Transforming lives
sources of funding and information
Practical Action/Steve Fisher
Finding funding for development projects
Practical Action is not a grant making agency. We are therefore unable to provide financial assistance of any kind to organisations seeking funding for development projects. This leaflet has been produced as a guide to help you source grant-making organisations, useful contacts, publications, and provide ideas on how to prepare a project proposal. If you wish to find out more about the policies guiding the work of any British non-governmental organisations working in international development, we recommend you consult their nearest local office. Alternatively, consult the Directory of Members of British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND). The Directory is also a first step to identifying organisations that may provide project grants or who are seeking new local partners for their work. We strongly recommend that organisations in developing countries first research the range of sources available locally, including individuals, religious groups, companies, government sources and multilateral agencies such as the United Nations and the European Union. Many embassies also have small project funding schemes that are suitable sources of funding for community-based development initiatives. Consider whether other forms of assistance such as equipment or specialist skills might help achieve your organisation’s objectives. The BOND Directory and the International Development Directory, will help you identify organisations which work through skilled volunteers or provide specific resources such as tools, books or advice. Finally, think about whether your organisation has the potential to generate income, perhaps by charging for its services. The following resources provide information about sources of funding, fundraising methods and UK-based organisations working in international development: Directory of Social Change (DSC) 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7391 4800. E-mail: info@dsc.org.uk Website: www.dsc.org.uk The DSC aims to help nongovernmental organisations to become more effective through useful publications, training and conferences, networking and campaigning. Some of its publications are: The Directory of Grant Making Trusts Directory of Social Change Publications/Charities Aid Foundation. ISBN 1 900360 82 9. This directory contains contact details and information on 2,500 grant-making trusts. The extensive index allows trusts to be identified according to their interests, geographical area, type of beneficiary and grant. A Guide to the Major Trusts Directory of Social Change Publications. Volume 1: ISBN 1 900360 80 2. Volume 2: ISBN 1 900360 81 0. Volume 3: ISBN 1 903991 03 X. Between them, these three guides cover the top 1,500 trusts in detail and include application advice for each.
Community members tending vegetables crops
The Grant-Making Trusts CD-ROM Directory of Social Change/Charities Aid Foundation. ISBN 1 900360 94 2. Combining the material of all the publications listed above, this CD-ROM provides a comprehensive searchable database of information about 3,800 trusts. Annual subscription to www.trustfunding.org.uk will allow access to some information as the CD Rom list is updated regularly throughout the year. The International Development Directory Directory of Social Change Publications. ISBN 1 900360 85 3. This directory combines information about 250 UK-based voluntary organisations involved in international development with details of organisations funding development projects ranging from the UK Government’s Department for International Development to a selection of trusts and foundations. The Worldwide Fundraisers Handbook Directory of Social Change Publications. ISBN 1873860 75 7. This comprehensive guide to fundraising for NGOs in Africa, Asia and Latin America provides guidance on establishing local fundraising, techniques, skills and sources. Department for International Development (DFID) Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 8EA. Tel: +44 (0) 1355 844000. Fax: +44 (0) 1355 844099. E-mail: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk Website: www.dfid.gov.uk DFID is the UK Government department working to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty. Directory of Members and NGO Networks – (BOND) Published by British NGO for Development (BOND). £20 for nonmembers, Regent Wharf. 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7837 8344 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7837 4220, E-mail:bond@bond.org.uk. Website: www.bond.org.uk. The directory is also available online via the BOND website.
Other sources
Chapel and York – www.chapel-york.com, offers a range of seminars to International and cross border fundraising with publications, seminars and access to an online US Foundation database. Charity Commission – www.charity.commission.gov.uk is the central register and a useful starting point for NGOs and Trusts and Foundations. It provides their contact details and stores their accounts, usually for the last 5 years. The accounts list who they’ve given too, and helps with identifying who might be a good match.
and finish the project and a timetable for the activities. Explain the lasting effects of the project in the community, how it fits in with your organisation’s longer-term plans, and how the effects will be sustained without outside help in the future. Management The capacity of your organisation to manage the project and the donor’s funds – any similar work you have done, your registered status and any appropriate references or recommendations. Explain who will be responsible for managing the project and its activities and how the local community will be involved. Budget As detailed a budget as possible, reflecting the activities described in the proposal and including all the inputs required. Separate out any overhead and administration costs so that the donor can see these are reasonable. Provide details of any income already secured for the project including any financial or in-kind costs to be met by the local community. Measuring progress How you will monitor whether your project is succeeding, what indicators of progress you will use and how the beneficiaries will be involved in assessing progress. Outline any plans for an evaluation of the project and confirm how and when you will report back to the donor during the life of the project and after its completion.
Preparing a project proposal
The first stage of a good project proposal is a good project design. Effective project planning involves assessing the existing situation, defining where you want to be, how you want to get there and who should be involved. Involving beneficiaries and community groups in planning your project will help ensure that there is local motivation to sustain the project in the long term and is often an essential requirement by donors – bottom up rather than top down approach. Many major donors now expect organisations to use logical planning frameworks (logframes). Donors receive many more requests than they are able to fund. The strong competition for limited funds means that it is important to thoroughly research which donors are a good ‘fit’ with your organisation and then show how your project meets their criteria. It may be worth writing a short letter to introduce your organisation and project, and ascertain whether they would welcome a full proposal from you. Always find out if a donor has an office in your country first, because decisions about funding new projects are often made locally rather than in the UK. Some donors ask for a special application form to be filled in or for a proposal to be written to a prescribed format. In these cases, stick to the format! Where none is given, we have suggested a general format you might like to follow.
