Examples of the funding application process

Below are two examples that give an example of the funding application process. The first example from TREE AID, gives details on how to apply for funds for a local community-based project dealing with implementation of sustainable forest management on the ground. The second example, from the African Forest Research Network (AFORNET), supports African forestry research programmes that bring together junior and senior scientists from differing countries and backgrounds to solve pressing forest problems related to sustainable forest management.

TREE AID

TREE AID is a charity organization based in the United Kingdom (UK) that provides funding for projects to strengthen the long-term self-reliance of people in Africa's drylands, enabling them to meet their basic needs, earn an income, and increase the stability of their communities through the regeneration of their woodlands.

TREE AID focuses on the sustainable utilization of trees as a means for local communities to ensure environmental security and combat poverty. Projects funded by TREE AID work through local organizations with the participation of local village communities. TREE AID has a well-defined application procedure and strict criteria for eligibility and geographic focus.

How to apply to TREE AID

TREE AID has its own guide for applying for funding which is downloadable from the TREE AID Web site or which can be obtained from the main offices in the UK and Burkina Faso. The major components of the form are discussed below.

Types of TREE AID funding

TREE AID provides two types of project funding:
  • Project Development Fund - recognizing the difficulty that small groups and organizations have in developing project proposals, the fund provides small grants for the purposes of carrying out research, feasibility studies and pilot projects.
  • Project Adoption Fund - provides funds for a clearly identifiable project or project component, that has defined objectives and measures of success and reporting. The emphasis on this fund is long-term sustainable commitment to a region and its people; projects of between three and five years duration are therefore favoured. 

Geographic focus

TREE AID has a very specific geographic focus of 'environmentally degraded areas in [semi-]arid zones of Africa.' The organization has funded projects in numerous countries in this area.

Within each country, there are more specific regions where TREE AID is seeking to develop projects. Please refer to the Web site for full and current details.

Categories of project funding

TREE AID funds project with a strong emphasis on community tree projects that involve people and the sustainable use of trees to the benefit of the community. In particular, TREE AID seeks to support projects that:

  • respond to local and national needs;
  • are community-based and work in partnership with beneficiary communities;
  • ensure equality of opportunity, particularly gender equality;
  • ensure sustainable benefits;
  • ensure equity in the distribution of benefits;
  • deliver benefits cost effectively;
  • help to achieve greater food, environmental and livelihood security.

Submission of applications

TREE AID operates a two stage application process whereby an initial proposal is submitted outlining:

  • the problems the project aims to solve;
  • the expected outcomes;
  • the estimated duration;
  • the estimated costs;
  • background information on the applicant's organization;
  • details of the charity or NGO credentials.

Proposals that pass the course filter are invited by TREE AID to submit a formal proposal on a TREE AID application form. This second stage acts as a fine filter and those applications considered suitable by TREE AID's Africa projects evaluation committee may be funded.

A proposal must pass both the course and fine filters to receive funding. 

The Africa projects evaluation committee considers project applications on a quarterly basis. Funded projects need to comply with TREE AID's reporting requirements which include biannual reports and a final evaluation report detailing the environmental and social improvements facilitated by the project. In addition, suitable photographic material needs to be provided illustrating the project's progress. TREE AID staff may make project site visits from time to time during the course of the project.

TREE AID contact details

TREE AID West Africa
06 BP 9321 Ouagadougou
06 1200
Logements Villa Numero 559
Burkina Faso

Tel: 00 226 36 35 34
Fax: 00 226 36 02 53

E-mail: tree.aid@fasonet.bf

UK office TREE AID
Brunswick Court
Brunswick Square
Bristol BS2 8PE
United Kingdom

Tel: 00 44 (0)117 909 6363
Fax: 00 44 (0)117 909 6617

E-mail: projects@treeaid.freeserve.co.uk

The African Forest Research Network (AFORNET)

The African Forest Research Network (AFORNET) is a relatively new network, and as its name implies, is a research network for African foresters. It is housed within the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and is supported by the Swedish Co-operation Agency (Sida-SAREC).

AFORNET focuses specifically on African forestry research and provides grants on a competitive basis for activities within its core programme. The activities of the core programme are:

  • thematic research networks - awards research grants to multidisciplinary teams cutting across three or more countries;
  • capacity building - to build research capacity by supporting the studies of junior scientists at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels;
  • enhancing forestry research capacity - to establish mechanisms for sharing and pooling of knowledge and skills to build a critical mass of capacity for solving forest problems in Africa;
  • coordination and management of the network;
  • enhancing information flow and access to scientific literature - through the AFORNET newsletter and the AFORNET Web site.

     

Types of AFORNET funding

AFORNET provides grants for multidisciplinary, transnational research proposals in the following thematic areas:

  • natural forest management and biodiversity conservation;
  • community-based forestry;
  • reforestation and rehabilitation of degraded lands;
  • socio-economic and policy issues;
  • non-timber forest products and lesser-known timbers.

AFORNET also supports the M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies of young African forest scientists.

Eligibility

AFORNET grants are only open to African scientists and there must be a strong emphasis on both collaboration between senior and junior scientists and between scientists from different African countries. Teams must consist of at least six scientists from different disciplinary backgrounds.

Selection criteria

All proposals are peer-reviewed by international specialists prior to being assessed by the AFORNET technical committee for 'interdisciplinary interactions, new lines of thought and innovativeness.'

Grant terms

Grants can be made to projects running for one or two years and may include allowance for field studies, support of casual labourers or project assistants, travel, communications, workshops and up to 15% of institutional overheads. Grants are considered up to a maximum of US$80 000 annually.

Proposal structure

AFORNET provides guidelines for writing both multidisciplinary research proposals and concept papers. For full details of these guidelines please contact AFORNET directly using the contact details at the bottom of this page. In summary the project proposal should include the following headings: 

  • project title;
  • a project summary not exceeding 500 words;
  • a project description of maximum of 30 pages including a logical framework;
  • a budget, budget notes and key supporting documents (e.g. formal quotations, pro-forma invoices etc.);
  • a statement of any previous, current, and potential funding sources for the proposed work;
  • a statement of any previous grant received from the AAS, the International Foundation of Science (IFS) or any other donor;
  • a clear statement on the division of responsibilities and resources among the collaborating scientists;
  • a complete curriculum vitae (CV) of the project leader and CVs and biodata of each scientist involved;
  • supporting letters from heads of institutions and referees.

    • AFORNET's technical committee meets twice a year in April and October. Proposals must be submitted to the committee at least two months before it meets. Before submitting proposals to AFORNET, interested persons should contact AFORNET directly for the most recent applications, procedures and information.

    AFORNET contact details

    West and Central Africa Eco-region
    AFORNET
    Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG)
    USP Box 631 Kumasi
    Ghana

    Fax: 2335160121

    East and Northern Africa Eco-region
    AFORNET
    Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)
    PO Box 20412 Nairobi
    Kenya

    Tel: 254154328913 or 32541
    Fax: 25415432844

    Southern Africa Eco-region 
    AFORNET
    Faculty of Forestry, Sokoine University of Agriculture
    PO Box 3151 Morogoro
    Tanzania

    Fax: (25527) 224648
    E-mail: forestry@suanet.ac.tz