Call for Expressions of Interest Seed Grants – New community organized Groups

Right to Food: Evidence to Action Project

1. Information to applicants

• Introduction

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is an international, non-profit research organization that envisions transforming lives in Africa through research. APHRC conducts policy-relevant research on population and health in Africa geared towards generating high quality evidence to inform decision making for an effective and sustainable response to the most critical challenges facing the continent. Among APHRC’s prime areas of focus in urban informal settlements or slums is food and nutrition security.

Between 2018 and 2019, for instance, APHRC undertook public engagement for the implementation of the ‘Right to Food Project’ in urban poor communities in Nairobi. The aim of public engagement from the perspective of the Wellcome Trust (main donor) is to help people connect with science and health in ways accessible and relevant to them, hence create a culture of public-informed research for greater public trust and acceptance. Public engagement with research and health concepts is an innovative tool for enhancing impact.

Building on lessons learned and outcomes of the Right to Food Project Phase 1, we are now entering an exciting new phase – ‘– Right to Food: Evidence to Action Project’ – of strategic significance, impact and national recognition. Our goal in this new phase is to promote people-centered and people-informed research and informing relevant policies and interventions for the eventual improvement of food and nutrition security among the urban poor in Kenya. To this end, APHRC is developing and scaling-up its initial public engagement effort with the core aims of:

• Empowering urban poor communities with knowledge on food and nutrition security and the research evidence thereof and obtaining their views to shape further research and interventions
• Building the capacity of community organized groups in public engagement and developing a sustainability framework for greater effectiveness and sustainability.

The Right to Food: Evidence to Action Project will use public engagement through innovative participatory methodologies such as photovoice, digital storytelling, community dialogues, participatory mapping, participatory theatres, and human libraries to engage targeted urban poor community members.  The objective of the public engagement is help explore and enhance the understanding of the concept of the right to food and nutrition, and explore ideas on ways of bridging the gap between the lived experiences in urban poor settings as evidenced by research, and aspirations demonstrated in the Bill of Rights in the Kenyan Constitution.

Project activities will be implemented by APHRC in collaboration with a select number of qualified community organized groups (COGs). APHRC will provide capacity building for the select COGs on: the food and nutrition security concept, public engagement, project management, financial management, and policy engagement among other aspects. For greater effectiveness and sustainability of project activities, the project will also gradually undertake to establish a community of practice of COGs.

• Project implementation period

April 2020- December 2020

• Project implementation areas

• Nairobi County
• Kisumu County

• Project implementation modality

In both Nairobi and Kisumu counties, the project activities will be implemented through COGs based and/or operating in urban poor settings in either of the counties. Priority preference will be given to COGs operating as: a non-governmental organization (NGO), a community based organization, a community radio station, or a self-help group.

This call for proposals aims at receiving applications from capable COGs that are interested in carrying out the implementation of the project activities in any of the project implementation areas.

• Application procedure

Step 1:      Complete the Expression of Interest form provided in Appendix 1

Step 2:      Fill the forms provided in Appendix 2, Appendix 3, and Appendix 4

Step 3:      Complete the letter of submission using the template provided in Appendix 5

Step 4:      Send electronic/soft copies of the information provided in steps 2 to 4 above 1 to consultancies@aphrc.org and copy howii@aphrc.org with the email subject: “Expression of Interest in the Right to Food: Evidence to Action Project”

• Eligibility criteria for expression of interest

Ideally, the applicant should meet the following criteria while submitting the EoI:

1. A COG registered with the relevant authority at the national or county level;
2. An organization with core staff having at field level experience in at least one specified Nairobi or Kisumu informal settlement (slum);
3. Track record of strong partnership with local communities, local authorities and/or government agencies in previous activities;

1. Proven working experience in community-based interventions or promotion/outreach activities and/or other relevant activities related to food and nutrition security or closely related area of focus in a specified informal settlement (slum) in Nairobi or Kisumu;

1. Record of involving vulnerable and marginalized groups in previous organizational activities;

Note: The applicants are encouraged to submit proof of each eligibility criteria.

• COGs selection process

A multi-phased selection process will be employed which includes:

1. Submission of EoI by COGs
2. Verification and possible interview of the shortlisted COGs
3. Training of shortlisted COGs on Public Engagement; and
4. Submission of proposals by shortlisted COGs.

COGs who are successful at the end of the process be allowed to amend their applications including proposed activities based on the training above.

• Funding and duration

Seed grants will be issued to successful COGs. The seed-grant amount is KES 500,000. The funding will be up to a period of 9 months, from April 2020 to December 2020.

• General Information

1. Templates to furnish the information required for this application are annexed to this call for EoIs as follows:

• Appendix 1: Expression of interest form
• Appendix 2: Organizational profile and relevant experience
• Appendix 3: Description of the core staff of the organization
• Appendix 4: Organizational track record
• Appendix 5: Letter for EoI submission

1. The applicant may contact the project team for clarification of any issues related to the EoI, if required. All inquiries can be made in writing to Hilda Owii at howii@aphrc.org.
2. The closing date for submission of EoI is 2nd March 2020. EoI’s submitted after the closing date will not be considered.
3. The result of the shortlisting will be communicated to qualified COGs within 3 weeks of EoI deadline.
4. Field verifications will be done only for the shortlisted COGs.
5. Failure to submit the necessary documents will disqualify the respective organization from the process.
6. The APHRC reserves all rights to cancel the EoIs process without giving any reasons whatsoever.

Download the templates here