Applications Invited for SEI’s Strategic Collaborative Fund Phase 2 (SCF2)

About the Organization:

Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) are an international non-profit research and policy organization that tackles environment and development challenges. Their work spans climate, water, air and land-use issues, governance, the economy, gender and health. Stakeholder involvement is at the heart of their efforts to build capacity, strengthen institutions and equip partners for long-term change.

Strategic Collaborative Fund Phase 2

SEI’s Strategic Collaborative Fund Phase 2 (SCF2) seeks concept notes for regional strategic events in Asia that aim at advancing environmentally sustainable development and poverty reduction. SCF2 emphasizes collaborative partnerships that integrate gender and social equality and human rights-based approaches.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), with support from the Government of Sweden, is driving an initiative that supports regional environmental and sustainable development events under a programme called the Strategic Collaborative Fund. This programme aims to promote informed policy dialogue, allowing different groups and stakeholders to share knowledge through provisions of grant support for regional forums and other strategic events with the goal of helping to shape public policy to advance sustainable and inclusive development and poverty alleviation in Asia towards the achievement of SDGs.

In addition to grant support to regional events, the programme also provides institutional capacity building to grantees and partner organisations consisting of online learning facilities (MOOCs) and coaching on gender and social equality and rights-based approaches. Technical support on each theme will be provided, in addition to advice on policy strategies in relation to the relevant SDGs.

What they seek:

• SEI welcomes concept notes for regional strategic events in Asia, in particular South and Southeast Asia, that focus on advancing environmentally sustainable development with integration of gender and social equality and rights-based approaches, in addition to poverty reduction, into the themes and design of these events.
• The events should include a mix of representatives from government, private sector, civil society, research or academic institutions and development partners that ensure active exchanges between participants.
• The Strategic Collaborative Fund seeks to change mindsets and everyday practices to ultimately benefit the citizens of the region, with particular attention to marginalized groups including, but not limited to, those living in poverty, women, youth, children, ethnic minorities and other environmentally vulnerable groups, based on their specific contexts.

Grant value:

• SEI will support 7 themes in 2020 and aim to cover one grant per theme. A total of SEK 450,000 (approximately USD 45,000) will be awarded per grant.
• The awards can fund one or more events in their entirety or provide supplemental funding to already confirmed co-funded event(s). The delivery period of event organization and impact monitoring must be within the timeframe of one year, April 2020 – February 2021.

Criteria for selection:

The following criteria will be used during concept note review and selection:

• Provides evidence of regional-level outreach and scope in the Asia region (South and Southeast Asia), as opposed to a country-level event
• Addresses the thematic focus and relevance to environmentally sustainable and inclusive development
• Demonstrates how the event leads to positive impact on gender equality, rights-based approaches and poverty reduction
• Demonstrates how the event would target and benefit the citizens of the region, with particular attention to the poor, women and other marginalized groups
• Ensures diverse participation including the public sector, private sector, civil society organizations, research and academic institutions and development partners
• Uses innovative methods and technologies to enhance participation and active discussion among participants
• Shows proponents’ institutional capacity for organizing regional events

Submission:

• Application deadline is 29 February 2020, 5.00pm (Indochina Time).
• Kindly complete your concept notes by using the template and upload your concept note through the online application form available at this link.
• The evaluation process will take place in March 2020.  Successful applications will be notified through email by the end of April 2020.
• For further information please contact Wanaporn Yangyuentham, Programme Manager (wanaporn.yangyuentham@sei.org).

For more information please check the Link