CLOSED.
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund 2022
Call for Concept Notes
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) invites suitable South African organisations to submit concept notes for project funding in South Africa.
It is a three step process that comprises of:
Step One: Eligibility (Brief check if your organisation is eligible to apply)
Step Two: Concept Note (If eligible access to the concept note will be automatically provided - here we ask for more details about your organisation, the project you want to apply for funding for and the organisation track record).
Step Three: Full Proposal (Concept Note will be reviewed and most promising applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal).
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund 2022
Call for Concept Notes
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) invites suitable South African organisations to submit concept notes for project funding in South Africa.
It is a three step process that comprises of:
Step One: Eligibility (Brief check if your organisation is eligible to apply)
Step Two: Concept Note (If eligible access to the concept note will be automatically provided - here we ask for more details about your organisation, the project you want to apply for funding for and the organisation track record).
Step Three: Full Proposal (Concept Note will be reviewed and most promising applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal).
Announcement Date |
18 November 2022 |
Concept note closing date |
2 December 2022 (Now Closed) |
Outcome communication |
15 December 2022 |
Expected Programme Start Date |
2 May 2023 |
Duration of Funding |
Two years (24 months) depending on performance and funding availability. |
Funding Limit |
From ZAR 200 000-ZAR 1million per funding year, per Implementing Partner (IP). The amount may be renewable annually depending on compliance, performance in line with outcomes of the Fund and availability of budget. The maximum amount is for those organisations that can take all the four focus areas of the Fund, demonstrates their capacity to deliver efficiently and effectively. |
This request offers support for four project types
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Project Type 1:
Projects that contribute to child survival, development and thriving for children five years and below by addressing child mortality. |
Project Type 2:
Projects that contribute to child (0 -18 yrs) safety and protection by reducing vulnerability to abuse, neglect and violence in homes, schools and other spaces that children live, learn and play (including digital/ online safety) |
|
Project Type 3:
Projects that contribute to the development of leadership skills, enterprise and job creation through skills development of young people between the ages of 12-22 yrs |
Project Type 4:
Projects that empower families and communities to adequately care for their children and youth (0-22yrs) by strengthening families and communities economically and socially through sustainable livelihood approaches. |
Projects that fall in more than 1 project will be required to stipulate clear outcomes, indicators, and targets for the different relevant project types.
In addition, all concept notes should contain common elements regardless of project type:
Must demonstrate elements of capacity-building for families and /or communities
Must demonstrate good financial management
Must indicate post funding project sustainability plan
Must confirm possibilities of integration of sustainable livelihood component.
Projects that fall into project type 2 MUST have evidence of existing working relations with Department of Basic Education and/or local school communities
Suitable organisations from the following priority districts in nine of the SA provinces are encouraged to apply:
In addition, all concept notes should contain common elements regardless of project type:
Must demonstrate elements of capacity-building for families and /or communities
Must demonstrate good financial management
Must indicate post funding project sustainability plan
Must confirm possibilities of integration of sustainable livelihood component.
Projects that fall into project type 2 MUST have evidence of existing working relations with Department of Basic Education and/or local school communities
Suitable organisations from the following priority districts in nine of the SA provinces are encouraged to apply:
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Enkangala and Ehlanzeni (Mpumalanga); Mopani (Limpopo); Vhembe-Thoyandou (Limpopo); JT Gaetsewe (Northern Cape), Frances Baard (Northern Cape), EThekwini- Umlazi and Inanda; (KZN); Zululand (KZN), Bojanala Platinum (North West), OR Tambo (Eastern Cape), Lejweleputswa (Free State), City of Ekurhuleni: Tembisa (Gauteng); Delft (Western Cape). |
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In addition, organisations that serve marginalised communities or sub populations such as children with physical, psycho-social disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Concept notes must be submitted electronically by the 2nd of December 2022
through the link below:
Concept notes must be submitted electronically by the 2nd of December 2022
through the link below:
Following review of the concept notes, the Fund will invite successful applicants to submit a full proposal.
General recommendations for preparing concept notes
Ensure that your concept note is clearly within the call projects type areas and aligns with the Funds strategic objectives listed below:
I.
Empower Families and Communities to adequately care for their children and youth
II.
Create platforms to amplify the voice of children and youth
III.
Address and influence public service shortfalls, national policy omissions, national budget gaps and enforcement of legislation in relation to child and youth access to rights and service, protection and participation, through advocacy and lobbying
Funding levels: ensure project budgets fall within the R 200 000.00 and R1 000 000.00 range. Amounts outside this range will need clear justifications.
