The AIDS Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) has announced a call for applications for the Small Project and Support Fund (SPSF) Program to support small local initiatives that are made up of committed and dedicated people who may belong to any of these structures: self-help groups, community based organisations (CBO’s), faith based organisations (FBO’s) or smaller non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) or small local networks and their members working within their vicinity and context to improve the lives of the marginalised.

The SPSF aims to empower communities to act and participate in their own development through actions that are designed, implemented and owned by the communities themselves. It will target grass-root initiatives that are known in their communities; at least 25% of the funded initiatives will be female led so as to address gender inequalities and drive female empowerment. For this pilot phase, the SPSF will run for 3 years; however, the maximum duration for each supported project or activity will be 1 year.

Objectives

• To support the sub recipients to successfully implement their self-initiated development ideas and projects.
• To build the capacity of the sub recipients to gain competence and experience in implementing their self-initiated products.
• To equip the sub recipients with networking skills in order for them to be able to network with other actors in the field.

There are no thematic focus areas and applicants are encouraged to submit applications that relate to work that will benefit their local communities.

Funding Information

The applications could qualify for a maximum grant amount of 120.000 ZAR, depending on the number of projects supported. 

Criteria

In addition to the basic organisational and finance due diligence, organisations for consideration should meet the criteria as set out below:

• Group A
  • Locally registered and operational in KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape;
  • Annual organisational budget which is not more than R1.5 million;
  • Have been operational for a minimum of three years;
  • Must have received and adequately handled donor funding of more than R70 000.00  per annum in the past;
  • Have prepared narrative and financial reports to a donor which must be attached to this application as supporting document.
• Group B
  • Locally registered and operational in KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape;
  • Annual organisational budget which is not more than R1.5 million;
  • Have been operational for a minimum of two years.

Exclusions

• Any organisations that are currently being supported and funded by AFSA will not be eligible to apply for funds from the SPSF.
• Organisations that are part of government structures or are in any way linked to government cannot be funded.
• Organisations that are already being financed by BfdW or previously financed by the SPSF cannot be supported through the SPSF.
• Any project that requires a ‘top up’ to an existing project will not be eligible for funding.
• Organisations with an annual budget of more than R1.5M ZAR will not be eligible to apply.
• Only organisations that fall within the provinces mentioned (Kwa Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and Eastern Cape) will be applicable for consideration. The organisations must operate (their office location/base) from any of the three mentioned provinces and implement their work there.
• The grant will not support any HIV/AIDS related work.

For more information, visit AFSA.