Sources of further information
You may find the following helpful in planning your project: BOND Guidance Notes BOND Guidance Notes provide concise ‘how-to’ information on topics relevant to NGOs working in international development, including logical framework analysis, project planning, monitoring, budgeting and accounting. The Guidance Notes are available free from BOND or through their website (see previous reference to the BOND Members Directory for contact details).
Suggested proposal format
Project location Details of the climate, natural resources, and local economy. Problem to be tackled Causes and the extent of poverty in the locality, clearly defining the need, evidence of your research and why it is important. Be as specific as possible about the problem to be tackled. Beneficiaries Details indicating who and how many will benefit from the project and in what ways, particularly any disadvantaged groups such as women or disabled people. Show how beneficiaries have been involved in planning the project so far and how they will contribute to its running in the future. Project description What the project intends to achieve (the objectives), how you intend to achieve them (the activities), and why your approach to the problem is the best one – with details of when you intend to start
Technology development
Practical Action does not manufacture tools and equipment for use in developing countries or provide funding to test and develop technology. If you are a potential manufacturer seeking assistance try contacting the following organisation: Development Technology Unit (DTU) School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL. Tel: +44 (0) 2476 523122. E-mail: dtu@eng.warwick.ac.uk. Website: www.eng.warwick.ac.uk/dtu DTU is concerned with the development and transfer of appropriate technologies in rural areas of tropical countries and complements Warwick University’s degree course in engineering design and appropriate technology. DTU conducts research into intermediate technologies in collaboration with governments, NGOs and private enterprises and is interested in potential manufacturers of rural development equipment and organisations involved in income-generation.
About Practical Action
Practical Action is a charity that uses simple, innovative ideas to help people change their lives for the better. We have a unique approach to development we don’t start with the technology, we start with the people. For more than 40 years Practical Action has been working alongside communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America, to find practical solutions to the poverty they face. Practical Action’s approach is to focus our work on four key areas. • We help reduce the vulnerability of poor people affected by natural disasters, conflict and environmental degradation – all of which are becoming more widespread. • We help poor people make a better living by enabling producers to improve their production, processing and marketing. • We help poor communities gain access to basic services such as clean water, food, housing and electricity. • We help poor communities respond to new challenges, helping them access simple, effective technologies that can change lives forever. Practical Action actively seeks to work with communities in a collaborative way, sharing knowledge and experiences, and bringing positive, lasting change to people’s lives.
Practical Action’s Resource Centres in all our offices are open to the public and hold a comprehensive collection of appropriate technology and development literature, videos, CDs and photographs.
Development bookshop
Practical Action Publishing is a leading publisher of books and periodicals about international development and appropriate technology. Its publications include practical manuals, analytical texts, reference works and journals including Waterlines (for sustainable water and sanitation development) and Enterprise Development and micro-finance (for small business development). Practical Action Publishing also distributes publications from several international development organisations, and these books and journals are available worldwide through a network of distributors and sales agents. The online bookshop, www.developmentbookshop.com, offers over 1,000 publications on development-related issues.
Consultancy work
Practical Action Consulting (PAC) provides high quality independent advice and research to governments, NGOs, aid agencies and the private sector. Our consultants are drawn from an extensive network of international consultants and over 400 development professionals working on Practical Action’s regional development programmes. The objective of PAC’s work is to improve access to essential basic services and to enable sustainable livelihoods for poor and isolated communities in rural and urban locations. PAC uses participatory methods and works with stakeholders at all levels to engage in projects which show a long-term pro-poor impact, focusing on the areas of Rural and Urban Infrastructure and Increasing Enterprise Opportunities and Access to Markets. To find out more about PAC’s work visit the website at: www.practicalactionconsulting.org If you would like information about Practical Action’s work in general please contact: Supporter Services Unit Practical Action The Schumacher Centre for Technology and Development Bourton on Dunsmore Rugby Warwickshire CV23 9QZ, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1926 634400 Fax: +44 (0) 1926 634401 E-mail: enquiries@practicalaction.org.uk Website: www.practicalaction.org
Practical Action is the working name of Intermediate Technology Development Group Ltd I Reg. Charity No. 247257 I Patron HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB I Company Reg No. 871954, England
Practical answers
Knowledge is the most useful aid to reducing vulnerability and making a better living. Practical Action’s Technical Enquiry Service (TES) was created to meet the information needs of individuals and organisations, by providing a means of accessing the wealth of technological information held by Practical Action and its partners. The TES gives you direct contact with experts in our Resource Centres around the world, so you can ask them specific questions relevant to your circumstances. They are also able to call on the expertise of several hundred professionals in technical, economic, and sociological disciplines to help formulate the answers to your enquiry. The service is provided free of charge to grassroots development workers, community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations and other agencies using appropriate technologies in the developing world. TES workers respond to enquiries received by post, e-mail, telephone or through face-to-face meetings, and they aim to provide information and guidance of direct relevance to each enquirer. This is only possible if you provide full details of the particular application – the answer can only be as good as the question. To find out more about this service contact E-mail:infoserv@practicalaction.org.uk.
Information resources
Practical Action produces a wide range of information resources, including over one hundred ‘Technical Briefs’ on appropriate technologies from solar energy to honey processing, all available by mail or from our website www.practicalaction.org.uk. In addition to topical features about our own work, Practical Action’s website has links to many other useful sources of information.
Photography: Cover – Practical Action/Emma Judge
