Namakwa Call for Project Concepts – Questions and Answers
This document will ultimately contain the answers to all the questions asked during the briefing session
held in Namakwa on 22 October 2015, as well as those asked of the Facilitating Agency (Conservation
South Africa) through email correspondence, in person, or over the phone. All questions relate to the
submission of Project Concept Application Forms for the Community Adaptation Small Grants Facility.
Project Concept Applications Forms for work in Namakwa must be submitted by email (csajobs@conservation.org) on or before 6 November 2015 at 23h59. No late proposal, or proposal
submitted through any other channel, will be considered. All information regarding this call is available
on the SouthSouthNorth website or at the following link: http://bit.ly/1Rb59yc.
Original
Q and A posts - Namakwa
7 October 2015
1. Question: “What is the Small Grants Facility Project?”
Response: The SGF is geared towards financing projects that have concrete, on the ground benefits that
will help communities deal with the fallout of climate change. Between 2016 and 2019, at least 12
projects will be funded in the Greater Giyani, Greater Letaba, and Namakwa municipalities. There are
three Investment Windows for projects: Climate-Smart Agriculture; Climate-Resilient Livelihoods;
Climate-Proof Settlements. The SGF will provide small grants to vulnerable communities for projects
that deliver tangible and sustainable climate change adaptation benefits; empower local institutions to
identify and implement climate change adaptation actions; and compile and share lessons for up-scaling
and replicating enhanced direct access climate finance modalities.
2. Question: “I want to do a recycling project. Can recycling be an adaptation activity?”
Response: Recycling is traditionally seen as a climate change mitigation response, which would generally
exclude it from the kinds of activities that would be considered for funding in this call. Mitigation
activities are activities that prevent, reduce, or capture and store greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenhouse gases are the primary cause of climate change. Recycling is an activity that prevents and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
However, if the recycling activities are income-generating, a case could be made that recycling makes
use of locally available raw materials to create alternative livelihoods. If this is the case, and you propose
to work in an area where traditional local livelihoods, such as agriculture or fishing, are likely to be
undermined by climate change, then recycling could be seen as a livelihoods diversification activity. New
livelihoods that provide a realistic and profitable alternative to livelihoods undermined by climate
change are typically considered adaptation activities. Adaptation activities are those which limit
damage, or maximise opportunities, in response to the impacts of climate change.
In this case, there could be an argument that recycling as a career is an adaptation activity, building
resilience to climate change by diversifying local livelihoods away from climate-sensitive activities.
3. Question: “What level of detail do you want in the budget?”
Response: We would like to be able to look at your budget and get a basic idea of whether or not the
amount you are requesting is likely to be able to cover the costs of the activities you want to undertake.
There will be an opportunity to develop a more detailed budget in the Detailed Proposal development
phase next year, but we would like to be able to see in the Concept Budget that you have thought about
whether or not implementation of your idea is feasible given the amount of funding available. Give us a
one-line indication of the cost for each activity that you describe in the Project Concept Application
Form. This can include overheads, staff time and operating costs, or list these separately as indicated on
the form. Be prepared to flesh this out if you are selected for a Detailed Proposal.
4. Question: “Can the Facilitating Agency assist us with drafting our concept application?”
Response: The Facilitating Agencies in each District will be responsible for reviewing and screening the
Project Concept Application Forms, according to the eligibility criteria and an assessment of your original
local climate change adaptation idea. After the concepts have been screened, compliant organisations
with good ideas will be invited to develop full detailed proposals. As the Facilitating Agencies will be part
of making recommendations on which concepts are selected for full proposal development, they cannot
assist with writing or directly working with you on your adaptation idea. This would be viewed as a
potential conflict of interest.
The Facilitating Agency can assist you by providing local climate change information on risks and
impacts, assist you by defining the terms such as what is meant by adaptation, and by answering any
general questions about how to complete the form and what we are looking for in each section. The
Facilitating Agencies will also host a training session in each District after the briefing session. This
training session will be an opportunity to work through the Project Concept Application Form with
guidance and with access to experts. This will be a good forum to get some support to develop your idea
for the submission.
5. Question: “How many grants are available?”
Response: The SGF will fund at least 6 projects in the Namakwa District and at least 6 projects in Greater
Giyani and Greater Letaba combined. I.e. the SGF will fund at least 12 projects.
