World Bank Small Grants Program

1
World Bank Small Grants Program

• Azerbaijan Country Office
• 2003

2
Background

• Launched in 1983
• Decentralized in 1998
• Managed by the NGO and Civil Society Unit, Social
  Development Department and funded by the
  Development Grant Facility of the World Bank

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Goal and objectives

• Provide funding to civil society organizations to
  promote dialogue and dissemination of information
  on development and to enhance partnership with
  key players in the development arena
• Aim to support the empowerment of citizens to
  have greater control over development processes,
  thereby making these processes more inclusive and
  equitable

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Small Grants Program in Azerbaijan

• Started in 1999. Administered by the Country
  Office Staff
• Total amount granted 95 000
• 25 000 2000 year
• 30 000 - 2001 year
• 40 000 2002 year
• 23 local NGOs received WB SGP grants
• 7 NGOs in 2000 year
• 7 NGOs in 2001 year
• 8 NGOs in 2002 year

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Small Grants program 2003

• Focuses on civic engagement for the empowerment
  of marginalized and vulnerable groups
• Amount allocated for Azerbaijan- 30 000
• Administered by the Steering Committee comprised
  of WB Country Office and donor organizations
  staff
• Size of grants 3 000- 7 000
• Applications deadline- 10 March, 2003
• Awards to be announced by May, 2003

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Who can apply

• Civil society organizations
• based in a developing country and working on
  issues of development
• in good standing and having a record of
  achievement in the community and record of
  financial probity

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Funding requirements

• Small Grants must be used for a specific activity
  to be completed within one year of the date the
  grant is awarded
• Small Grants rarely funds more than half of the
  proposed budget for an activity. Organizations
  applying for funding should show how the grant
  could help to raise support from other sources
• Priority will be given to organizations not
  supported by the Program in previous years
  (organizations are not eligible for more than
  three grants from the Small Grants Program within
  a five-year period).

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Main selection criteria

• Activities related to civic engagement should
• promote dialogue and dissemination of
  information
• enhance partnerships with key players in support
  of the development process. Key players could
  include government agencies, civil society
  organizations, multilateral and bilateral
  agencies, foundation, and private sector
• include or benefit those who have been
  traditionally excluded, such as women, indigenous
  peoples, ethnic minorities

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Additional selection criteria

• Does the activity
• Promote public consensus and local ownership
• Give voice to the concerns of primary and
  secondary stakeholders
• Strengthen and leverage impact of development
  programs
• Bring innovative ideas and solutions to
  development challenges
• Provide professional expertise and increase
  capacity
• Improve transparency and accountability

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Not supported activities

• SGP can not fund
• Research programs
• Formal academic training programs
• Operational projects
• Ongoing institutional core support ( such as
  equipment)
• Scholarships, fellowships, study programs
• Individuals applying on their own behalf
• Nonlegal entities
• Note Proposed activities should not compete with
  or substitute for regular WB instruments the
  activity should be clearly distinguishable from
  the Banks regular programs

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Examples of items and activities usually not
eligible for funding under SGP

• medical equipment, such as hospital equipment,
  hearing aids, crutches
• computer equipment and installation
• overhead costs, such as rent, maintenance, or
  general office supplies
• workshops on training of business skills,
  HIV/AIDS awareness, smoking, unless there is a
  direct relation to the SmGP objectives
• building the capacity of NGOs so that they could
  become consultants/employees in Bank projects

• meeting basic needs, such as the provision of
  water, heat, meals
• construction of facilities, such as libraries or
  sanitation facilities
• job creation or employment
• disease control campaigns
• food aid
• full-time salaries of, for example, the director
  of the NGO
• infrastructure projects, such as water systems,
  wells.