Coordination, Experience Exchange and Learning Fund
Since February 2011 in Ouagadougou, the nine Francophone West African countries have recognized the urgency to act in favor of Family Planning (FP). Therefore, they have adopted ambitious and Costed Implementation Plans to enable them to reach the goal of one million additional women using modern contraceptive methods and to implement the other commitments made in Ouagadougou. In 2015 this target was exceeded, reaching 1,033,000 women.
During this period, the OPCU administered the FA2E, fund to financed OP 09 countries organizations activities. These activities were aimed at accelerating the implementation of national FP action plans; stimulating or supporting the implementation of innovative actions and high-impact interventions; strengthening learning among OP countries; and stimulating mutual support among countries. However, the use of the funds for the stated purposes was not up to expectations. The main problem seems to have been the lack of knowledge of best practices by in-country actors and the lack of time for officials in the Ministries of Health of the respective countries to develop action plans. This strategy will be continued during this grant cycle as the COORDINATION, EXPERIENCES EXCHANGE and LEARNING FUND (CELF) with some improvements. This work will require: (i) a better understanding of why countries are not using this fund, (ii) the dissemination of best practices compiled by WAHO, and then (iii) the support of experts from African institutions with whom OPCU will work to help countries develop and implement their plans.
The activities that this fund would finance will have to be those for which countries clearly demonstrate a strategic importance to accelerate the implementation of their action plan in a very limited time frame. These activities should also be activities that are not supported by any other source of funding.
Key principles of the CELF
The purpose of the CELF is to support all activities that aim to :
- accelerate the implementation of national FP action plans;
- facilitate timely and necessary data collection and analysis
- stimulate or support the implementation of innovative actions and high impact interventions;
- strengthen learning among OP countries.
Impulse mutual support between countries
Activities that can be funded by CELF:
- Participation in annual reviews of FP action plans (i.e., participation of country X in annual reviews of country Y’s FP action plan as peer reviewers…) ;
- Annual reviews and monitoring of the implementation of FP action plans (here we would support the organization of annual reviews and activities such as coordination meetings of the technical bodies or committees for the implementation of FP action plans in the countries);
- Exchange and learning trips, and mentoring (upon request) for the replication of an approach deemed interesting for a country;
- Exchanges between religious leaders, youth ambassadors, and civil society coalitions;
- Advocacy activities by youth ambassadors;
- Replication of best practices with WAHO
- Participation in regional and international conferences and forums on best practices, etc.
Activities that are not funded by CELF:
- Behavior change activities at the community or service provider level;
- Advocacy activities aimed at increase demand for services;
- Advocacy activities conducted at the local level for policy implementation;
- Activities already funded by other partners;
- Implementation of a specific activity in the action plan.
Funding Levels
In order to allow multiple stakeholders to access the OP learning and exchange opportunities, the maximum requested funding amount cannot exceed $10,000.
Applications for funding, which can demonstrate an in-kind or cash contribution, are strongly encouraged.
Eligibility criteria for applications funded by the CELF
Applications funded by the CELF must respect the following characteristics:
- Applications must be relevant, to increase the exchange of information and sharing of experiences by presenting a clear expected result in terms of learning and exchange linked to the FP action plan;
- The applications must be related to and support the priorities in the national family planning plan;
- The organization must demonstrate its capacity to manage funds;
- The planned activities can be implemented in a limited period of time, not to exceed 6 months;
- Applications must clearly identify the direct beneficiaries, the size and location of these beneficiaries, and the benefits they will receive;
- Applications must be non-discriminatory, i.e., not based on religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, gender, geographic location, etc.
- Applications must explicitly state the representation and full participation of youth in all stages of the activity.
- Applications must be reasonable in cost.
Beneficiaries eligible for CELF
- The governments of the 9 countries of the Ouagadougou Partnership through one of its implementing partners;
- Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of the 9 OP countries;
- Coalitions and networks of Civil Society Organizations;
- Other institutions/actors involved in the implementation of FP action plans. Example: religious organizations and those of the faith-based private sector.
Selection Process
The administration, processing, selection and management of applications will be done by the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit.
- All applications for funding must be complete;
- The Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit will acknowledge reception of all applications;
- Applications will be pre-selected by the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit on the basis of pre-established criteria and forwarded to a committee of experts;
- The committee of experts may, if necessary, require clarification of certain points before final approval;
- Once applications are selected, successful applicants will be notified;
- Award decisions will be final and not open to negotiation;
- No application could be reanalyzed after the panel’s decision;
- Successful applicants will be notified in writing within one week of the review process;
- Successful applicants will be asked to confirm their acceptance of the grant by email within 5 working days;
- Notification will be sent to unsuccessful applications.
All applications should specify the recipient and the funding mechanism. These applications must meet all of the following requirements to be considered:
- Proposals must meet the type of activities that CELF supports.
- The organization must demonstrate its commitment to increasing or/and contributing to the achievement of the goals set by the country’s FP action plan.
- The organization must demonstrate its capacity to manage funds and keep regular records.
Constitution of the file
The funding application must include
- A letter of application prepared and signed by the organization/entity requesting funding.
- A 500-word summary of the project
- A detailed budget of the activities to be carried out.
- A detailed timeline of interventions.
- A completed application form containing various information for the identification of the activities. The form must be signed by the applicant.
- Proof of the last balance sheet.
- Applications can be sent in French.
- Proof of legal status (for coalitions and networks)
Calendar
Applications for funding will be received on a rolling basis until the grants are exhausted.
Geographic eligibility: all 9 countries in Francophone West Africa.
Application Submission
- Applications will be made via the online submission form
- If you do not have access to the internet, electronic versions in Word and PDF format (and the budget in Excel file) are accepted at this address [email protected]