Guidelines for Responsive Grants - Part One
GUIDELINES FOR CIVIL SOCIETY RESPONSIVE GRANTS
1. What we can support
The Foundation's responsive grants are intended to promote co-operation and sharing of skills, knowledge and ideas between developing Commonwealth countries. They are therefore available primarily for activities that involve the participation of people and organisations from more than one developing Commonwealth country. In general, grants are given to support participation from Commonwealth countries other than that in which an activity is taking place.
Grants are given for participation in activities such as training courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, cultural festivals, exchanges and study visits. Preference is given to support regional level activities as opposed to international ones.
Grants can only be made for in-country activities if it can be clearly demonstrated that they relate specifically to one of the Foundation programmes outlined above, that they have impact at the national level, that they involve an aspect of intercultural exchange, and that they are likely to generate learning that can be shared at a Commonwealth level.
Reference should be made to the Foundation's Annual Workplan 2008-2009 and Strategic Plan 2008 to 2012 (available in the Downloadable Publications section of the Foundation's website).
2. What we cannot support
• projects lasting longer than one year;
• participation by citizens of developed countries;
• exchanges between developed countries;
• training courses taking place in a university in a developed country;
• academic study or research;
• the publication of books and films, unless these are learning tools developed as a result of an activity supported by the Foundation;
• core funding (such as salaries of permanent staff, office rental and general running costs).
3. Who is eligible and eligible countries
The Foundation's grants programmes are intended to assist organisations from, and citizens of, developing Commonwealth Foundation-member countries. A list of Commonwealth Foundation member countries is provided in Annexe 1 of this document. Exceptions can only be made if there is a strong case for (a) the choice of country and (b) clear benefits being achieved for Commonwealth participants from developing countries.
Priority is given to activities taking place in developing countries which are members of the Commonwealth Foundation. When an activity is taking place in a developed country, a strong case needs to be made for (a) choice of country and (b) clear benefits being achieved for developing country participants.
Furthermore, projects, activities or people based in a country that remains in arrears in its membership contributions to the Foundation should not expect to benefit from Foundation grants. A list of those countries in arrears is available on request.
4. Who can apply
All applicants for grants must have an organisational base and the activity must benefit the organisation. The Foundation cannot consider applications from individuals. Applying organisations must:
• be registered or incorporated as 'non-profit' civil society or cultural organisations;
• be engaged in work relevant to Commonwealth values, strategic objectives and priorities;
• demonstrate accountability and good governance;
• not practice or tolerate any form of racial, ethnic, gender or other discrimination;
• be able to provide evidence of obtaining funding from sources other than the Foundation.
In assessing applications, the Foundation will give priority to applications from organisations based in developing countries and those which have not previously received funding from the Foundation.
5. Who can benefit
The Foundation gives priority to activities where the direct beneficiaries are women and men who:
• are young (35 years old or under) or mid-career staff;
• are working in civil society organisations directly engaged in development and/or cultural work;
• are employed in work which has direct relevance to the subject of the activity;
• are in a position to transfer their learning to others.
Where funding is to support the participation of individuals in an event, at least half of the beneficiaries receiving Foundation support must be women.
The Foundation does not give grants to support:
• students;
• government employees;
• the private sector;
• political parties.
To continue to Part Two of the Guidelines click here
