ANNOUNCEMENT of the competition for grant funding

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) announces a funding competition under the “Civil Society for Kazakhstan (CS4K)” project, implemented jointly with the Public Foundation “Institute of National and International Development Initiatives” (PF “INIDI”) and funded by the European Union.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The project’s goal is to promote fundamental freedoms and rights in Kazakhstan through civil society-led efforts.

The existing issues in Kazakhstan, such as the lag in fulfilling international commitments to ensure equality, the lack of monitoring in the implementation of policies and legislation to protect fundamental freedoms and rights, as well as the persistent challenges civil society faces in promoting change toward a more just, democratic, and open society—legal and operational barriers, restrictions on freedom of expression, and declining public trust in the civil sector—all underscore the need for a qualified and united civil society capable of amplifying underrepresented voices and mobilizing support for a proper decision-making process.

PURPOSE OF FUNDING

To build the capacity of Kazakhstan’s civil society, develop local human rights/advocacy projects for social change, and support effective governance practices, IWPR provides financial and technical support to civil society representatives in Kazakhstan for the implementation of projects that include the following stages:

Conducting research: Data will be collected and analyzed to determine the needs and priorities in the field of human rights protection in specific regions. A methodology will be provided, and a training session will be held for data collection and analysis. The collected data will serve as the basis for subsequent analytical briefs and advocacy campaigns. The research topic should be related to human rights, with priority given to issues in women’s and youth rights.
Developing policy briefs and white papers: These will be created in collaboration with experts, based on the data collected during the research phase. Experts, as well as the design and translation of policy briefs and white papers, are funded by IWPR and not from the project budget. Examples of documents can be found at the following links:

3. Conducting advocacy campaigns: These will focus on human rights, especially women’s and youth rights.

3. WHO CAN APPLY?

Applications are open to:

Registered civil society organizations (CSOs, NGOs, NPOs) in Kazakhstan;
Initiative groups from Kazakhstan (it is recommended to apply in partnership with registered NGOs that share the initiative group’s views. If the initiative group cannot identify a partner organization, the representative of the initiative group may apply on behalf of the group or individually as an individual entrepreneur).

Preference will be given to organizations and initiative groups from rural/remote areas.

PROJECT DURATION AND FUNDING AMOUNT

Project duration: October 2024 – July 2026.
Funding per project: €12,000.
Number of funded projects: 10.

USE OF FUNDS

Funds cannot be used for expenses such as construction, property purchases, alcoholic beverages, entertainment, business or first-class travel, or debt repayment. Salary and office-related expenses (rent, utilities, etc.) not directly tied to project implementation will not be covered.

Project budgets must be submitted in euros (EUR), but expenses will be paid to the recipient in accordance with the agreed payment schedule in Kazakhstani tenge (KZT) at the bank exchange rate on the payment date.

HOW TO APPLY

All interested candidates (who meet the criteria in section 3) must complete the application form (link) and submit it to aziza.mukhametova@iwpr.net by October 6, 2024 (inclusive).

Applications are accepted in Kazakh, Russian, or English.

Selected organizations will need to provide the following additional documentation:

Scanned copy of the certificate or proof of NGO registration (for organizations);
Scanned copy of the organization’s charter (for organizations);
Scanned copy of a tax clearance certificate;
Bank account confirmation and details;
ID copy of key project personnel.

IWPR reserves the right to request additional documentation. If further information or clarification is needed regarding applications, applicants will be notified in writing.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The selection process is open and competitive. Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Alignment with the competition’s priorities and the “Civil Society for Kazakhstan (CS4K)” project priorities;
Completeness and justification of project design;
Feasibility of achieving specific, measurable results within the project timeframe;
Adequacy of resources and expertise to implement the project;
Budget justification;
The project budget should not exceed €12,000;
The project must include conducting research to determine needs and priorities in human rights, as well as an advocacy campaign on the protection of human rights and freedoms.

All applicants will be informed of the decision in writing. IWPR reserves the right not to provide reasons for rejection.

Any questions regarding the funding competition should be sent to aziza.mukhametova@iwpr.net.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

All interested candidates must complete the application form (link) and submit it to aziza.mukhametova@iwpr.net by 23:59 pm Almaty time on October 6, 2024.

An additional online information session will be held on September 24, 2024, at 3:00 PM (Almaty time) to discuss your questions regarding funding or the application process.

To participate, please register via the provided link by 6:00 PM (Almaty time) on September 23, 2024. The Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Answers

This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of IWPR and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.