REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Search for Common Ground & Scholar Institute

Overview of Award Guidelines Type of Award Advance-Based Grant Application Deadline Friday 12 July 2019 Funding Floor EUR 17,000 Funding Ceiling EUR 19,000 Goal Propose joint activities between Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities to address identified gaps in service provision in target areas, focusing on health, education, roads/transportation and municipal services ​ (e.g.: garbage collection; sanitation). Anticipated No. of 15 Grants Grants Target Townships Sittwe, Ramree, Taungup, Ponnagyun (proposals may be for more than 1 township) Period of Performance 12 – 18 Months (August 2019 – January 2020) For Further Information E-mail: [email protected] Please Contact: Phone: 043 202 1753 Information and Q&A June 18: Information session in Sittwe Sessions June 20: Information session in Ramree June 21: Information session in Taungup

1. Summary of Opportunity

Search for Common Ground and Scholar Institute are calling for proposals that will propose initiatives to increase collaboration between Local Authorities (LAs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to improve the provision of services in target areas (Sittwe, Ramree, Taungup, Ponnagyun). This initiative aims to build on and amplify the work of local authorities and civil society organisations in Rakhine State, and respond to CSO’s requests for opportunities for greater collaboration with local authorities to further serve the communities in which they work. This need was identified through an extended period during which Search and Scholar held meetings, listening sessions, and focus group discussions with civil society actors, local communities and local authorities.

This call for proposals is part of the EU-funded “Better Service Delivery in Rakhine State” program, ​ which is being implemented through a partnership between Search for Common Ground (Search) and Scholar Institute (SI). As part of this program, Search and SI are creating a Service Delivery Fund through which grants will be disbursed to proposals which propose joint actions between local authorities and civil society to improve service delivery in the following 4 thematic areas: health, education, ​ ​ roads/transportation, and municipal services (e.g.: garbage collection; sanitation). While Search and ​ Scholar encourage proposals that will focus on improved service delivery in the 4 thematic areas ​ outlined above, applicants that propose strong partnerships and solutions for better service delivery in other thematic areas will also be considered if there is a strong case that it is an identified need and that there will be a joint collaboration between CSOs and LAs.

The overall Service Delivery Fund will be overseen by a small team of representatives from Search, Scholar and advisors with previous experience of working on service delivery in Myanmar. The day to day management of the Fund will be supported by Search and Scholar project teams. The Search/SI project team will not be involved in the selection process.

Search and Scholar strongly encourage Civil Society Organisations of all sizes to apply for this ​ ​ opportunity, within the eligibility criteria outlined below. Proposals may be submitted in English or Myanmar. Applicants must submit proposals with attached budget, timeline and information sheet in the provided template by 12 July 2019. Proposals may be submitted via post (457 Pyay Road, ​ ​ ​ Kamayut, Yangon) or e-mail ([email protected]). For further information or support in ​ ​ ​ submitting the application please contact (043 202 1753). ​ ​

The submission and review of proposals will follow the following timeline:

Description Timeline

Call for Proposals 12 June 2019

Information Sessions in 18, 20 and 21 June 2019: Search and Scholar will hold information and Townships coaching sessions which all civil society organisations are welcome and encouraged to attend. These sessions will be an opportunity for interested applicants to receive more information about the opportunity and ask questions to Search and Scholar. These sessions will take place in Sittwe, Taungup and Ramree. There will be 1 session in Sittwe on 18 June, 1 session in Ramree on 20 June, and 1 session in Taungup on 21 June. While Search and Scholar in these sessions will answer any questions for preparing the documents they can not in any way comment on the ideas content of the proposal.

Deadline for Proposals submitted by 12 July 2019 using the proposal template, timeline Submission of Proposals template, budget template and Applicant Information Form. Only complete applications will be considered.

Reviewing of Proposals 22 July - 9 August The Fund Management Committee (FMC) will assess (3 Rounds) the submissions through three rounds: 1) Initial review of submissions and shortlisting; 2) An interview with shortlisted candidates who will be invited to revise their proposals against a Question and Answer session with the Fund Management Committee, and 3) Final candidates selected based on a review of the final documentation and an organisational assessment carried out. Scholar and SI project team members will not be part of the Fund Management Committee and will not be involved in the selection process.

Kick-Off Meeting A kick-off meeting will be held once the grant is awarded and the necessary paperwork is signed, with the selected candidates, Search and

Scholar within the first 2 weeks of award announcement.

2. Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible to apply for this opportunity, applicants should fit the following criteria:

● Applicant Civil Society Organisations should have participated in minimum 50% of the trainings and a minimum of 10 township level planning sessions organised by Search and Scholar as part of this project. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please use the contact details provided above. ● Local Authorities have agreed to the design and support the implementation of the proposed activities, and the proposal clearly outlines how the local authority will support implementation. A letter from the Local Authority endorsing the design, or a jointly signed proposal may be submitted. If it is not possible to receive written documentation, the name and contact number of the local authority representative with whom the Civil Society Organisation is collaborating must be provided. ● Applicant organisation should have a track record of engaging with target constituents. ● Applicant organisation should demonstrate previous experience of implementing small grants and the necessary capacity and willingness to manage the funds. ● Applicant organisations do not have to be registered. However they must demonstrate active work as an organisation for a minimum of 2 years, or - if less than 2 years - must demonstrate strong ​ organisational procedures and processes. ● Applicant organisations should demonstrate basic organizational structure and basic system for operations, and be willing and ready to undergo an organisational assessment. ● Applicant organisations should demonstrate responsiveness/openness to questions and site visits from Search for Common Ground and Scholar. ● Proposals should include a sustainability plan beyond the lifetime of the proposed grant. ● Applicant organisations must be non-profit making. ● Applicant organisations must be established in Rakhine State in one of the four target townships or surrounding townships. ● Applicant organisations must not be a solely religious or political organisation. ● Applicant organisations will need to have or open an organisational bank account, or have a joint ​ bank account for at least two leaders of the organisation. ● Proposals should be filled out using the proposal, timeline and budget template provided by Search and attach the signed Applicant Information Form also provided by Search.

3. Type of Award

Winning bids will receive a standard, advance based grant from Search for Common Ground. At the start of the Grant, Search will provide the organisation with a first tranche of advance funding to start project activities. Before receiving the next advance, the organisation will need to be up to date with financial and narrative reports, including all supporting documentation, and complete and submit an invoice to Search for the next tranche.