What kind of proposals will be considered for the small grant?

•    development of tools and platforms that will facilitate women and girls’ access, use and development of ICTs, with a particular focus on secure online communications
•    implementation of strategies that strengthen women's participation in ICT policy processes
•    projects that promote the strategic use of ICT tools in projects and programmes that address violence against women
•    projects that improve sexual assault survivors access to ICTs to assist in access to information and resources
•    projects that use ICTs to support the collection of data and statistics
•    research projects that contribute to knowledge about the interconnections of violence against women and  ICTs
•    Building the ICT capacities of providers of services to sexual violence survivors
•    empowerment and self-healing methodologies through strategic use of ICTs for women and adolescent girl survivors of violence
•    capacity-building workshops that aim to build the skills of women and girls in the strategic use of ICTs to end violence against women and girls
•    advocacy campaigns to lobby for policy changes that increase access to information and communication resources and expand communication rights for women and girls
•    awareness raising campaigns to build common knowledge, establish and amplify context-specific discourses on the issue of violence against women and girls and ICTs

Here are some examples of proposals that would be considered:
-Training for volunteers and staff at counseling and women's support centres in how to use a secure online database to collect data about survivors of violence who seek counseling and support
-Mapping projects related to the collection statistics about the incidences of violence against women, where they occur, and what forms are support are available
- Creating online or mobile phone support networks for example for survivors of violence, sexual and reproductive rights etc

Please note that proposals that aim to only buy equipment and hardware cannot be supported. A reasonable portion of the budget can be set aside for equipment but we need to see the clear benefit to target groups.

Who is eligible to apply for a small grant?
Proposals will be accepted from any organisation, network, group or collective in Uganda operating from a not-for-profit framework. Individual developers or techies with proposals for tools and platforms must have a relationship with an organisation / network with whom they will work and the proposal should show how the organisation will benefit. Applications from a consortium or partnership must indicate who the lead organisation is.

Budgets may not exceed US Dollars 5000. 

What are the criteria for selection?
 
Only organisations based in Uganda will be considered. The lead organisation must be registered as a non-profit organisation.

The activities and content proposed must contribute to the priorities identified in the National Strategy Workshop:
-    the use of  cell phones for reporting VAW,
-    mobilizing and networking, ICT policy advocacy to ensure that ICT related policies respond to gender needs,
-    strategic use of ICTs to combat VAW in educational institutions,
-    capacity building for the effective use of ICTs within women’s organisations and their stakeholders,
-    research on ICT and VAW and policy issues,
-    use of social networking tools in strengthening the fight against VAW. 

Other criteria in order of weight are:
1.    Proposal clearly states objectives, includes a methodology/implementation strategy, identifies outputs, partners/stakeholders and includes a time line and budget that is realistic;
2.    The proposal demonstrates an understanding of violence against women and its gendered nature;
3.    Proposal clearly outlines how the initiative will contribute to ending or addressing violence against women;
4.    proposal directly engages with the concerns of marginalized women and girls and contributes to securing their safety and strengthening their agency;
5.    Innovativeness of the activity/project as well as innovative use of ICTs will be considered;
6.    The activity/project could be replicated or up-scaled;
7.    The activity or project is realistic within budgetary and time constraints;
8.    The projects that make use of Free and Open Source (FOSS) applications will be prioritised.

Candidates must be available for capacity building workshop to be held during the implementation phase of the project.

The selection process:
Proposals filled out correctly and that fit the criteria most closely will be short-listed and sent to a Review Committee made up of people chosen for their expertise in violence against women and/or ICTs. We will review applications and notify successful applicants in the last week of July 2010.

In reviewing applications the Review Committee will consider key questions related to the criteria above. No less than four projects will be selected for support.

How to apply for a small grant:
Your proposal should have a maximum of 6 pages including budget, the application form is attached and must be sent electronically in an attachment.

Email to your proposal to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Or Send it to the WOUGNET Office at
Plot 55, Kenneth Dale
Kamwokya, Kampala.

Applications must reach us by 5.00pm on 2nd July 2010 (we will send an acknowledgement of receipt)
Successful applicants will be notified on: 26th July 2010
 
Reporting requirements
Successful grantees will be required to submit 3-montly short narrative updates, a midterm narrative and financial report as well as a final narrative and financial report to illustrate how funds have been spent. Copies of supportive financial documentation (receipts, invoices etc) for expenditure may also be required. All activities must be completed and reports received by the end of May 2011.


Background
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international network of civil society organisations (CSOs) dedicated to empowering and supporting people working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment through the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
 
APC's work in women's rights and gender equality is done through its Women’s Networking Support Programme (WNSP), a global network of women that has supported women's networking for social change and empowerment since 1993. APC WNSP is an international facilitator of civil society’s engagement with ICT and its related concerns in policies and practices. Contributions have been made at global, regional and national levels and particularly in developing countries through raising awareness, technical training for women, developing tools and information resources, building capacity in gender evaluation and influencing policies to ensure that ICT benefit women in transformative and empowering ways. WOUGNET is a member of the APC, and has engaged with the Women’s Networking Support Programme for a number of years.
 
“Take Back the Tech! to End violence against women and girls” exposes the connections between violence against women and ICTs in practice and policy 12 countries. It has three main objectives:
-    to build and strengthen the capacity of women, girls and women’s rights organisations to use, reclaim and shape ICTs to stop violence against women and girls
-    to create platforms and opportunities for women and girls to critically engage with ICTs to combat violence, and as survivors of violence, to contribute towards self and collective healing
-    to build feminist analysis, particularly around the intersections of violence against women and ICT into global, regional and national ICT policy processes

Women of Uganda Network is the Uganda country partner for the project.