The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) makes funds available to the British High Commission for small projects of developmental value. This fund is called the Small Grants Scheme (SGS). The British High Commission in Delhi administers SGS (For all States except those mentioned below), and our Deputy High Commission (BDHC) in Kolkata administers for West Bengal, Chennai for Tamil Nadu and Mumbai for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa respectively.
SGS Mission
- To reduce poverty within a sustainable development framework by supplementing large projects or fully supporting small project.
- To encourage projects that aim to spread best practice among communities.
- To maintain emphasis on capacity building through training, workshops etc so as to provide lasting benefits for the community.
Our Objectives
To support sustainable development throughout the country, project bids should match some of the objectives of DFID given below :
Policies and actions which promote sustainable livelihoods :
Sound policies and pro-poor economic growth; The development of efficient and well regulated markets; Access of poor people to land, resources and markets; Good governance and the realization of human rights; The prevention and resolution of conflicts; The removal of gender discrimination.
Better education, health and opportunities for poor people :
- Lower child and maternal mortality rates
- Basic healthcare for all, including reproductive services
- Effective universal primary education
- Literacy, accesses to information and life skills
- Emergency and humanitarian needs
Protection and better management of the natural and physical environment :
- Sustainable management of physical and natural resources
- Efficient use of productive capacity
- Protection of global environment
How to Apply for Funding Under the Small Grants Scheme
Under the Small Grants Scheme, grants can be made to organisations or institutions to assist projects whose primary purpose must always be developmental. The projects should also address at least one of DFID’s above mentioned objectives.
Project support will usually be for one year. In exceptional cases, funding can extend up to a maximum of three years. In any case the project should aim to become self-financing after the funding has ended in order to ensure programme sustainability.
Rules:
1. Please note that the recipient organisation is required to make a contribution of at least 10% to the overall project costs.
2. We prefer to fund projects, which have a capacity building/training element We prefer not to fund recurring costs, such as administrative salaries and rent. We do not fund purchase of vehicles, construction activity and capital or infrastructure projects.
3. Recipients must refer to us for any changes in the use of grant expenditure, should it exceed 10% of the total project budget.
4. Organisations must submit half yearly progress reports on projects.
5. The Maximum yearly funding available is ht20,000 ht25,0000 but each year we will be looking for a range of different projects of varying sizes.
To apply for funds under the Small Grants Scheme, you will need to write an application in English which gives the following information. YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE NOT MORE THAN FIVE PAGES. APPLICATIONS MORE THAN FIVE PAGES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
1. Title of Project:
2. Details of Recipient Organisation:
i) Name of contact person
i) When the organisation was founded
iii) Number of staff – technical and administrative
iv) Your registration number under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 1976
v) Existing sources of funding
vi) Banking details (name & address of bank, account number, in whose name cheque/demand draft has to be drawn).
3. Background about the work of your organisation :
i) Overall goal
ii) Number of cities/districts/villages covered.
iii) Total population directly benefiting by the activities of the organisation.
iv) Current activities
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4. The Project Description needs to include details of the:
i) Project goal
ii) Project area
iii) Target group
iv) Problem/s proposed project will address.
v) Give details of any ‘need assessment’ done in the area before deciding on the project.
vi) Who else will be affected by the project ? E.g. in the case of a project for street children, then are the police, employers, family members, etc. also affected ?
vii) Project activities planned to address the above problem/s listed at 4 (iv).
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viii) Inputs (for each of the above mentioned activity).
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ix) Outputs (for each of the project activities).
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x) Role of the target group (4 iii)
xi) Role of other groups affected (4vi)
xii) Role of the organisation
xiii) Duration of the project
5. Project Budget:
| Activity | Resource Detail | Total |
| For Example: | ||
| 1. Community organization | ||
| 1.1 Leadership Trng. | Resource person-1 | Rs. Y |
| For 10 women | @ Rs. X x 4 days | Rs. Y 1 |
| For 4 days | Food=@ Rs. X x 4=4×10 | |
| 1.2 Follow-up for 10 Women for 2 days |
6. Project Work plan:
|
Activity |
Time Frame (Months) |
Responsibility |
|||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Mr./Ms |
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| For Example | |||||||
| 1. Community Organisation | |||||||
| 1.1 Village Meeting | |||||||
| 1.2 Leadership Trng | |||||||
7. Project Evaluation and Monitoring Indicators (for six monthly and annual reports)
|
Activity |
Indicators/Variables |
| Example | |
| 1. Training needs assessment | No. of interviews conduct’s & report completed |
| No. of workshops held & no. of participants | |
| 2. Training workshop | No. of children who read and write |
| No. of children who can identify digits, count | |
| 3. Non-formal education programme | No. of children who understand currency etc. |
8. Project Sustainability:
How will the activities be sustained after BHC support for the project has been completed ?
