-
WHO CAN APPLY?
Q. I am a local organization and would like to have an external evaluation of my violence prevention programme falling under the thematic and geographical scope of the call for proposals. However, I have not identified an evaluation partner that is available to conduct the evaluation. Can I apply?
A. Yes. Organizations implementing the intervention to be evaluated are generally encouraged to identify a prospective evaluation partner in the application. However, concept notes with a clear evaluation idea can be accepted, even though the evaluator(s) has not been identified yet. The Fund reserves the right to advise applicants on possible evaluators or partnerships in order to ensure the quality and robustness of the evaluation, where necessary.
Q. I am a university and I would be interested in evaluating a specific programme in line with the thematic and geographical scope of the call, but the establishment of the partnership with the organization implementing the programme may require time and I might not be able to meet the deadline. Can I apply without having them as partners?
A. The establishment of the partnership between the organization implementing the interventions and the organization conducting the evaluation – although encouraged – is not a requirement at this stage and the university or research institute can apply on its own. However, the implementing organization must be aware of , and agree to, the evaluation exercise. The collaboration with the organization implementing the intervention to be evaluated is a critical element for the success of the initiative. It is therefore recommended that the organization implementing the intervention to be evaluated is involved at the early stage of the proposal development.
Q. I am a local research institute and I would be interested in partnering with a local organization to evaluate their violence prevention programme, but I am not sure about my capacity to do a rigourous evaluation. Can I apply?
A. Yes. Local research institutes or universities that have a good knowledge of local contexts and established relationships with organizations implementing violence prevention interventions are encouraged to apply. In case the capacity of the organization is not deemed to be adequate to ensure solid evaluations, the Fund can advise the applicants on how to strengthen their proposals and where to get the additional technical assistance required. Partnerships with other universities that have stronger research and evaluation capacity, for example, can be considered.
Q. I am a governmental agency and would like to apply to evaluate a governmental programme addressing violence against children in families in one of the eligible countries? Can I apply?
A. The programme is eligible for evaluation, but governments cannot be main applicants and recipients of the funds. Only non-profit organizations and research institutes/universities can apply as main applicants (exceptionally for-profit organizations). Governmental institutions, however, can be accepted as partners in the application and this does not prevent a governmental programme to be evaluated under this call.
Q. I am a multilateral organization (UN, ICRC etc…) and I would be interested in evaluating a violence prevention programme that is line with the thematic and geographical scope of the programme. Can I apply?
A. Multilateral organizations, such as UN agencies or International Committee of the Red Cross, are not eligible to apply as main applicants and recipients of funds. This, however, does not prevent them to be partners in applications submitted by a research institute or a non-profit organization. In such cases, it is desirable that the multilateral organization contributes to the intervention being evaluated or to the evaluation by co-funding or providing in-kind contributions and/or technical assistance.
- WHAT WILL BE FUNDED
Q. I’m currently implementing a violence prevention programme that falls under the thematic and geographic scope of the call. Can I apply to receive funding to cover implementation costs?
A. No, only EVALUATIONS of the programmes in line with the thematic and geographical scope of the call for proposals will be funded. Costs for the implementation of the intervention are not eligible.
Q. My organization has the capacity to conduct an internal evaluation of our violence prevention programme. Can I apply to get funding for an internal evaluation of my programme?
A. No, only EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS will be funded. The organization implementing the intervention can apply but the organization or individual conducting the evaluation must be external to the implementing organization. This is to ensure the rigour and credibility of the findings.
Q. My intervention is focusing on providing support services to children survivors of abuse? Can I apply?
A. The focus of the present call for proposal is on the prevention component of interventions addressing violence against children, rather than support services to survivors. However, it is true that some programmes providing post-abuse services might also have a violence prevention component and the Fund might be interested in evaluating these violence prevention outcomes.
Q. My intervention is aimed at preventing violence against children, but not exclusively in family settings – also in communities, schools and institutional settings. Can I apply?
A. The focus of the Fund for the first call for proposal is on violence in family settings and therefore interventions addressing violence in such settings are likely to be prioritized. However, if your intervention includes a component of violence prevention in home settings, you can apply highlighting how the evaluation is going to address the outcome(s) related to violence prevention in family.
Q. My intervention is not directly targeting youngest children. Can I apply?
A. YES, the call is open to the evaluation of violence prevention interventions targeting children of all ages. There is a specific interest on the category of the youngest children (0-8 years) but this does not represent a requirement.
- FUNDING MODALITIES
Q. Is there a maximum amount for each grant?
A. There are no fixed ceilings/maximum amounts for the grants. The funding request is expected to be appropriate to the category of intervention and the type of evaluation proposed. Cost effectiveness will be one of the criteria taken into consideration in the proposals review process.
Q. The budget estimates indicated in the Concept Notes Application Form will be binding for the second phase of the full evaluation proposal?
A. In the Concept Note Application Form applicants are expected to indicate cost estimates. In the second phase of the selection process, they will be required to provide a more detailed budget breakdown that is expected to reflect the estimates indicated in the Concept Note Application Form but can undergo some adjustments. The Funds in any case reserves the right to negotiate budgets with applicants and will make the final decision on the amount of the grant awarded.
Q. Is co-funding a requirement?
A. No. It does not represent a requirement, but it is generally encouraged especially in the case of partnerships with multilateral organizations.
- HOW TO APPLY?
Q. What documents shall I attach to the Concept Note Application Form?
A. Supporting documents are optional at this stage. Only documents that are believed to be critical to complement the Concept Note Application Form can be sent as attachments together with the Concept Note Application Form. Only supporting documents in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese will be accepted. Applicants are encouraged to limit the number and size of the attachments to those that are strictly necessary to complement the Concept Note Application Form.
Q. What is meant by electronic signature?
A. By electronic signature is meant the scanned copy of the signature. You can either insert the scanned signature in the word format of the Concept Note Application Form or you can fill in the form electronically, print it, sign it, scan it and then send the scanned copy. It is important, in any case, that the document is filled in electronically and has the scanned signature of the person who has the power to legally represent the organization.
Q. Will I receive acknowledgement of receipt once I have sent my application form?
A. Yes, acknowledgement of receipt will be sent by email by the NEF Secretariat within max. 2 working days. If you send your application and do not receive the acknowledgement of receipt, please contact the Programme Manager of the Fund at the e-mail address barbara.gallo@evaluationchallenge.org .
Q. When is the first phase of the selection process expected to be completed?
A. The first phase of the selection process is expected to be completed in the month of November 2011.
