The eligibility criteria under this 2010 IFAD call for proposals seek to invite NGOs, public or governmental organizations, for-profit entities and cooperatives or credit unions. For-profit agencies are encouraged to build partnership with NGOs to develop joint proposals. This can also be an opportunity for small NGOs lacking skills to develop proposals to collaborate with private agencies to submit joint projects. Private entities can include but not limited to private banks, microfinance institutions, agencies providing remittance services, overseas employment agencies, private microinsurance companies, cell phone operators, migrants’ business firms in their homelands and others.
FFR will grant each project up to a funding of $250,000. However, under the theme of mobile banking and mobile money transfers, grants of up to $500,000 can be made. Projects can be proposed from duration of no more than 24 months and target countries must be IFAD member countries.
Applicant organizations submitting proposals should have a legal status and be registered locally in their country of operation; they should have the capacity to enter into a legal agreement with IFAD and comply with the procurement guidelines of IFAD. They cannot act as intermediaries but should be directly responsible for project development, management and implementation.
All applicant organizations are expected to provide a financial counterpart contribution. Except for applicants in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), all other NGOs should contribute or source external funding of up to 20% of the total funding requested (this should not deter small NGOs from apply for this funding). NGOs in LAC are expected to show a contribution of up to 30%. For-profit agencies are expected to contribute up to 50% and migrant organizations up to 10%. Half of this contribution should be in cash while the rest can be in kind.
NGOs should have at least two years of relevant experience while private entities should have three years. Previous financial statements and reports for at least two years should be signed and submitted by NGOs. Projects should be innovative and should have the potential to scale up or replicate in other areas. All projects should support the overall aim and objectives of FFR. Objectives should be sound, realistic, achievable and measurable. Projects should demonstrate sustainability and applicant organizations should have the financial and technical capacity to implement the project and build strong partnerships.
Applications to be submitted online. Initially concept notes will be requested after which full proposals have to be submitted. The online registration for submitting applications will begin from 6 April 2010. The deadline for submitting concept proposals is 7 June 2010. For more information, visit this link.