6. Question: “Can the budget support a salary?”
Response: Yes. The budget should reflect the cost of implementing the project. Applicants may, but are
not expected to, co-finance staff and administrative costs.
7. Question: “We want to do research and also education and awareness as we think these are
very important activities for climate change response in our area. Would such a project be
considered?”
Response: Although research and capacity/building/education/awareness raising can be a part of your
projects, the SGF will not fund any projects ideas that exclusively undertake research, education, and
awareness activities. These would have to inform and support the tangible implementation of a
concrete climate change adaptation activity.
8. Question: “Is the budget for a project limited to R1,000,000?”
Response: Not strictly. Budgets of slightly over R1,000,000 will be considered, as will budgets below this
amount. Budgets excessively higher than R1,000,000 will not be considered as we need to ensure that
we are able to fund at least 12 projects with the pool of funding that is available.
9. Question: “Is there money to pay for my travel costs to attend the briefing session and
training? I have some ideas of where I want to stay.”
Response: Each Facilitating Agency has a small budget for travel for a small number of participants who
really need assistance with travel costs and would not otherwise be able to attend. Any participant who
would like to make use of this must complete and submit the registration from for the briefing session in
their District, and send a motivation clearly explaining their need for assistance with travel costs.
All motivations will be reviewed and participants will be notified no later than one week before the
meeting whether or not their application for support with travel costs can be accommodated or not.
For those whose request for assistance with travel costs can be accommodated, please note:
-
No money for travel costs will be paid
Basic accommodation for one night will be provided in shared rooms at a place determined by
the Facilitating Agency
All meals will be provided
Transport will be provided
No more than 2 participants from any one organisation will be considered for subsidised travel
A maximum of 20 participants can be assisted with subsidised travel
Should you prefer not to stay in the accommodation provided by the Facilitating Agency, please make
your own arrangements.
10. Question: “How many people can attend the briefing from an organisation?”
Response: We usually recommend that 2 people from an organisation attend. If we are assisting with
travel costs, no more than 2 will be permitted. If you are travelling at your own expense, we can
consider higher numbers of participants to a total number of approximately 80 participants
11. Question: “What is the timeline for activities? When will projects be starting?”
12. Question: “When do project concepts need to be submitted?”
Response (11 and 12):
Indicative Timeframe for SGF Project Concepts
Activity – Namakwa
Timeframe
Local Briefing Session - Namakwa District
22 Oct 2015, Thurs
Optional training on climate change and proposal development Namakwa District
23 Oct 2015, Fri
End of Question and Answer - Namakwa District
3 Nov 2015, Wed
Project Concept Application Form Submission Deadline Namakwa District
6 Nov 2015, Fri
Complete Review of Concepts
27 Nov 2015, Fri
Notify applicants of decision
December 2015
*Any delays or changes to this indicative timeframe will be communicated to you.
**Organisations who submit successful Project Concept Application Forms will be invited to
develop Detailed Proposals, supported by their local Facilitating Agency. These Detailed
Proposals will be due at the end of February 2016 for approval by the National Implementing
Entity Steering Committee, after which approved projects can expect to begin in April/May
2016.
13. Question: “Where can I get more information about the SGF project before the briefing
session?”
Response: You can contact the Facilitating Agency for more information. In Namakwa, the Facilitating
Agency is Conservation South Africa. Please direct your questions initially to Geniene Nero, 027 718
1565, gnero@conservation.org, Apie Visser Street, Springbok, 8240. She will be able to answer all of
your questions, or direct you to the appropriate person.
Background information on the project, as well the full call for concepts, the requirements and details
about the briefing session can be found online at http://bit.ly/1Rb59yC and at
www.southsouthnorth.org.
14. Question: “Where can I get hold of copies of the Project Concept Application Form and the
Registration Form for the briefing session?”
Response: All of the project documents can be found online at http://bit.ly/1Rb59yC and at
www.southsouthnorth.org. Alternatively Geniene Nero at Conservation South Africa can provide you
with the necessary forms by fax, email, post, or in hard copy. Please contact Geniene at 027 718 1565,
gnero@conservation.org, Apie Visser Street, Springbok, 8240.