Global Poverty Action Fund
Community Partnership Window
Funding Seminar
January 2014

Agenda


Workshop Rationale
GPAF Programme Objectives & Community Partnership
window

Applicant organisation and project eligibility

Concept note appraisal process and criteria


If invited to submit a full proposal – documentation required
and appraisal criteria
Question and Answer session

Aims of the workshop


To provide participants with a clarification
of the GPAF funding guidelines and…..
…..more specifically the key factors
considered during the assessment of
concept notes

GPAF Programme



DFID’s main central programme of
support to civil society
organisations
Poverty Reduction & MDGs
Real, positive changes to the lives
of poor people

Approaches

Service delivery focused on MDGs

Empowering individuals and communities

Improving accountability

Addressing issues related to conflict,
security and justice

Approaches (contd.)

Capacity building and advocacy as
integral components of projects focused
on delivering poverty reduction outcomes
for poor people

Value for money

Gender and diversity

Community Partnership Window

For UK-based organisations

For smaller and newer organisations

For smaller scale community based projects

Innovation welcomed but not a requirement

Organisational Eligibility


UK-based non-governmental and not for
profit
Average annual income <£1m

Project Eligibility



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Fit to GPAF Programme Objectives (see above)
and specific objectives of the ‘Jobs and
Livelihoods’ round
New, time-limited discrete projects up to 36
months
Maximum DFID contribution is £250k
In GPAF eligible countries (note new policies on
India and South Africa)

What cannot be funded?

Areas covered more appropriately by other DFID funding
schemes

Capital expenditure (as main focus)

Scholarships / stand-alone activities (e.g. conferences)

Organisational core costs


Discrimination / Civil disobedience / Partisan political
stances / Proselytising
Projects with primary focus outside scope of ‘Jobs and
livelihoods’

Project Partners

Important to establish mechanisms for
beneficiary participation in design,
management, implementation and
monitoring and evaluation

Implementation partners

Collaborative partners

How to Apply



Complete the concept note form (carefully
following the guidance on the form)
Check the content against the organisational
and project eligibility criteria in the ‘Guidelines
for Applicants’ document
Submit with a copy of your organisation’s
constitution / governance documents

Concept Note Appraisal
Process
Fund Manager Appraisal



Eligibility and validity check
Appraisal by team of experienced assessors using published criteria
Quality assurance check
Then Fund Manager recommendations reviewed by:
 DFID Civil Society Department (CSD)
Selection of Concept Notes
 DFID – CSD determine the total number and selection of concept
notes to be developed into full proposals
 Fund Manager sends out e-mail announcement of decisions and
specific feedback to all applicants.

1.
2.

Concept Note Appraisal
Criteria
Potential poverty impact

Justification for intervention (context/need)

Linkage to MDGs

Clarity and nature of anticipated changes

Potential for wider dissemination and impact
Proposed implementation arrangements

Organisational capability

Proposed project approach /methodology
Value for Money & Gender/Inclusion
considerations

Potential Poverty Impact
Q 3.2: Why is this project needed at this time in
this location?


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How and why have the communities and beneficiaries been
selected?
What are the factors of poverty affecting their lives?
How will the project address the MDGs identified in 3.1
(which MDGs?)
Refer to any evidence that shows the relevant MDGs are
“off-track”

Potential Poverty Impact
Q 3.3: What specific change is this initiative
intended to achieve?



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What is the anticipated impact of the project on the
lives of the beneficiary communities?
What results will be delivered at community level?
Approximately how many people will benefit directly
(from each of the target groups)?
What is the anticipated magnitude of the change?

Implementation Arrangements
Q 3.4: What is the (proposed) methodology and
approach used by the project to achieve the
changes described?

How will the project work at community level?

Describe briefly the main activities

Implementation Arrangements
Q 3.5: Who will be carrying out the project
activities?



Which organisations / stakeholders will undertake
which work?
Why are these organisations considered to be the
most appropriate to implement this project?
Who has been involved to date in project design?

Value for Money
Q 3.6: Why do you consider the proposed
approach to offer good value for money in
terms of the anticipated results and impact on
poverty at the community level compared to
the overall cost of the intervention?

Gender & Inclusion
Q 3.7: How will the proposed project impact
positively on the situation of women and girls
and other relevant diverse groups (e.g.
disabled, minorities) who are particularly
excluded in the local project context?

Top Tips



Read guidance notes, questions and prompts
very carefully and check relevance of responses
Read through document presenting strengths
and weaknesses of previous GPAF concept
notes in relation to the assessment criteria
Note that the appraisal will be based on
information presented in the concept note only

What additional documents would
be required at full proposal stage?

A completed full proposal form (approx. 15 pages)

A project logframe / results framework

A detailed project budget

A copy of most recent set of approved org. accounts

A project organisational chart

A project implementation schedule

What are the Criteria for Proposal
Appraisal
1. Analysis of context
1. Analysis of context
2. Anticipated poverty impact // link to MDGs
2. Anticipated poverty impact link to MDGs
3. Project approach // methodology
3. Project approach methodology
4. Sustainability // Risk Management
4. Sustainability Risk Management
5. Project management & org. capability
5. Project management & org. capability
6. Monitoring, evaluation and learning
6. Monitoring, evaluation and learning
7. Budget, Efficiency and Effectiveness
7. Budget, Efficiency and Effectiveness
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Any Questions?