Asia Foundation 2023 USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge Fund, Nepal

The Civil Society and Media (CSM) Activity is a five-year program (2022-2027) funded by USAID through the CSM-STAND-LWA, with The Asia Foundation as the lead implementer in Nepal. USAID CSM supports independent civil society and media led by and for women, youth, and marginalized communities to advance public interest, fundamental freedoms, and accountability. Most activities will focus on Lumbini and Madhesh Provinces, with some implemented in Kathmandu. Qualified civil society organizations from Madhesh and Lumbini provinces are invited to submit applications for the Youth Leadership Challenge Fund.

• Table of Content
• About Asia Foundation
• Asia Foundation USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge
• Aim and Benefits of Asia Foundation USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge
• Requirements for Asia Foundation USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Asia Foundation USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Asia Foundation

Guided by a mission to improve lives, expand opportunities, and help societies flourish across a dynamic and developing Asia, The Asia Foundation in 2014 marked its 60th anniversary with a year-long global conversation on critical issues facing the region today. Much has changed in Asia and the world since 1954, but the solid groundwork set by our founders has helped us to evolve as an international development organization and impact countless people across the region. The original founding officers of the board included: T.S. Peterson, CEO of Standard Oil of California (now Chevron); Bray...... continue reading

Asia Foundation USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge

Aim and Benefits of Asia Foundation USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge

 The main objectives of this challenge fund are:

• To develop a new generation of youth civic actors who are capable of actively participating in democratic governance and decision-making.
• To advance the public interest in social change and community development activities through youth-led initiatives in Madhesh and Lumbini provinces; and
• To enhance local civic space and movements in Madhesh and Lumbini by strengthening the capacity of young people.

Theme of the Public Acceleration Challenge Fund

The challenge fund can prioritize working on any relevant themes with respect to the three objectives listed in this document. Some of the illustrative themes are listed below:

• Youth in facilitating policy for WYM.
• Youth network on issues of WYM.
• Youth in local governance.
• Youth in social change and addressing social issues.
• Youth in digital space.

Any creative ideas on a theme relevant to the three main objectives of this challenge fund.

Estimated Funding Level: 

• Applicants can apply for grants up to USD 40,000 not exceeding (NPR 5,284,000). The Asia Foundation has no preference for funding level, and applications will be evaluated on the merit of the program with no prejudice to the levels of funding sought.

 Award Implementation Period: 

• The grant implementation period should not exceed twelve months. The implementation period is to be driven by the logic of the program and no other consideration.

 Award Type: 

• All awards under this Call for Applications will be cost-reimbursable grants.

Requirements for Asia Foundation USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge Qualification

1. Youth-led organizations working in and registered in Madhesh and Lumbini are encouraged to apply.
2. Youth-driven organizations working in leadership, advocacy, and engagement of youths are highly encouraged to apply.
3. Organizations led by women, youth and marginalized communities will be prioritized.

Please follow the instructions below carefully. Applications that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to furnish or comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Asia Foundation USAID Civil Society and Media Activity Youth Leadership Challenge

The applicant can select among the themes mentioned above or can propose youth leadership based themes which need to be within the objective of the challenge fund.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Content and Form of Application Submission

1. The concept note should clearly highlight the specific activities.
2. Applications can be submitted in English or Nepali.
3.  All budgets should be in local currency.
4. All pages should be numbered.?
5. All documents should be formatted to A4 paper.?

Applicants are encouraged (not mandatory for the first submission) to secure authoritative alphanumeric 12 digits Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number created in SAM.GOV. Since securing UEI can take around a week, applicants are encouraged to apply for a UEI number by registering under https://sam.gov/content/home before applying. Application Process: Please follow the following process while applying for the Challenge Fund.

Step 1: Email [email protected] requesting the concept note and budget templates with the subject line mentioning “Youth Leadership Challenge Fund”.

Step 2: Submission of Application: Interested applicants must email the following while applying the application deadline:

a. Concept Note: Submit a concept note using the template provided in Annex 1. The concept note should include the overall activities cycle, clearly highlighting the thematic focus area and other components as mentioned in the template. The concept note can be submitted in the Nepali language as well.

b. Budget Estimate: Submit the budget using the template available in Annex 2. The instructions for the budget proposal are mentioned in the budget template.

c. Other Documents: Along with the concept note and budget, applicants are required to submit the following:

• The organization’s registration certificate
• Organization’s Statute
• Copy of the audit report, if applicable
• List of organization’s board members and staff

Pre-bid Information Session

For more information, a virtual pre-bid session will be held on August 29, 2023. Interested organizations can register for the pre-bid session here: https://forms.office.com/r/5ZmWRtPAMc or send an email requesting a pre-bid session at [email protected] before 5:00 PM NST on August 28, 2023.

Only registered organizations will have access to the meeting link. Funding Restrictions The Challenge Fund cannot be used for the following:

? Construction: This award does not allow for construction activities or costs.

? Pre-award Costs: Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.

? Program Activities: Activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to:

• profit-generating projects;
• scholarships to support educational opportunities or study for individuals;
• paying to complete activities begun with other funds;
• financial support for fundraising or fund development projects;
• projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to an individual or single party;
• political party and lobbying activities;
• projects that support specific religious activities; and,
• microloans/microfinance projects, distribution of seed money for enterprises, and legal/land rights-focused programs.

Submission Date and Time

All applications shall be received no later than September 5, 2023. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered eligible. All applications are encouraged to be submitted electronically to the following email address: [email protected] with the subject line mentioning “Youth Leadership Challenge Fund” The time stamp provided by the email service provider will be used to determine whether an application was submitted on time.

The issuance of this Call for Applications does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the Foundation, nor does it commit the Foundation to pay for costs incurred in preparing and submitting an application.

The Foundation reserves the right to fund any or to make no awards as a result of this call if no application meets the objectives and criteria stated in this call.

For more details visit: Asia Foundation website.