Deadline: 13 August 2018

The Robert Carr Fund for civil society networks has announced an open Request for Proposals (RFP) for 2019-2021.

Through this RFP, the Robert Carr Fund invites proposals from global and regional civil society networks addressing critical factors protecting the rights of inadequately served populations (ISPs); scaling up access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support; and assuring that resources are mobilized and utilized appropriately to respond to the global HIV epidemic. The goal of the Fund is to contribute to improved health, inclusion and social wellbeing for inadequately served populations (ISPs). To reach this goal, the Robert Carr Fund provides core funding to strengthen the institutional and advocacy capacity of regional and global ISP and civil society networks and/or their consortia.

Grant Information

Applicants may submit proposals for up to three years of funding. For the first year (2019), a work plan, budget and cash flow statement is required. The work plans, budgets, and liquidity prognoses for the other years will be required in subsequent years.

• Regional networks can apply for a minimum of $100,000 and a maximum of $350,000 per year, for three years maximum.
• Global networks can apply for a minimum of $100,000 and a maximum of $700,000 per year, for three years maximum.
• A consortium of networks can apply for a minimum of $200,000 per consortium per year, for three years maximum. As the size of consortia may vary, it is less definitive what an absolute ceiling might be, but normally the Robert Carr Fund will not fund more than $1 million per consortium per year (depending on number and size of partners and specific initiatives).

Eligibility Criteria

Each application received by the RFP deadline will be screened by the Robert Carr Fund to ensure that it meets the defined eligibility criteria. Applications that do not meet these criteria will not be considered eligible for further review and will receive notification of this.

• Inadequately served populations (ISP)
  • The Robert Carr Fund invests in global, regional networks and their consortia that address the health and social wellbeing and human rights of inadequately served populations (ISPs).
  • ISPs are groups or persons that face a higher HIV risk, mortality and/or morbidity when compared to the general population, and have, at the same time, less access to information and services. They include people living with HIV, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, prisoners, sex workers and transgender persons, but depending on the dynamic of the epidemic and the legal status of these populations may also include women and girls, youth, migrants, and people living in rural areas.
  • While international funding for HIV, as well as development aid in general, focuses on low-income countries, the Robert Carr Fund aims to fund a global portfolio of grants that recognizes the importance of not leaving people behind. Therefore, the Fund invests in networks and consortia addressing the needs of ISPs wherever they face a disproportionate burden of HIV and serious human rights violations, including their right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
• ISP and civil society networks and consortia
  • The Robert Carr Fund considers a network to be a membership of organizations and/or individuals that pool skills, experience, and resources, working towards common goals. A network creates venues for social action and is sustained through jointly developed governance structures, resources and regular communication. Eligible networks demonstrate democratic governance structures, which are representative of their constituencies in terms of both geography and population. Networks are expected to function in an open and participatory manner, whose membership is to be open.
  • The Robert Carr Fund considers a consortium of networks to be a network-led group of networks, where other types of agencies or organizations with specific expertise may join (e.g. a human rights/legal organization). The consortium works together in a coordinated partnership towards a common set of interrelated goals and objectives. The Robert Carr Fund encourages networks to work together in consortium to strengthen network and civil society capacity, inviting the stronger partners in the consortium to take up their roles to support nascent/low-capacity or emerging partners. Applicants considering applying as a consortium are strongly encouraged to carefully review sample guidance on key elements of strong performance of consortia (based on the analysis of previous consortia performance) or specific challenges, related to the consortia management.

How to Apply

Applicants can apply online via given website.

For more information, please visit Robert Carr Fund.