News

Applying for a UK Aid Direct grant but new to working with DFID?

The UK Aid Direct team has been notified of a course designed for organisations considering applying for a UK Aid Direct grant and other DFID-related funds.

The course is entitled: DFID essentials: funding mechanisms, policies and priorities.

Run by BOND – the UK membership body for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in international development – the course will be held on 3 days in London:

  • Tuesday 1 May
  • Monday 25 June
  • Tuesday 16 October

If you are considering applying for a Community Partnership, Impact or Jo Cox Memorial grant in the current funding round, we would recommend attending the workshop on 1 May.

By the end of this course you are expected to be able to:

  • explain DFID’s strategy and priorities clearly and confidently to others in your organisation
  • describe the range of funding mechanisms DFID offers and where to find out about these
  • compare different funds and identify those your organisation could apply for
  • describe key approaches organisations need to follow when working with DFID including theory of change, logical frameworks, value for money, beneficiary feedback, adaptive management
  • identify key steps your organisation must take to be ready to apply for DFID funding

To find out more and book your place see BOND’s website here (opens in a new window).

Recording of Jo Cox Memorial Grants panel discussion & transcript available online

UK Aid Direct hosted a panel discussion on the Jo Cox Memorial grants on Tuesday 27 March.

To listen to the full recording of the discussion, visit the UK Aid Direct YouTube channel (opens in a new window): and to download the transcript, click here and select ‘Presentations’.

Focusing on theme 1 – the social, economic and political empowerment of women – representatives of 180 organisations signed in to listen to the discussion which was designed to:

  • debate the key challenges and opportunities that the Jo Cox Memorial grants could try to tackle;
  • to help inform detailed guidance that would be made available to all applicants of the Jo Cox Memorial grants on the UK Aid Direct website

Excerpts from the discussion include:

“I think we can take real pride and encouragement from the work of women’s rights organisations on the ground…” – Theo Sowa – CEO, African Women’s Development Fund (opens in a new window):

“…It does not matter if they’re in the City of London or in a village somewhere in Kenya or a slum in another city… the biggest barrier is the lack of equality of women and men…” – Musimbi Kanyoro – President and CEO, Global Fund for Women (opens in a new window): 

“…I think in terms of the closing civic space for women’s organisations and how they are coping with it, language is important. So, they are modifying the language they are using…” – Dr Narmeen Hamid – Strategic Advisor, AmplifyChange (opens in a new window):

“…Progress on gender priority has actually gone into reverse. That means some of the global rights that women and girls are facing have actually got worse, which I think really challenges most of our assumption that we are on a slow but sure improvement, globally. I think that was a wake up call for a lot of people…” – Jo Cooke – DFID’s Gender Equality team

The panel discussion was moderated by Ben Latto, Head of DFID’s Civil Society Team.

Please note: the funding round is currently open and the closing date for submitting concept notes (if applying for a Network grant), or full applications (if applying for a Strengthening grant), is Wednesday 13 June 2018 at 17:00 (GMT).

Invitation to join the Jo Cox Memorial Grants panel discussion

An opportunity to dig deeper and ask any questions on objective 1 of this new funding opportunity for women-led civil society

UK Aid Direct is hosting a panel discussion on the Jo Cox Memorial Grant on Tuesday 27 March – 10:00am-12:00 BST. This session, accessible by webinar will focus on theme 1 of the grants: Women’s social, economic and political empowerment through supporting women-led civil society.

This thematic area aims to encourage civil society to take an integrated approach to gender equality and empowerment – to tackle the combined and simultaneous disadvantages girls and women experience.

The discussion will include:

  • What are the key challenges in making a meaningful contribution to strengthening women led civil society?
  • What kinds of opportunities exist and can be improved for networking, training and adding value?
  • What sort of challenges do grant holders face and how can we overcome them?
  • How we can support organisations to overcome the barriers they face in accessing funding?

The discussion will be moderated by Ben Latto, Head of DFID’s Civil Society Team and the panel includes:

  • Theo Sowa – CEO, African Women’s Development Fund
  • Musimbi Kanyoro – President and CEO, Global Fund for Women
  • Dr Narmeen Hamid – Strategic Advisor, AmplifyChange
  • Hala Al Karib – Regional Director, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa
  • Jo Cooke – DFID’s Gender Equality team

The webinar is open to anyone wishing to find out more and ask any questions about this funding opportunity. Click here to register.

We also encourage you to help shape the panel discussion by submitting questions in advance. Please send any questions or suggestions to jcmg@manniondaniels.com by Friday 23 March.

Grants of up to £1,000,000 will be available through UK Aid Direct. Full details on eligibility criteria, how to apply for the funds, and guidance materials are available on UKAidDirect.org. Applications can be submitted from Wednesday 4 April.