The Civil Society Fund seeds and supports activities that empower and enable citizens to take initiatives to enhance and influence development outcomes.
The deadline for submission of applications for the Civil Society Fund in Sri Lanka is March 30, 2010. The theme for this year is “Development and Climate Change – Building Community Resilience in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka”.
The Civil Society Fund or CSF (formerly Small Grants Program) supports activities related to civic engagement by providing small grants administered through World Bank Country Offices.
The CSF seeds and supports activities that empower and enable citizens to take initiatives to enhance and influence development outcomes.Activities strengthen mechanisms for inclusion, accountability, and participation. Activities also strengthen partnerships with public sector, other civil society organizations, and the private sector.
Before You Apply
The World Bank CSF is able to fund only a very small percentage of the requests it receives. Many requests are declined, not because they lack merit, but because they do not match either the current objectives, or the criteria of the CSF as closely as the selected proposals. Your activity may fall within the objectives and criteria, but the demand far surpasses the availability of funds. Before applying, please take time to read the Guidelines to determine if there is a match.
Who can apply?
Civil society organizations based in Sri Lanka and working on issues of development
Civil society organizations must be in good standing and have a record of achievement in the community and record of financial probity;
Organizations that have not been supported by the Program in previous years are encouraged to apply. Organizations are not eligible for more than three grants from the Civil Society Fund within a five-year period.
What activities are supported?
The CSF supports activities whose primary objective is civic engagement.A thematic focus is adopted each year to complement the Bank program in Sri Lanka.For FY 2010, the theme is “Development and Climate Change – Building Community Resilience in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka”.CSF ‘10 shall support innovative mechanisms to adapt to and mitigate Climate Change through community based initiatives related to sustainable agricultural practices at the household level, water management, managing solid waste and any other responsible actions to mitigate and adapt to Climate Change. Water scarcity in the Dry Zone area of Sri Lanka is one of the biggest challenges faced by people living in Northern, Eastern and South Eastern regions of Sri Lanka, which are also key areas of agriculture production. The CSF 2010 will focus on projects in these geographic areas given the challenges of food production and limited water resources that could hamper development and poverty reduction as the impacts of climate change set in.
In addition:
Activities may include, but are not limited to workshops and seminars to enhance civic engagement skills and/or knowledge; appropriate communication campaigns to influence policymaking or public service delivery; or innovative networking efforts to build the capacity of the particular sector.
The activity should be completed within one year of the date the grant is awarded.
Which activities are not supported?
Research programs, formal academic training programs, operational projects, provision of basic services, ongoing institutional core support (such as equipment), scholarships, fellowships, study programs, individuals applying on their own behalf, or non-legal entities.
Proposed activities should not compete with or substitute for regular World Bank instruments; the activity should be clearly distinguishable from the Bank’s regular programs.
What sizes of grants are awarded?
Maximum grant per project shall be $9,000. CSF ‘10 expects to support 5 proposals. The Grant should fund only a portion of the project cost, and therefore prefers that its grants help leverage additional contributions from other sources. Applicant organizations are asked to describe how a grant from the World Bank might help them to raise matching funds from other development partners. A cash or in-kind counterpart from the applicant-organization of, at least, 20% of total cost required and should be reflected in the proposed budget.
How are grants awarded?
Applications are screened, reviewed and evaluated by a Committee composed of World Bank Office Colombo Staff and technical experts from International Water Management Institute(IWMI) and International Finance Corporation (IFC). Applications are screened and reviewed to ensure that the criteria are met. Short-listed proposals are recommended to the Country Director who makes the final decision.Applicant-organizations with approved proposals are informed by mail of the Bank’s decision.
The CSF team will thoroughly review all proposals. The review may take up to one month to complete. Given the very large number of requests, we would appreciate it if personal visits and phone calls to the World Bank Office by the grantees are avoided.
How are applications evaluated?
The CSF committee uses these questions in their evaluation of proposals.
Will the grant be used for civic engagement activities aimed at the empowerment of marginalized and vulnerable groups?
Will the grant be used for activities that promote networking, dialogue and dissemination of information?
Will the proposed activity strengthen the capacity of local leaders to address significant issues and problems?
Will the proposed activity promote and reinforce partnership among different stakeholders, including women, children, youth and people with disabilities, by facilitating useful dialogues and/or dissemination of information?
Does the proposal have clearly defined objectives, activities, outputs and mechanisms for sustainability?
Is the grant intended for a specific activity?
Will the proposed activity be completed within one year from the date the grant is awarded?
Is the proposed activity to be supported by other donors and sources?
Were previous grants (from the Bank or other donors) to the proponent organization well used?
Does the proponent have demonstrated capability or track record to manage and implement the proposed activity?
Has there been a recent grant from the Small Grants Program to the proponent?(Organizations are not eligible for more than three grants from the CSF within a five-year period.)
How to apply for a grant?
The CSF is administered at the World Bank Country Office in Colombo.
Guidelines and application forms are available at the reception at World Bank office in Colombo or through downloading the application form from the link above.
Applicants are advised to read the criteria and the application form carefully before submitting an application.Proposals should be brief, concise and no more than four (4) pages, excluding attachments. Proposals with more than 4 pages run the risks of being disqualified. Only those proposals with complete attachments shall be reviewed.
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