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STRENGTHENING GRASSROOTS INTERFAITH DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING (SGIDU) PROGRAM
The Program
The Strengthening Grassroots Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding (SGIDU) Program is a relatively new small grants scheme managed by the Australian Embassy in Manila.
The SGIDU Program offers funding assistance to reputable community groups, non-government organizations and some national government agencies for stand-alone inter-faith or intra-faith projects that:
- directly contribute to strengthening under-standing and acceptance between communities of different faiths at the grassroots level
- promote peace-building and anti-violence messages
The SGIDU Program aims to assist where other support is either: not available, inadequate or inappropriate.
Applicant organizations are expected to provide some form of cost-sharing contribution to the proposed project, including by meeting their own general administrative and overhead expenses, as a demonstration of their commitment to the proposal.
Project proposals should be submitted on the attached SGIDU Funding Application Form below.
Eligible Applicant Organizations
Legally-constituted agencies and groups invited by the SGIDU Secretariat to bid for a grant may submit project proposals.
Selection Criteria
Preference will be given to proposed projects that:
- strengthen interfaith understanding and/or exchanges at the grassroots level
- target communities that would benefit from improved interfaith understanding
- promote peace-building and anti-violence messages
- impact on all sectors of the target faith-based communities, possibly including women and youth
- demonstrate how benefits derived from the proposed grant would be maximized
- are located in either Metro Manila or central and western Mindanao, including the Zam-boanga Peninsula, the Sulu archipelago and conflict-affected areas
Preference will also be given to applicant organizations that:
- employ their own resources, including in the form of labor, technical support, administ-rative costs, materials and existing assets and cash
- demonstrate a capacity to plan, implement and evaluate their proposed project(s) effectively
The SGIDU Program is a competitive funding mechanisms and the approval of a grant is at the discretion of the Australian Embassy.
Only project proposals consistent with these Guidelines will be considered.
Project proposals do not need to be channelled through local government offices or religious institutions, but the SGIDU Secretariat would be happy to receive project endorsements and details of any patrons or sponsors.
Funding Assistance
Project proposals over PhP800,000 will only be considered if there are special circumstances.
SGIDU grant funds:
- will not be provided until a SGIDU Project Grant Agreement has been signed between the Australian Embassy and the successful applicant organization
- must be accounted for and acquitted fully within one year
- official receipts and/or vouchers must be produced for all expenditure
- can only be used for items specified in the approved project proposal
- cannot fund activities retrospectively
- must not end up, directly or indirectly, supporting terrorism
- may, as appropriate, be issued in tranches, based on project performance
- must be re-paid if the successful applicant organization breaches the terms and conditions of its Grant Agreement.
Eligible Projects
Project proposals eligible for consideration under the SGIDU Program are those that strengthen grassroots interfaith understanding and acceptance, including but not limited to:
- dialogue-based activities, such as seminars, workshops, sister school relationships, church-mosque dialogues
- activity-focused exchanges, such as youth peace camps or conflict management training courses
- dissemination of appropriate messages in the mass media, including on television and radio
- intrafaith activities that promote interfaith understanding
Project proposals with commercial or profit-making aims are not eligible for consideration under the SGIDU Program.
The SGIDU Program encourages project proposals focused on women’s and youth issues. It would also welcome projects involving the Balik Islam community and projects in the media and education sectors.
Part-funding of projects will be considered.
Ineligible Costs
SGIDU cannot fund:
- general secretariat expenses
- research or other study opportunities
- infrastructure, vehicles or other large-scale items
- projects involving revolving funds, re-lending or social credits
- multi-year projects.
Project Monitoring and Reporting
At the completion of each SGIDU-funded project, the funding recipient must prepare a Project Completion Report that includes:
- a statement of expenditure
- all financial records relating to the grant, including bank statements and officials receipts or vouchers; and
- certification that the purposes and conditions of the SGIDU grant were complied with.
The SGIDU Secretariat and/or its nominated representatives may undertake on-site visits and evaluations of SGIDU-funded projects.
SGIDU Secretariat
The SGIDU Secretariat is comprised of members of the Australian Embassy in Manila.
Correspondence, queries and appointment requests should be directed to:
Ms. Nicole Guihot
Coordinator, SGIDU Program
Australian Embassy
Level 23 - Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City, Metro Manila
Email: Nicole.Guihot@dfat.gov.au
Telephone: (02) 757 8256
Fax: (02) 757 8345
Ms. Ria Constantino-Go Tian
Project Officer, SGIDU Program
Telephone: (02) 757 8210
Email: Ria.Go.Tian@dfat.gov.au
Deadline
Applications are due no later than end of September 2008.
Please contact the SGIDU Secretariat if you are struggling to compile the supporting documentation.
View or download the SGIDU application form