$5000 Award Opportunity from World Bank’s JKP

The Job Knowledge Platform seeks to find practical solutions for job creation and job opportunities. It aims to:

• Share insights and build synergies across different approaches, sectors, and disciplines
• Create a community to exchange challenges and solutions
• Inform important policy debates

The platform his managed by the World Bank in collaboration with partner organizations the Economic Research Forum, Fedesarrollo, the International Development Research Centre, the IZA the Institute for the Study of Labor, the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association, the McKinsey Global Institute, and REALM/AMERU.

It is presently seeking applications from NGOs, international organizations, think tanks, academia, civil society, and other key stakeholders in the jobs agenda for the following awards:

1. Most Promising Approach Award

2. Most Recommended Award (based on the number and ranking of online user reviews)

3. Best in Addressing Political Economy and Implementation Challenges Award

Each category will have one winner, to receive an award of $5,000 USD from the JKP, through its partner The Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).

Winners will be invited and flown in to the awards ceremony in the Fall.

Submissions can be made online at jobsknowledge.org or email.  To be considered for the awards, forms must be submitted by September 15, 2012 December 15, 2012.

(IMPORTANT: Please note that the JKP website continues to show the deadline as September 15, 2012 which, according to our sources, will be updated soon to December 15, 2012)

For more information, visit this link.

IACC’s Mini-Grants to address corruption

The 15th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) 2012 will be held from 7-10 November 2012 in Brazil. As part of the conference, IACC has launced a new mini-grant for €5,000 to those who are motivated to solve social problems and develop new methods, tools and projects to fight corruption.

The IACC Social Entrepreneurship Initiative’s competition is calling  for new project ideas to boost transparency, accountability and fight corruption. The 3 competition winners will be awarded a mini-grant of 5,000 Euros to support the kick-off and implementation of their new anti-corruption project.

The competition winners will get:

• A mini-grant of 5000 Euros to implement your new transparency project
• Anti-corruption expertise on tap: Access to a wide range of experts in the field of accountability and transparency and IACC Game Changers platform
• Come to Brazil and participate at the 15th International Anti-Corruption Conference (7-10 November 2012 in Brasilia) where there will be an award ceremony with the Jury and the competition winners

How to Apply

To kick start your thinking process, here is a short overview of what we will ask of you in the application process.

• In 500 words  or less, tell your story of change and let us know what motivates you to fight corruption
• In 500 words or less, describe your project in an elevator pitch
• There’ll be an impact map asking you to fill out  the context of the problem you are trying to solve, project objectives, stakeholders and deliverables
• A budget indicating what the grant will support

Projects pitches will be accepted until 1 October 2012
For more information, visit this link.

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives 2012-2013 launched in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua

The Embassy of Canada to Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua launch its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The program is directly managed by the Canadian mission in San José, and seeks to support development by financing small scale, short-term initiatives implemented by local non-profit organizations.

The 2012-13 CFLI awards will focus on the following six themes:

• Advancing democracy
• Ensuring security and stability
• Creating opportunities for children and youth
• Stimulating sustainable economic growth
• Increasing food security
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation

The first round of selection will be completed in October, 2012 and will be for projects addressing thematic areas A. A second round of selection may be completed later this year, subject to confirmation of funds, and will be specifically for small-scale local initiatives which address climate change adaptation and mitigation. A second call for proposals will be carried out once the funds are confirmed.

Preference will be given to projects or initiatives that have been successfully experimented or piloted and have yielded positive results. Eligible organizations must be legally registered in the country in which they wish to implement the project.

Available Funding:

• In Costa Rica, the amount of financing available is between 7.500.000 and 22.500.000 CCR per project
• In Honduras, the amount of financing available is between 300.000 and 900.000 HNL per project
• In Nicaragua, the amount of financing available is between 350.000 and 1.000.000 NIO per project
• *Amounts are based on Canadian dollar figure of CAD $15,000 to CAD $45,000 per project

Application Process:

Organizations interested in applying for project funding through the CFLI should contact the Fund Coordinator of their respective country. The Coordinator will provide the application form and additional information.

Deadlines:

The deadline for submission of CFLI project proposals is Wednesday, September 26 at 12:00pm local time

Selected CFLI projects are expected to complete their activities by March 10, 2013

For further information, visit the link.

Sida Call for Proposals: Using ICTs for Democratisation and Freedom of Expression

The Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) has announced a new funding opportunity under the Swedish Government’s Special Initiative for Democratisation and Freedom of Expression. This open call for proposals will provide funding support to initiatives and activities in which the Internet and new technologies are used to strengthen actors who work for democratisation and freedom of expression, mainly in challenging and repressive environments.

The overall objective of this call for proposals is to promote democratisation and increase freedom of expression in countries and situations where they are most at risk and where human rights defenders and civil society organisations work under severe constraints and are most under pressure.

The specific objective of this call is to provide direct support and protection to initiatives and activities in which information- and communication technologies are used to strengthen civic movements for democratisation and freedom of expression in challenging and repressive environments.

The proposed actions shall contribute directly in a given country or region to improve the situation relating to at least one of the following themes:

• The right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to information, including freedom of the media, fight against censorship, and access to the Internet and ICTs;
• The right to political participation;
• Accountability;
• Transparency

Deadline for submission of applications is October 18, 2012.

For more information, visit this link.

Sida Call for Proposals: Using ICTs for Democratisation and Freedom of Expression

The Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) has announced a new funding opportunity under the Swedish Government’s Special Initiative for Democratisation and Freedom of Expression. This open call for proposals will provide funding support to initiatives and activities in which the Internet and new technologies are used to strengthen actors who work for democratisation and freedom of expression, mainly in challenging and repressive environments.

The overall objective of this call for proposals is to promote democratisation and increase freedom of expression in countries and situations where they are most at risk and where human rights defenders and civil society organisations work under severe constraints and are most under pressure.

The specific objective of this call is to provide direct support and protection to initiatives and activities in which information- and communication technologies are used to strengthen civic movements for democratisation and freedom of expression in challenging and repressive environments.

The proposed actions shall contribute directly in a given country or region to improve the situation relating to at least one of the following themes:

• The right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to information, including freedom of the media, fight against censorship, and access to the Internet and ICTs;
• The right to political participation;
• Accountability;
• Transparency

Deadline for submission of applications is October 18, 2012.

For more information, visit this link.