Discretionary Grants
Grants as a programme modality
As part of a technical assistance programme, disbursement of grants can be an effective implementation modality to fund activities (projects) by third parties (i.e., sub project) to undertake activities on behalf of the programme and realise its objectives. In this set up, the projects are often co-created between the programme and relevant third parties and do not necessarily include specific Calls for Proposal procedures on an open competitive basis. Compliance with procedures for management of funds, including procurement, ESG, monitoring and financial and technical reporting, among other requirements, remain essential.
Market and Seeds Access Project (MASAP) in Zambia and Zimbabwe
FUNDER:
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
DURATION:
7/21-11/25 (Phase I)
FUND VALUE:
€5,365,405
Running for 12 years, the Market and Seeds Access Project (MASAP) improves food security of smallholder households by taking a Market Systems Development approach that increases the uptake of improved open and self-pollinated varieties of small grains and legumes in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Through grant funds and service provision contracts, MASAP facilitates market systems interventions to target the bottlenecks and challenges for farmers to access seeds and seize the potential of commodity markets. The project’s long-term vision is the creation of a vibrant and community-driven seed and commodity market system, creating income opportunities and resilience for smallholder farmers - in particular women and the youth - supported by strong institutions, national and regional policies, and innovative private sector actors. NIRAS is implementing MASAP in partnership with the Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO) in Zimbabwe and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Switzerland.
The Participation Active des Citoyennes et Citoyens Tunisiens / The Active Participation of Tunisian Citizens (PACT)
DONOR:
SDC
DURATION:
2020-2027 (Phases I & II)
FUND VALUE:
€6,792,194
The Participation Active des Citoyennes et Citoyens Tunisiens or the Active Participation of Tunisian Citizens (PACT) is an SDC-funded project aiming to increase accountability, citizen participation and strengthening of human rights at the local government level with the overall objective of improving the living conditions of the population, particularly the most vulnerable. Following the success of its first phase supporting community projects across seven municipalities in the Hautes Steppes region of Tunisia, the PACT project is currently being rolled out in 12 newly selected local communities (Imadas) from 6 different governorates to further enhance community ties. The project is also working with elected officials and staff in local administrations to apply good governance based on the principles of participation, transparency, and accountability and facilitating greater control and monitoring of local government performance by civil society actors and the media. The aim is to support the emergence of sustainable and inclusive community dynamics and the role of the public players (decentralised), civil society and the media as actors of sustainable development at the local level.
Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) Programme
FUNDER:
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
DURATION:
3/2019-3/2026
FUND VALUE:
€5,840,920
The Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) programme seeks to catalyse change by making the commercial and development case for investing in agribusinesses that source produce from smallholders, while increasing smallholder engagement and benefits from such investments. CASA is currently active in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nepal, and Rwanda and implemented by a consortium of NIRAS, SwissContact and TechnoServe, offering a unique combination of technical and managerial skills. Together, we work as a catalyst for market transformation, facilitating system-level change via new inclusive and sustainable partnerships, business models and improvements in the enabling environment. CASA is a trusted knowledge broker and high-profile communicator encouraging the uptake of evidence and fostering behaviour change by donors, investors and governments with a particular focus on domestic and regional food markets in East and Southern Africa, and South Asia. The programme is also a smart monitoring, learning, and research resource for FCDO, delivering published peer reviewed research, high quality analysis from across the three CASA components and FCDO's commercial agriculture portfolio.