Overview :

Dear Madam / Sir,

                  WE KINDLY REQUEST YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL FOR REFERENCE Call for Proposal for grants: Support to VSLA Youth and Women Groups ATTACHED TO THIS ADVERTISEMENT. WHEN PREPARING YOUR BID, PLEASE BE GUIDED BY THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS. 

Call for Proposals for Grants

Support VSLA Youth and Women Groups

Deadline: 23 August 2021

 UNDP is implementing a five-year GEF funded project “Adapting to climate change induced coastal risk management in Sierra Leone” with the aim to strengthening the ability of coastal communities to systemically manage climate change risks and impacts on their physical infrastructure and economic livelihoods.

The coastal zone of Sierra Leone is highly vulnerable to the increased frequency and severity of coastal erosion, flooding and storm surges which severely impact social wellbeing (health), livelihood security (and water resources) and major economic sectors such as fishing, tourism, water resources and agriculture. Coastal communities are already experiencing considerable repercussions of these impacts, notably on their livelihoods with reduced fishing productivity, ecosystem degradation and low farming outputs. The limited accessibility of climate-related data limits the ability of decision-makers to make informed planning and policy decisions for the coast (marine and sea parameters databases such as wave height, wave period, wind speed and direction), and to take any clear strategic actions to remedy these negative effects. This lack of adequate knowledge is contributing towards undermining social and economic development, particularly under a changing climate. In addition, weak institutional regulatory capacity coupled with the absence of a national “coastal specific” community-based information system that focuses on supporting the management of climate-related risks continue to hamper long-term coastal planning, management, and early warning activities. The GEF-funded project is designed to address these problems. The intended outcome of the project is to help the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to become more climate resilient while contributing towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project focuses on three thematic components:

Component 1: Generating sound scientific knowledge and access to information.

Component 2: Climate information internalized into coastal development policy and plans;

Component 3: Awareness and alternative, innovative activities to support adaptation in the coastal zone.

Through these components, the project will work towards the removal of those policy and informational barriers that are preventing Sierra Leone, as a nation, to systematically manage coastal risks. This will contribute to the vulnerability reduction of both coastal communities and ecosystems and strengthen institutional capacity and adaptation planning.

Based on the above, UNDP Coastal Risks Management project would like to initiate a financial intervention aimed at providing “Start-up” grant capital to Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) groups through a suitable Non-profit Organization (CSO/NGO/Academia/Foundation) within the targeted project locations. A total of 18 targeted groups (30 participants per group) from project locations will be supported with grant to improve the ability of help young local entrepreneurs and businesses develop new climate resilient.

The grants proposal required a fixed budget allocation as below:

The total grant amount is up to a maximum $40,000 including direct support to the project beneficiaries and administrative overheads not more than 10%.  Organizations applying should indicate the specific added value they can deliver within the scope of the proposal.  The grants are not able to fund provision of direct services or operating/running costs unrelated to proposed activities as outlined in this call. The grants must be executed within a period of not more than two months (September -October 2021).

Who Can Apply?

A suitable Non-profit organization (CSO/NGO/Academia/Foundation) with operational presence and expertise in cash transfer to support 18 VSLA groups in Lakka, Hamilton (Western Area); Conankrydee (Port Loko District), Shenge (Moyamba District) and Turtle Island (Bonthe Island).

Those wishing to apply for the grant capital must submit:

1. Signed Grants Proposal populated template (See annex A)
2. Organization background
3. CVs of all project staff who will be dedicated to the proposed grant activity.
4. Workplan, performance targets.
5. Audited financial statements for past two years, including management report and footnotes that accompany the financial statements.

 LOCATION: Freetown – SIERRA LEONE

INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD REQUEST FOR THE PROPOSAL FORMAT AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS THROUGH THE EMAIL  [email protected]

Bids may be submitted on or before 4:00 p.m., Sierra Leone local time on Monday August 23, 2021, via e-mail or courier mail to the address below:

United Nations Development Programme

UNDP, Fourah Close, Off Main Motor Road, Wilberforce, Freetown, Sierra Leone
P. O. Box 1011, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Attn: Procurement Unit

E-mail: [email protected]

Proposals submitted by email must be limited to a maximum of 10 MB, virus-free and no more than two (2) email transmissions.  They must be free from any form of virus or corrupted contents, or the proposals shall be rejected.