OFID-UNDP Cross-regional Grant Competition on Affordable Energy and Water, and Economic Governance and Employment for NGOs in ECA and MENA region

Deadline: 30 March 2015

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are jointly calling non-profit organizations from Europe and Central Asia (ECA) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to apply for Cross-Regional Grants Competition. The cross-regional competition is designed to develop and share innovative and scalable development solutions in the areas of affordable energy and water, and economic governance and employment – the development challenges shared by the two regions.

The challenge seeks to fund pilot projects, joint research, and/or knowledge sharing initiatives that contribute to positive change and that can later be scaled up or sustained for bigger impact.

Grant Size

Grant request can be made in between USD 20,000 and USD 55,000 for 12 months project. The grant can cover up to 100% of the total eligible cost of the project. It can also be a contribution to a larger project. In this case, the project proposal should clearly indicate how the grant will contribute to the bigger initiative. Grant will be provided for projects that have potential to scale up into larger initiative.

Thematic Areas and Priority Issues

Affordable Energy and Water Solutions: Technological solutions that combat the lack of access to energy or water. The application should be made for a pilot project or prototype that promotes sustainable or renewable energy, waste management, water security, water resource management, shelter or sustainable agriculture. The grant support will be available to test and implement the solution and gather different perspectives and feedback from various partners. Applicant must demonstrate ability to adapt the solutions to a different region.
Economic Governance and Employment: To address the need for a more inclusive labor market and increase the capacity of people to access it. The innovative solution purposed should make the labor market more youth friendly, and should support entrepreneurship and employment of women, youth or other vulnerable and disadvantaged group. This idea should be applicable to different socio-economic contexts.

Activities

Research activities
Developing technical solutions and prototypes
Organization of events (seminars/training/workshops/conferences) with the aim of knowledge sharing and development of technological solutions
Documenting solutions/prototypes or innovative ideas

Note the Key Dates