Completing the UNDEF Application Form: Helpful Tips
Each section has a maximum number of characters (not words!) which includes commas, spaces, etc. The space provided to express your ideas is very limited, from one line to eight lines of text.
It is useful to first develop the application in a MSWord (or similar) document. This will allow you to work off-line, use spell-check, use a word count feature to check the number of characters, share the document with colleagues for comments and editing, and save a copy for future use. The FundsforNGOs downloadable resource “Editable UNDEF Application Form” already contains the application form in Word format so you can practice before completing the actual form.
Once developed, cut and paste the relevant text from your document into the application form. You can save the on-line application before submitting.
Once submitted you can no longer go back and make any changes.
APPLICANT INFORMATION
Section 1. APPLICANT INFORMATION. This section asks for basic information about your organization such as:
- Name of the organization
- Organization acronym
- Address
- Type of applicant
- First time or prior applicant
- Year your organization was established
You will also be asked to write a paragraph about your organization’s:
- Vision
- Prior experience
- Budget
- Prior experience with the UN (United Nations)
- Affiliation (partner organizations)
- Other grants received
Head of Organization. This section requests that you provide information on who is in charge of your organization, including:
- Prefix
- Name of head of organization
- Title of head
- Phone of head
- Email of head
- Website (If applicable)
- Social media page(s) (If applicable)
Key Contact: This section requests that you provide information on who is the main contact point for UNDEF at your organization. This can be the same as the head of your organization or another member. Include the:
- Prefix
- Name of key contact
- Title of key contact
- Phone of Key Contact
- Email of key contact
PROJECT PROPOSAL INFORMATION. The first box on this section is for the title of your organization’s project. The title of your project should be short and self-explanatory. For example:
- “Empowering People Through Citizen’s Journalism Tirana/Albania Europe”
- “Strengthening Transitional Justice Processes in Burundi”
- “Spaces and Information for Citizens’ Engagement in Columbia”
- “Educating Rural Women in Democratic Citizenship in Haiti”
PROJECT PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION.
In this section, describe the problem to be addressed by the project. This section is writing-intensive.
Democratic Content – (Maximum number of characters is 500) Describe how your organization matches to UNDEF’s main theme. Make sure it is a very close match. Research about UNDEF and what they do is a good way to ensure you understand how your project may fit in with UNDEF’s goals.
Problem Analysis – (Maximum number of characters is 1500) As evident by the high number of characters allotted, this section is very important. Giving a background of the situation, you can provide justification in this section as to why you need financial support for your project intervention. You may need to analyze your problem to the root and provide a final solution offered by your project.
Project Objective – (Maximum number of characters is 255) Define a specific goal or objective you want to achieve by implementing your project. In most cases, your project title indicates your goal and so you can refer back and forth for this. If you are promoting human rights, then the goal would be to increase human rights awareness in your target group.
Outcomes (1 – 3) – (Maximum number of characters is 260 each) In these sections, describe the intended results of the project and/or the outcomes you expect. What are the positive changes expected to occur within the timeframe of the project? Mention the top 3 results you would like to achieve from your project.For example, in a project about spreading the ideas on democratic freedom, the target group exercising its democratic rights like voting or contesting elections; the target group critically analyzing policies and programs; and the target group organizing lobbying activities to influence government decisions.
Outputs for Outcome (1 – 3) – (Maximum number of characters is 600 each) In this section, describe the outputs to be produced by the activities. Make sure that the outputs are measurable products or events. You can mention short-term results that can be achieved from your project like improved understanding of democratic principles and concepts.
