October 13 2006

The Harambee Project is calling for proposals for its Harambee Small Grants Facility: A Focus on Networks. Grants to be awarded range in value from $1,000 USD up to a maximum of $5,000 USD.

The aim of the Harambee small grants fund is to provide a mechanism to supply immediate funding for capacity development and innovation in sectors with existing networks pursuing ongoing activities. This fund provides an opportunity for support to a number of sectoral based networks and communities (in, for example, health, education, agriculture, etc.) – and to those with the capability to facilitate knowledge sharing, communication and participation of those networks and communities in a variety of fora – and in so doing will help to enhance awareness of, and expertise in, processes and technologies in support of collaboration on the continent as a whole. This in turn will ensure that African organisations will be better equipped to participate in determining strategies adopted to confront their development challenges.

The following types of activites are examples of SGF projects that fit within the theme of strengthening existing networks and collaborations in Africa:

• Increasing network coordinators' and members' access to relevant training and support for knowledge - and ICT-related capacity development. This could include, for example, receiving training in the strategic use of ICTs and/or Knowledge Sharing techniques;
• Raising awareness within African networks of the potential for processes and technologies in support of collaboration to strengthen their collective capacity to effect change;
• Undertaking research that can serve as a valuable resource on a variety of techniques, conceptual frameworks, indicators, etc., relating to facilitation, knowledge sharing, communication and other collaboration-related issues such as gender considerations.
• Building expertise in the design and implementation of collaborative processes, including facilitation or conflict resolution/mediation processes;
• To increase the profile as well as knowledge and networking base of Harambee and Harambee partners

Funds granted to winning proposals will be paid to the applying institution. Final budgets awarded for each project will be determined by Bellanet Africa based on the review process and, if necessary, negotiation with the applicant institution.

Eligibility and Preferences

• The recipient insitution must be a recognised legal entity that is capable of entering into contractual arrangements and assuming legal and financial obligations.
• Proposals that demonstrate relevance to the overall theme of the competition:
  1. significant knowledge sharing and/or ICT component
  2. significant collaboration component within the network
  3. orientation towards building capacity of the network to be more effective at achieving its main goals.

• Proposals which clearly outline the scope of work including the respective roles and responsibilities of various partners within the proposed activity.
• Proposals that demonstrate intent and process for sharing learning of the undertaken activities.
• The selection committee with promote regional diversity of grants awarded.
• Preference will be given to networks with an institutional base in Africa.

Applicants are required to submit a brief concept note to harambee-sgf@dgroups.org and the concept notes should include the following information:

• Name of Applicant Organisation and/or Network
• Contact Information (Address, Phone, Email)
• Title of the proposed activity
• Description of the problem/issue the proposed activity will address
• Outline of the proposed activity including a description of how a one-time small grant of up to $5000USD would be used.
• Describe who is expected to benefit as a result of this project. Explain the intended impact of the project.
• Indicate the expected duration of the activity

Concept notes will be appraised, based on the criteria set out below, by reviewers selected from an international team of individuals having expertise in network strengthening and selected applicants will be invited to submit a proposal (approximately 5-6 pages in length) outlining the activity idea in more detail. Submitted proposals will be reviewed using the same process and criteria. Applicants who reach this stage may be asked to provide additional information to support their application or to clarify aspects of the project proposal. Concept Notes and Proposals can be written in English or French and in the following formats:

• PDF
• OpenOffice
• MSWord
• RTF (rich text format)

Click here for more information.