Dear all, as we approach a new year I would like to remind you that foreign embassies are a good place to look for funding. Please keep the following summary in mind as you look for funds.
Languages for application:
In general: French, English and German. However, applications are also available in the native language of the country they pertain to. For example, USA has applications available in Ukrainian and Belarusian among other languages.
Countries: Global.
Each Embassy has specific countries that they are providing aid to, depending on their individual interests.
Deadlines: Various.
For example, whereas Canada sends out calls for proposals throughout the year, the Australian Embassy has no deadlines, but asks that all applications be submitted one year in advance of the proposed program.
Grant size: Various.
Many are dependent on the type of project being proposed.
Eligibility: Various, depending on the program being applied for. In general, the organization applying must be a registered non-profit or NGO.
DESCRIPTION
The following are a list of the top foreign embassy donors for NGOs. For many of these, the funding available goes to sector-specific programs, so it is advisable to research what theme or issue an embassy is funding in a particular country or area.
USA: The United States offer a great resource of financial and technical support to initiatives willing to strengthen civil society. Although their main interests vary greatly depending on which country the project is focused in, in general the US works to assist local NGOs working on issues such as conflict stabilization, democracy and human rights, economic growth, and security.
Canada: Canadian Embassies provide funding and technical support to small NGOs in developing countries under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Although the aims and goals of these calls varies according to the most urgent needs of individual countries, CFLI is generally interested in projects dealing with good governance, human rights, and democratic development.
British High Commission: The United Kingdom gives financial support to small-scale community-based project through the Small Grant Scheme (SGS), which is administered by the British High Commission. Main areas of interest include education for girls, disability rights, global poverty, strengthening governance and institutions and transformational policy change, as well as training and workshops for NGO staff.
Australia: Australian embassies are in charge of the coordination and allocation of fund given by the Australian Foreign Ministry and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid). In general, priority areas of intervention are community health, education, small-scale infrastructures, sanitation, rural development, environmental development, gender equality, training activities, and cultural and sporting initiatives.
Germany: The Federal Government of Germany allocates funding to develop small-scale projects initiated by local NGOs in the field of technical cooperation. Main areas of interest include education and building up the economic, social, and ecological situation in poorer countries.
For more information:
It is best to contact the nearest local embassy, or embassy in the country of the project for information that pertains to the issues they deal with in that specific country.
The following webpages list the countries where these embassies can be found:
USA: http://www.usembassy.gov/
Canada: http://www.international.gc.ca/international/index.aspx?lang=eng
British High Commission: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations
Australia: http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/
Germany: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/sid_58D9475F8669CD1A5A116AF84557BCC0/EN/L...
Happy Holidays!
The WIEGO team