TAP Phase 3 Grants Program Full Proposal Instructions and Annex A - Narrative Proposal Template for Open Window Grant Applicants

Transcription

1 TAP Phase 3 Grants Program Full Proposal Instructions and Annex A - Narrative Proposal Template for Open Window Grant Applicants 1. This Proposal Instructions document is for organizations interested in applying to be an Open Window grantee of the Transparency and Accountability Program (TAP). Before submitting a full proposal for the program, we ask that applicants read the Program Overview document to learn more about TAP, the types of projects that we will be supporting during this grant round, and eligibility criteria. The document is available on the TAP website ( 2. Organizations that are submitting a proposal are required to use the Narrative Proposal template provided below (Annex A) as well as submit a project budget using the Proposal Budget template (Annex B). Organizations must also submit resumes or CVs for each team member. We request that all proposals be submitted in English or French. Any questions regarding how to prepare or submit a proposal should be sent via (grants@resultsfordevelopment.org). Completed proposals should be saved as a Word document or PDF file and sent to grants@resultsfordevelopment.org. 3. Proposals will be accepted until the close of business (17:00 US Eastern Daylight Time) on 14 October We will send an acknowledgement by when your proposal has been received. Please allow two business days after 14 October 2011 to receive this acknowledgement. Review Procedure and Criteria 4. Each proposal will be reviewed by a selection committee. Depending upon the number of proposals received, the TAP team may do an internal screening and review of proposals before sending a smaller set of eligible proposals to the selection committee for formal review. Answers to each question below will be scored between 0 and 10 (10 being the highest score). Each question is worth a percentage of the total score (this percentage is stated with each question in Annex A), and each proposal will receive a score from each reviewer that is a weighted average of the individual question scores. Each proposal will receive a score that is the average of the selection committee member scores for the proposal. Based on these scores and on considerations about diversity of geographic scope and sub-sector focus, we will determine the

2 ten finalist organizations. All applicants will be notified about whether they have been selected for a grant or have been rejected by late November Unfortunately, TAP will be unable to provide comments on any proposals. 5. Applying CSOs that are not selected for this grant window are welcome and encouraged to apply for the next Open Window grant, likely opening around August 2012, which will focus on a different social accountability tool. 2

3 Annex A: Narrative Proposal Template Title of the Project: Organization Name: Name: Country: Type of Organization: Lead Project Coordinator First name Title Organization Last name Telephone Fax Address Web site Project Collaborators/Team Members (replicate form for each member of the project team) First name Title Organization Address Web site Last name Telephone Fax 3

4 Summary of the lead project coordinator s skills and expertise Provide a brief narrative of the skills and experience of the project coordinator that you believe would be beneficial in conducting the research and evidence-based advocacy components of this project (1 paragraph on each). Please include details on any experience that you have with using social accountability tools and/or formal training you have received in social accountability, particularly related to Citizen Report Cards. Note, however, that experience in these fields is not a requirement for this project. Word limit: 250 words. Additional skills and expertise contributed by each project collaborator List the additional skills and expertise brought in by the project collaborator, or explain how the collaborator complements the lead project coordinator s skills. Note that that skills and expertise could be for either the research activities, advocacy activities, or both. Please do not paste CVs in this box; highlight relevant skills and expertise here, and submit CVs or resumes as attachments. Word limit: 150 per collaborator Please attach the most recent resume or CV for the coordinator and all project team members. Organizational Description Please provide a narrative description of your organization, including: Mission statement of the organization; Legal status of the organization; Description of any funding (grant or contract) received from government entities or political parties. Word limit: 250 words. 4

5 1. Analytical Work Plan A) Problem Definition and Research Questions (20 Points) Describe the problem that you propose to study during the grant round and the research questions you want to answer with this project. Your description should include: (1) the sub-sector or program that you will focus on (2) the specific problem you will study (3) what question(s) you will answer with your research Word limit: 300 words B) Objectives and Tool (20 Points) Describe your objectives - what you seek to achieve with this project - and why a CRC is the right tool to achieve these objectives. Your description should include: (1) what you seek to achieve with this project (your objectives) (2) why a CRC is the right tool to achieve these objectives Word limit: 300 words C) Project Focus and Proposed Methodology (10 Points) Please describe your proposed focus and methodology, including information about the type of facilities your study will focus on, the study s geographical scope, and who you will survey. Your description should include: the number and type of facilities that will make up the sample (for example, primary schools or health centers) the geographical scope of the study (for example, a particular province or a sample of districts) who you will survey Word limit: 250 words. 5

6 D) Research Activities (20 Points) Please provide a description of research activities and meeting with stakeholders that you will undertake as part of your Citizen Report Card project. Please list a maximum of 10 activities. Activity Brief Description Resulting Product (if applicable) Time Period (start and end) 2. Feasibility, Interest, and Relevance of Proposed Project (15 Points) Please address each of the following issues: Is your project Feasible given the skills, expertise, and experience of your project team? Why is your project topic and scope of Interest to key stakeholders such as policymakers, service providers, and/or community members? How is your project topic Relevant to the mission and long-term goals of your organization? Specifically, describe: o How the CRC study that you describe in question 1 relates to the organization s longer term goals and mission o How you think that the later research and advocacy activities that will be conducted as part of this project will help your organization reach its longer term goals o How this project will complement existing research and advocacy by your organization (including examples of current or recent projects) Please provide detail and evidence in your answers to each of these questions. Word limit: 300 words. 6

7 3. Initial Plans for Evidence-Based Advocacy Activities (15 Points) Please fill out the table below. While we do not at this point expect a detailed advocacy plan, we are interested in how your organization might use analytical results to achieve changes in their sub-sector or program of interest. Please use no more than 3 rows at this time. Target Audience What do you want to achieve with this audience, what do you expect of them? How will you interact with and influence this audience? (example: radio show, meetings, press conference, etc) What are some of the challenges you anticipate in working with this audience? 7

8 References and Partners To help the selection committee determine which organizations would be best suited to this program, we require that in addition to full proposals, all applicants submit the name and contact information for the organization s Executive Director, as well as two donor references that can speak to the quality of the applicant s work, using the form below. Donors should be from projects funded within the last three years. TAP may contact the donor references as well as the Executive Director after making preliminary selections. Executive Director Name Phone Number Donor 1 Organization Program Officer or Contact Person Name Program Officer or Contact Person Phone Description of Funded Project Donor 2 Organization Program Officer or Contact Person Name Program Officer or Contact Person Phone Description of Funded Project Partner Organizations If there are multiple organizations participating in this project, please describe the specific roles and division of labor Project Budget Please use the Excel file template (Annex B) to provide a project budget for the project. Any applicant that does not submit both the Narrative Proposal and the Budget Proposal will not be considered.