(Guidance on what type is eligible for what level of funding)
Empower Families and Communities to adequately care for their children and youth
II.
Create platforms to amplify the voice of children and youth
III.
Address and influence public service shortfalls, national policy omissions, national budget gaps and enforcement of legislation in relation to child and youth access to rights and service, protection and participation, through advocacy and lobbying
Funding levels: ensure project budgets fall within the R 200 000.00 and R1 000 000.00 range. Amounts outside this range will need clear justifications.
(Guidance on what type is eligible for what level of funding)
Guidance for project budgets
i. Projects with budgets between R200 000.00 – R400 000.00 are required to:
ii. Projects with budgets between R401 000.00 – R600 000.00 are required to:
iii. Projects with budgets between R601 000.00 –R1 000 000.00 are required to:
Be brief. Summarise proposed activities, outputs, outcomes and impact with minimal background information, using the forms provided in the link. The template will guide on the required information
Key Factors. Compelling concept notes will demonstrate innovation, partnerships, linkages between the project type areas and clearly aim to impact on the Fund’s strategic objectives
i. Projects with budgets between R200 000.00 – R400 000.00 are required to:
- Reach at least 150 – 250 children directly.
- Have annual organisational budgets of at least 20% more than the proposed project budget
- Have successfully delivered on at least 2 funding agreements previously, with organisations other than the Fund
ii. Projects with budgets between R401 000.00 – R600 000.00 are required to:
- Reach at least 500 - 1000 children directly.
- Have annual organisational budgets of at least 40% more than the proposed project budget
- Have successfully delivered on at least 2 funding agreements previously, with organisations other than the Fund
- Have clean audits for the past 2 years
iii. Projects with budgets between R601 000.00 –R1 000 000.00 are required to:
- Reach at least 2000 children.
- Have annual organisational budgets of at least 70% more than the proposed project budget
- Have successfully delivered on at least 2 funding agreements previously, with organisations other than the Fund
- Have clean audits for the past 2 years
Be brief. Summarise proposed activities, outputs, outcomes and impact with minimal background information, using the forms provided in the link. The template will guide on the required information
Key Factors. Compelling concept notes will demonstrate innovation, partnerships, linkages between the project type areas and clearly aim to impact on the Fund’s strategic objectives
General eligibility requirement
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1. Concept notes must be submitted in English through the Fund’s Portal by the respective deadlines.
2. Applicant project sites must be located in South Africa in the prescribed geographic region. Eligible entities may include universities, research institutes, civil society networks, non–governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs). The Fund will not consider the following activities:
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3. All applicants must be registered not-for-profit organisations.
4. Applicants are encouraged to explore co-funding (in kind or cash) for their projects. Co-funding refers to real costs that are incurred by the applicants while executing the funded project’s activities. These include in-kind contributions that directly contribute to the project activities (i.e., staff salaries, travel costs etc.) or any in-cash contributions to grant activities from other funding sources. 5. Letters of support from confirmed project partners (DBE for Project Type 2)should be submitted through the Fund’s grants portal. 6. Applicants must affirm that all data mobilized through the Fund’s grants be made openly accessible and shared on a data platform. Questions? Contact us at rfpinfo@nmcf.co.za |
Application process
The project lead submits a concept note through the Fund’s grants portal, which will be screened to ensure that it meets the criteria and falls within the scope of the Fund’s project type priorities. After this, the concept note will be reviewed independently by assessors and scored against the following selection criteria:
Score title |
Question/Criteria for assessment |
Score 1-5 |
Weight % |
Organisational Information |
Meets minimum requirements to be able to implement project with due accountability. (Proof of appropriate, valid registration, existing governance structure, clean audits |
20 |
|
Project Description |
Application answers to the criteria of the call. Is aligned clearly to a project type, the Fund focus areas, objectives, and strategic statements |
20 |
|
Proposed Project Stakeholders |
Project articulates a clear understanding of required stakeholders, a plan to develop and sustain critical stakeholder relations. Evidence of project support from relevant strategic partners, including govt departments where relevant |
10 |
|
Target groups and beneficiaries |
Clear primary and secondary beneficiaries identified in priority districts and focus areas |
10 |
|
Budget score |
Budget within limits, coherent, adequate to meet project objectives effectively. |
20 |
|
Track record score |
Evidence of successful implementation of at least 2 similar projects. |
20 |
|
Recommendation |
Do you recommended this organisation to submit a proposal? |
Value |
Yes/No |
Total |
100% |
The Fund will invite successful applicants to submit a full proposal separately.
WATCH: Application Process Guidance Video