Voices for Just Climate Action Programme | Expression of Interest for Fund Manager – The Next Level Grant Facility (NLGF) at Hivos Southern Africa Region

Deadline for submission of Proposals: 24th February 2023, 17:00hrs

Type: Fund manager for Small grants

Background

The climate crisis hugely affects nature and has a devastating impact on human life – and rights. We are at a critical juncture in our fight against raising temperatures and in transforming our societies in a sustainable, just and inclusive manner.

Similar Jobs in Zambia

Learn more about Hivos Southern Africa Region

Hivos Southern Africa Region jobs in Zambia

The tipping point is now. There are huge opportunities to effect change. We need to renegotiate unequal rights and reimagine and recover the balance between people and nature.

We believe this is only possible through next level local civil society leadership and ownership. Through innovation, a climate justice approach, and strong coalitions for just climate action.

Voices for Just Climate Action

The Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) is a 5-year programme (2021-2025) supported by the Dutch government under the “Power of Voices” framework. The programme aims to scale up Zambia climate action response targeting vulnerable communities.

The VCA Alliance brings together global and local voices by connecting a diverse range of civil society organizations representing women, youth, indigenous people, urban poor, digital activists and more. The alliance is led by three strong Southern CSOs – Akina Mama waAfrika (AMwA), Slum Dwellers International (SDI) and SouthSouthNorth (SSN) – and two Global CSOs – Hivos and WWF-Netherlands.

VCA presents a fair, just and solution-oriented agenda that integrates social and economic rights into climate action. Together – alliance partners and local civil society organizations – we create a democratic playing field and amplify the inventive local solutions to spur a broader development. By doing so, we are set to shape a new reality for people and nature.

In Zambia our vision by 2025 is; A Zambia where civil society is heard & respected by influencing & co-creating locally relevant, inclusive and fundable climate solutions that deliver real benefits to people & nature as part of a local & global response to this crisis.

Focus Areas/Districts -: VCA      operates in the Lower Kafue Basin and Lusaka Province regions across 10 Districts namely; Luangwa, Rufunsa, Chongwe, Lusaka, Kafue, Chirundu, Siavonga, Chikankata, Mazabuka and Itezhi Tezhi.

Target Groups: the target group of the VCA intervention in Zambia is centered around those who are most vulnerable to climate change impacts: women, youth, urban poor, rural communities, and marginalized groups. Women, young people and other marginalized groups often have critical perspectives on power structures and alternative approaches to the climate crisis. This Alliance sees harnessing these diverse perspectives, alternative approaches and women’s leadership as key to ensure the voices of marginalized groups are heard.

Thematic Areas: VCA targets five key thematic areas; water, food, energy, health and gender and inclusion in relation to climate change. These thematic areas form the basis of our climate action which is focused on advocacy while emphasizing a rights-based and intersectionality approach

Call for Proposals

Hivos as a VCA Alliance partner is coordinating the Next Level Grant Facility (NLGF) in Zambia. Hivos is calling for proposals from organizations registered and based in Zambia to partner with in delivering the Next Level Grant Facility as a Fund Manager.

The Next Level Grant Facility (NLGF)

The Next Level Grant Facility is meant to address the current system of financing which is not designed to support small informal groups or grassroot organisations effectively because of their small size and inability to meet the bureaucratic requirements set by major international funds, donors and financial institutions.

Small groups and grassroot organisations are simply invisible and some of them cannot operate openly for security reasons, let alone showing a ‘track record’ which is often a prerequisite for funding from most donors.

Target Beneficiaries of the NLGF

1)    Small informal organizations that do not have the capacity to apply and report on more formal grants but that represent local right holders and work on local climate solutions. ” Small” organizations are those with yearly cash flow below 100,000 EUR/year and with only few (partly) paid staff members.

2)    Individuals: NLGF will also fund individuals such as climate activists, journalists, local climate champions who are not always acting on behalf of a (formal) organization, while threats to these individuals can be very serious.

Purpose of NLGF

• Emergencies, unforeseen activities or newly arisen opportunities contributing to the VCA Theory of Change.
• Tools or other equipment to respond to (political or human rights) climate emergencies (please note this of limited size- not more than Euro 10,000, only with respect to climate activists / human defenders)
• Support to grass root organisations to join meetings (and need to cover costs for transport) or quickly respond on (proposed) decision by local and central governments (communication costs, travel) to strengthen local activism.
• Rapid response for the safety of environmental defenders / climate activists.

Examples of Emergencies for Environmental Defenders/ Climate Activists

• replacement of hardware or software which has been taken, lost or stolen;
• purchase of more secure hard- and/or software and costs related to installation of the new systems;
• technical or non-technical activities to respond to urgent issues such as internet blockages;
• training or accompaniment on digital or other security issues;
• measures to improve physical security (which relate to information management and digital security);
• measures to address the psychological and psychosocial impact of digital threats and attacks

NLGF Fund Manager roles:

• Identifying areas of support in line with the purpose of the NLGF
• Pre-selection and assessment of NLGF applicants in consultation with the Zambia Regional Team
• Re-granting to small (grass root) organizations and individuals which includes; management, administration, monitoring, and reporting on the grant as needed
• Grant making to successful applicants, executing the intervention,
• Monitoring of fund usage by applicants in line with the purpose.
• Reporting NLGF progress to HIVOS

Who is eligible to apply?

• Locally registered non-profit Zambian organizations
• An organization working in the field of environment and climate change
• Applicant with track record of managing small grants to small groups or grassroot organisations
• An organisation with the ability to collaborate with other actors to influence stronger impacts, build capacity over time and jointly develop and implement a capacity strengthening plan for grant recipients
• An organisation that understands intersectionality approach for enhancing participation and strengthening the wider climate justice movement and advocacy
• An organisation able to demonstrate the bare minimum for the recipients both for small groups, organisations and individuals

Grant Value

The NLGF will run from 2023 to 2025 with the total amount of 587,250 Euros.

How to Apply;

Send a proposal of maximum 8 pages detailing the following;

• Organization background and structure
• Experience in managing similar grants
• Proposed Minimum criteria for recipients of NLGF both individuals and small organizations
• A list of anticipated risks and mitigation measures
• At least 3 references

Send application to sa-hub@hivos.org

Application deadline is 24th February 2023, 17:00hrs  (Central African Time).