FCRA PROJECT: AGA KHAN FOUNDATION'S - INNOVATION FUND FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Name of funding agency: Aga Khan Foundation

Name of grant programme: Innovation Fund for Rural Development

Background: The Aga Khan Development Network was founded by His Highness the Aga Khan and brings together a number of development agencies, institutions and programmes that work primarily in the poorest regions of Asia and Africa. The Aga Khan Development Network works through the SCALE (Sustainable Community-Based Approaches to Livelihood Enhancement) programme in India. The main focus is to try out innovative processes to enhance livelihood generation in the semi-arid rain-fed rural areas in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Types of Grant: This fund provides small grants to NGOs to implement short term projects for a maximum of two years.

Grant Size: The grant size may vary depending on the project but the maximum amount of grant available is INR 25,000,000.

Own Contribution: The Aga Khan Foundation expects the applicant to contribute with something.

Funding Priorities

The main priority area of this programme is to enhance livelihood generation in rural areas by implementing

innovative processes. This is expected to be achieved by:

• Use of information and communication technology in livelihood enhancement.

• Making governance reform, especially those related to local governance.

• Implementing innovative approaches to microenterprise development and microfinance access.

Special priority will be given to projects which focus on marginalised sections of society, such as:

• Under-served populations in geographically remote areas.

• Livelihood of women, the very poor, under-privileged and marginalised people (elderly citizens, physically challenged, weaker groups, etc).

• Environmental health of rural communities (mainly women and children, who are particularly vulnerable to water-borne diseases, indoor air pollution and lack of focused health-care services.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible are NGOs registered for at least three years under the Societies Act or the Trust Act in India with Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to support the implementation of innovative ideas through village federations, community groups, self-help groups and public agencies.

 

Project Duration: The maximum project duration is two years.

Deadline: The proposals should be submitted mid-year. No date is specified.

Application Forms: There is no specific application format.