Give details of plans for programme, finance and human resource sustainability.
9. Other Information:
Have you previously received funding from the British High Commission ? If yes, please give details.
Does your organisation have I inks with Britain ?
With your 5 page application, you need to send the following documents:
a) A Reference letter from the British Council Division/a British NGO or any other donor agency (Format enclosed)
b) A copy of the NGO’s Memorandum of Association
c) A copy of the NGO’s FCRA registration certificate
d) A copy of Audited Statement of Accounts for the last two years
e) The NGO’s most recent Annual Report.
Reference Letter
NGOs applying for funds to the British High Commission are expected to submit a reference letter from a known source like the British Council Division, British NGOs the DFID Field Management Offices, or from any other donor agency which has funded them in the past.
1. Name of the Agency providing the reference : …………………………..
2. Name and Designation of the Referee : ……………………………………
3. Address :……………………………………………………………………….
4. Telephone No. & Fax :
5. Name and Address of the NGO……………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
6. Have you supported the NGO in question ? If yes, please give details : When, what kind of project, and for how much :
7. What has been your experience with the NGO ?
8. How would you rate the NGO in terms of the following :
( Rating : I – Excellent, 2 – Very Good, 3 – Good, 4 – Satisfactory, 5 – Poor)
| Ability to mange account | ||||||
| Capacity to successfully | ||||||
| Ability to monitor progress | ||||||
| Analytical capacity |
9. Would you recommend support to the NGO ?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Date:
Signature:
Name:
This is a confidential document. Please send the form to us directly at the following address:
Development Officer, British High Commission, Shantipath. Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021
How to Apply
We place emphasis on sustainability. Our aim is to support projects in which the NGO seeks to hand over vital elements of the project to the community by the time we withdraw our support.
How to Apply
Step 1
Applications (with supporting documents) for the following financial •Year must reach us by 30 September.
(•The financial year runs from I April to 31 March)
Step 2
By end January the following year, we scrutinise and short-list project bids and present them to our Project Panel•• (••The Project Panel comprises cross-departmental BHC staff, empowered to both advise and
sanction, and is designed to ensure transparency and accountability)
Step 3
In February and March we appraise short-listed projects.
Step 4
By 31 Marth we inform successful organisations of our support.
Our Support
Duration of Projects
We generally support one-year projects, but will consider up to three years in exceptional cases.
Case of Projects
We currently support projects ranging in value from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh.
Indicators of Favoured Bids
Favoured Bids Should:
• Have FCRA and include letters of reference from other known international organisations that have supported them in the past.
• Have proven experience in the project area at field level.
• Show clear inputs and measurable outputs/outcomes (e.g. nos. of children rehabilitated, no. of women’s group formed etc.).
• Not have been supported by the BHC within the previous three years.
Please keep the following in mind
• The Project Panel comprises cross departmental BHC staff, empowered to both advise and sanction, and is designed to ensure transparency and accountability.
• The financial year runs from I April to 31 Marth.
• We do not entertain applications received after 30 September
• We respond to the short-listed applications during Janurary and February
British Deputy High Commission – Mumbai
2nd Floor, 222 Jamnalal Bajaj Road, PO Box 11714, Nariman Point, Mumabi – 400 021
Tel: (022)22833602/0517/2330
British Deputy High Commission – Kolkata
IA Hochi Minh Saroni, Kolkata 700 071, Tel : (033) 22885172
British Deputy High Commission – Chennai
20 Anderson Road, Chennai -600 006, Tel: (044) 52192151
For Details Please Contact
Development Officer
British High Commission
Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, Tel: 011-26 87 2161, Fax: 011-26 87 34 18
Website : www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk (Search for Small Grant Scheme)
