought from non-profit organisations, which can enter their own projects or alternatively nominate projects managed by non-profit partners or affiliated organisations. Projects can be led by – or have a high level of participation from – the project beneficiaries themselves.
- Prizes will be awarded to projects that promote self-reliance among refugees and/or displaced people. ‘Self-reliance’ is understood broadly and may be furthered by projects promoting education, providing legal assistance, or developing life skills and by any other programmes that help displaced people build stable, independent lives.
Eligibility Criteria
The project should be the entire focus of the entry. All entries should be made via the online Entry Form. All entries – and supporting documentation, including financials and accounts – must be in English.
- Organisations may submit one entry only in each prize year. Unsuccessful organisations are welcome to reapply in future years.
- Previous winners are ineligible for three years.
- The project must benefit refugees and/or displaced people with a strong emphasis on promoting self-reliance. The primary focus of the project must be helping refugees and/or displaced people in need, rather than this being an ancillary benefit.
- The organisation must be able to show that the project has been effective with measurable evidence of positive outcomes.
- The project entered must be up and running before 1 April 2020, six months prior to the launch date of the 2021 Prizes.
- Organisations must have high standards of financial and administrative governance.
- Entrants must include a copy of the organisation’s latest audited accounts with their application. Where audited accounts are not available, entrants will have to provide other evidence of sound financial governance.
- During the short-listing process, entrants may be asked to provide references or other evidence of the project and their financial and administrative governance. This may include due diligence on bank accounts nominated by entrants for the receipt of prize money.
- All short-listed entrant referees will be asked to provide references and any other evidence related to the organisation’s entered or nominated project.
- The two nominated referees required by all entrants must be third-party, relevant external observers.
- Prize money will only be paid to a bank account held in the organisation’s name. In no circumstances will prize money be paid to a personal bank account. Ockenden International will not be responsible for any bank or transfer fees.
- Prize money must only be used to help refugees and/or displaced persons in need and Ockenden International is required to ensure that prize money is used by a winning organisation for charitable purposes. It is anticipated that, in general, prize money will be used to continue or expand the project referred to in the entry or for a similar future project run by the organisation.
- Prize winners will be required to provide information to Ockenden International about the projects and the use of prize money which Ockenden International will share on its website and in other communications.
Judging Criteria
The judges will, in particular, look for:
- Projects that promote self-reliance among refugees and/or displaced people. These may be projects that are led by or have a high level of participation from displaced people themselves; projects providing education, legal assistance and/or livelihood assistance; or any other programmes that help refugees and/or displaced people build stable, independent lives.
- Projects that have proved to be highly effective in improving the lives of refugees and/or displaced people.
- Projects that have led to real change in the lives of refugees and/or displaced people.
- Effective initiatives, with measurable evidence of outcomes.
For more information, visit https://www.ockendenprizes.org/2021-prizes/