Transcript Document
Funding call overview Webinar – 10th April 2015 Our Purpose… Identify, nurture and share innovative and scalable solutions HIF Overview • • • • Operational since 2010 We’ve now awarded over 60 grants Part of ELRHA, hosted within Save the Children Our work focuses on three areas – Grant support to emerging innovations – Challenge focused work and targeted R&D in specific areas – Improving the system’s ability to innovate HIF Overview • • • • Operational since 2010 We’ve now awarded over 60 grants Part of ELRHA, hosted within Save the Children Our work focuses on three areas – Grant support to emerging innovations – Challenge focused work and targeted R&D in specific areas – Improving the system’s ability to innovate What we mean by Humanitarian Innovation • Bound by the definition of Humanitarian Assistance • Looking for novel ideas that improve humanitarian response • But novelty on its own is not a virtue • Open to a range of different kinds of innovation Model innovation process Recognise Invent Develop Implement Diffuse HIF Core Grant Support Recognition and Invention Up to £20,000 Development and Implementation Up to £150,000 Diffusion Up to £20,000 HIF Core Grant Support Recognition and Invention Up to £20,000 Development and Implementation Up to £150,000 Diffusion Up to £20,000 Example projects from our portfolio: University Laval WASH Product Innovation A fit-for-purpose humanitarian emergency water treatment system based on the principles of inclined plate settling. World Food Programme ICT Assessments Process Innovation The mVAM – ‘mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping’ project provides for the use of voice technology for household food security data collection. It is expected that mVAM would lead to a leap in time and cost-efficiency of data collection. All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) Disaster micro-insurance program A small business disaster micro-insurance program to enhance recovery of local markets serving populations in urban settings. Guidance for applicants: How to apply and what to focus on Basic Eligibility • Humanitarian The aim of your project must be to improve humanitarian practice. We do not accept applications for projects that are to be applied in wider development contexts. • Innovation The aim of your project must be an innovation: creating and implementing a new or improved technology, product or process. Applicant Eligibility • Application welcome from NGOs, University, research institute, the UN, private sector • Partnerships and consortia applications encouraged • Only two applications per organisation • Due diligence process for all organisations Project Eligibility • • • • • Any humanitarian sector Development or Implementation stages Project duration of up to 24 months Budget up to £150,000 No geographic restriction as to the project location Criteria for selection Proposal are assessed again the following criteria (i.e. this is what you need to show us): • Impact • Approach • Feasibility • Team (details of all of these are on the website) Points to bear in mind • We’re looking for a really broad range of ideas – products and process • Understand the difference between incremental and radical change • Novelty in itself is not a virtue • Build your proposal around a tangible good idea Key dates for spring 2015 Dates Actions May 14th midnight BST EoI Deadline May 25th Full proposal submissions June 30th midnight BST Full proposal deadline 14th August – 28th August Applicant Q&A 11th September Grants Panel meeting Any Questions? Q: Can individuals apply if they are not connected to an institution or an organisation? A: We can only fund organisations. So if you have a good idea first try and connect up with a relevant community of practice. This is a way of sense checking it, see if other people are working on it, and then consider a partnership. Or you are free to get in touch with us with your idea and we have good networks so we can try to build a relationship between you and a relevant organisation. Q: If I have as proof-of-concept prototype but it needs refinement, which phase are we at? A: That would be implementation stage. But for us the important thing is what is needed to take the innovation forward. Q: Is co-funding allowed? A: Yes it is actually very much encouraged. It is not a requirement, but it gives us a really strong signal that others are buying into the idea. Q: What language can you accept an application in? A: Unfortunately at the moment we can only accept applications in English. We recognise this isn’t ideal, and we would like to increase the accessibility of the fund in the future if we have the ability to process and manage the funding process in multiple languages. Q: Can we post the application in? A: No we can only accept applications through our Common Grants Application website. It works with lowbandwith connections, so it should be easy for everyone to use. However if there are issues please do get in touch. Q: Do we have to be a non-profit to apply? A: We don’t favour any particular type of organisation. To-date we have funded mostly non-profits but we are open to all organisations including the private sector. Q: Do you only fund “radical” innovations? A: No we support a portfolio of projects, from incremental innovations to more transformational innovations. However we do manage the risk and rewards according to the potential impact of the innovation. Please be clear about the kind of impact you think your project can have. Q: Where can the project be based geographically? A: We are open to all geographies. However, not all countries are experiencing humanitarian emergencies, and the project must be tested in that context. This means that a project may need to do its initial development and field testing work in different places. Q: Is an adaptation of an existing technology, to be suitable for emergency contexts, considered an “innovation”? A: This kind of iterative adaptation work is important. Whether it would be considered innovation or not would have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Q: Is it possible to apply for more than one grant from HIF? A: Yes, a number of projects we have funded have been through two or more stages of our funding. We encourage this. Our small grants are ongoing and large grants are opened up regularly in order to enable applicants to apply for more than one grant as their project evolves. Q: How many applications do you fund every year? A: We strongly value quality over quantity. Over the last 5 years we have given 60 grants. It is a very competitive process, and the amount of funding available is limited, but we aim to find a way to fund all applications that meet our application criteria. For more info.. • Visit our website to download the application pack www.elrha.org/hif/funding/core-grants • If you need assistance at any stage of the application process please email [email protected] • If you have questions concerning the online grant application platform please email [email protected]