Deadline: June 9, 2021
The Global Development Network (GDN) invites non-profit Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from low and lower-middle-income countries to submit applications for the Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development (MIDP) Project within the following three themes:
- Theme 1: Universal health coverage and COVID
- Theme 2: Community-driven Climate-related Disaster Risk Reduction in Rural Areas
- Theme 3: Quality urban infrastructure and community driven governance
The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project is a competitive grant program under the umbrella of the Global Development Awards Competition, administered by the Global Development Network and funded by the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan. The award program invites non-profit Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to submit project proposals supporting (in particular) improved service delivery, and innovative approaches that may be scaled-up through a grant. The Award targets projects currently at the stage of implementation, and which have a high potential for impact targeting exceptionally marginalized and disadvantaged groups located in developing countries.
The awards will be given to organizations whose projects embody an innovative approach to an important development need and hold the greatest promise for: – responding directly to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, underserved groups to improve their lives aiming at rapid results for improved livelihood; – supporting initiatives that lead to developing sustainable outcomes through the scaling-up of the project.
Benefits
- The two first prize winners under each theme will receive a grant of US$ 20,000 each.
- The second prize will receive a grant of US$ 5,000.
- In addition, GDN will review the suitability of the proposals winning the First Prize for a much larger grant of up to US$ 200,000 within the framework of the World Bank-administered Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF).
Eligibility
- The MIDP Award is open to all development projects being implemented in low-income countries and lower-middle-income countries.
- Comply with the WB Environmental and Social Framework’s (ESF) and the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). Please check Annex 1 at the end of this call to see the exclusion list of ineligible activities.
- The project must be managed by a non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) or Civil Society Organization (CSO) with its headquarters in one of the eligible countries.
- Projects must have started its implementation on 1st June 2020 or earlier to be considered eligible.
- Submissions concerning a recently started project or only a project idea or a feasibility or baseline study will not be considered.
- Submissions for funding conferences (either in part or in full) will not be considered.
- Applicants from previous years (except winners) may re-apply, but they must update the application to include new aspects of the project.
- Previous MIDP winners are not eligible to apply.
Review Criteria
The project proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Innovative Approaches
- How is your project different from other existing approaches?
- Is it proposing to pilot alternative approaches or to reach the target groups not reached by other programs?
- Does this approach come from bottom-up partnerships engaging NGOs/CSOs, community associations, or local governments as implementing agencies?
- Does it reflect a participatory design and consultation process with the targeted beneficiaries?
- Clear Development Objective, Activities and Measurable Results
- Does the project have a clear and measurable results framework?
- Does it utilize participatory monitoring and evaluation to help beneficiaries address their vulnerability and to ensure ownership and sustainability?
- Does the project have a realistic plan with steps/activities that build concretely towards achieving the project’s objectives, and that can do so within a year of implementation after receiving the Award?
- Has the project designed a way to use monitoring and evaluation for learning and measuring outcomes and, ultimately, impact?
- Sustainable Social Impact
- Does the project contribute to poverty alleviation and social development in the short and long term?
- Is the development impact sustainable in the long run?
- Has the project generated local ownership?
- Is there a plan to transfer ownership?
- Has the targeted population demonstrated an increase in skill development or an increased willingness to learn new skills?
- Does the project help strengthen capacity of the targeted population to continue with the work themselves in the long run?
- Does the project support Community-Driven Development by Empowering the Poor at the local community level, to participate in society and government and to affect their development and learning by doing?
- Expansion
- How easily can the project be replicated and adapted to other countries, regions, sectors and cultures?
- What are the prospects for the project’s expansion using the resources obtained from the award?
Does the project have potential to have a large-scale development impact?
- Cost Efficiency
- Is the cost of the project justified in terms of measurable impacts/outcomes?
- What are the measurable impacts/outcomes (performance) of the project in comparison to the cost of the program?
- Thorough Risk Assessment
- Are there any significant risks associated with the project?
- How well prepared is the project team in mitigating these risks?
- Efficient Management of Financial and Human Resources
- Are policies in place within the organization to ensure effective utilization of financial and human resources for implementation of the project?
- Transparency and Accountability in Operations
- Does the project work in a way that allows gathering information on an ongoing basis and disclosing all appropriate information on the implementation, in particular to the project’s direct stakeholders?
- WB Environmental and Social Framework’s Environmental Social Standards
- Does the project comply with the WB Environmental and Social Framework’s (ESF) including the Environment Social Standards (ESS). Are there any E&S risks and impacts associated with the project and how is the project team planning to mitigate these risks and impacts?
- Does the project comply with the exclusion list of ineligible activities?
Application
The last date for submission of the online registration form in the MIDP application template and other supporting documents is 9 June 2021 (Indian Standard Time 6:00 PM).
For more information, visit Global Development Awards.
