Deadline: 4 June 2018

The Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund has announced a second call for concept notes under the third phase of the BUSAC Fund Programme.

As a component under DANIDA’s Support to Private Sector Development Phase III (SPSD III) programme, the BUSAC Fund III engagement is expected to lead to an “improved business environment through enhanced advocacy capacity of private sector organisations and creation of platforms for private-public dialogue”. To achieve this outcome, BUSAC Fund III will be supporting private sector business advocacy initiatives aimed at improving the business environment.

Priority Areas

For this call, the Fund will give preference to advocacy concepts that focus on:

• Policies relating to agricultural themes such as agro-processing, non-traditional agricultural commodities and value chain development;
• Policies and issues pertaining to climate change adaptation and sustainability e.g. green growth, energy conservation, renewable natural resources, recycling and waste management;
• Policies and regulations relating to the Cost of Doing Business;
• Proposals focusing on the application of Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) to enhance the business environment e.g. Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, inclusion of marginalized citizens (disabled) into economic activities.

Grant Information

• Window 1 – Facility for district and community based advocacy actions
  • Maximum Grant Size: GHC 80,000.00 (90% of total cost)
  • Matching Contribution: 10%
• Window 2 – Facility for advocacy issues of national /sectoral significance and green growth issues
  • Maximum Grant Size: GHC 200,000.00 (80% of total cost)
  • Matching Contribution: 20%
• Window 3 – Facility for the creation of public-private dialogue (PPD) platforms: To be determined by the Fund
• Window 4 – Post advocacy facility
  • Maximum Grant Size: GHC 140,000.00 (80% of total cost)
  • Matching Contribution: 20%

Program Windows

• Facility for district and community based advocacy actions: This window aims at supporting district-based PSOs and CBOs to advocate the removal of district and community level business constraints to enhance the business environment. Advocacy issues to be supported under this window include land rights (especially for women), workers’ rights, discriminatory treatment of weak groups, non-delivery of public services and goods etc.
• Facility for advocacy issues of national /sectoral significance and green growth issues: Grants under window 2 will support PSOs to advocate the need to address business constraints of national /sectoral significance, including green growth issues. The advocacy issues to be considered under this window must have a clear effect on the economic robustness of the PSO and its members. Support under this window will also focus on strengthening the capacity of PSOs to undertake evidence-based advocacy beyond the support of BUSAC Fund III.
• Facility for the creation of public-private dialogue (PPD) platforms: This facility is aimed at speeding business reform processes and enhancing the business environment through the facilitation of the private sector’s collaboration with relevant government ministries, departments and agencies. The PPD platforms to be created may take the form of permanent or ad hoc platforms centred on sector-specific or economy-wide issues relevant to the Ghanaian business environment.
• Post advocacy facility: Advocacy grants under this window will aim at supporting PSOs to dialogue with relevant government agencies on the enforcement of agreed policies, laws and reforms. Applicants to be considered will be PSOs who have successfully advocated the enactment / review of laws, policies, agreements, etc. which need to be implemented by duty bearers.

Eligibility Criteria

The Fund is inviting concept notes under the above mentioned windows from eligible Private Sector Organizations (PSOs) such as Business associations, farmer-based organisations, trade unions and other associations within the labour market.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit their concept notes via email at the address given on the website.

Eligible Country: Ghana

For more information, please visit BUSAC Fund.