| Overview : CALL FOR PROPOSAL GRANT TO SUPPORT FIFTY PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES TO BE TRAINED IN BUSINESS STARTUPS Deadline: July 8, 2022 Background: The Government of Sierra Leone launched its Medium-term National Development Plan in 2019 with an overarching goal to reduce poverty in all its forms. Cluster five of the Mid-term National Development Plan is dedicated solely to the empowerment of women as well as persons with disabilities including children. There had been notable progress to address disability issues before COVID-19 struck in 2020. The Government efforts to stop or limit the spread of COVID-19 has been commendable. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic activities were disrupted in the country and the most affected groups being the vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities. According to the 2015 Census 1.3 per cent of the population of Sierra Leone have some form of disability, including physical, mental, visual, and hearing impairments. Many of these are not in education/training, or employment. Most PWDs are often not engaged in productive activities and survive through street begging for a living. The Government and partners are collaborating to support these PWDs. UNDP through its Local Economic Revitalization programme is providing funding to support the most vulnerable PWDs, especially those living in Western Area Urban. Through a grant to Non-profit organization (CSO/NGO/Foundation), UNDP seeks to provide SME support to 50 vulnerable persons living with disabilities (at least 60% women) in the Western Area Urban. The SME support shall include, business startups training, and life skills to improve their entrepreneurial and employability skills. Call for proposals for grant: The main objective of this grant selection process is to identify a suitable Non-profit organization (CSO/NGO/Foundation) with operational presence and specialized expertise in supporting business startups to train 50 PWDs (30F:20M), provide seed money and link them to banking institutions. The total grant amount is USD 35,000, which includes direct support to the project targeted 50 PWDs and administrative overheads of not more than 10%. The grant is not able to fund provision of direct services or operating/running costs unrelated to proposed activities as outlined in this call. The grant must be executed within a period of not more than one month. Who Can Apply? - Non-profit organizations (CSO/NGO/Foundation)
- Eligible Organizations should have specialized expertise in provision of SME support, including training on business startups for PWDs, and life skills proven experience.
- Experience in implementing initiatives with similar scope and nature is required.
- Organizations should have operational presence in the targeted area – Western Area Urban.
- Organizations should be registered in accordance with the legal requirements of the Government of Sierra Leone.
- Organizations may submit joint proposals as coalitions. In this case, main applicants must provide support letters from relevant co-applicants specifying their respective role. In case of joint proposals, the main applicant shall have proven experience in the proposed area of programming for the grant.
The deadline for applications is 10:00Am on Friday, July 8, 2022. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Grant Proposals Submissions are to be made electronically in one file (pdf format) signed and scanned to the following email: procure.sl@undp.org. Hard copies may be submitted to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at UNDP Reception Area, Fourah Bay Close, Off Main Motor Road, Wilberforce, Freetown, Sierra Leone. ADDITIONAL DETAILS THROUGH THE EMAIL ABOVE. |
