Responses to Request for Clarifications: Support for community-led approaches to address Basic Human Needs in Afghanistan
Audit
Q: The call for proposals asks for audit reports and annual accounts for the past two years. In the Grants Portal, applicants are requested to upload only the most recent audit report and annual accounts. Can you confirm that we are indeed required to upload two audit reports and two annual accounts? If so, where do we upload these?
A: Applicants are required to upload audit reports and annual accounts for the past two (2) years. It is possible to upload several documents under the questions for audit reports and annual accounts under ‘Auditor’ in the Organizational section of the application form. Please therefore upload the audit reports and annual accounts for the past two years under these questions in the application form.
Eligibility
Q: Does the eligibility mean only INGOs can apply, not as a consortium with national partners? Or does it mean an INGO needs to be the lead applicant but partners can be brought in through partnership agreements?
A: Only INGOs can apply. The INGO can enter into sub-grant relationships with national partners. Kindly also see question 1.4. in the FAQ.
Q: On the eligibility criteria of "Have documented experience and presence in Afghanistan delivering similar programmes for at least 10 out of the last 20 years, are currently operational and have been for at least the last two (2) years." Does an organisation that has had active partnerships in AFG since 2017, for example, count as eligible? Further, would such an organisation be eligible as a co-applicant in a consortium with another INGO that has a physical presence in AFG?
A: The criterion of documented experience and presence in Afghanistan is not an absolute eligibility criterion. However, organisations that fulfil this criterion will be prioritised. For consortia, it is the lead applicant that is assessed against this criterion. Having partnerships in Afghanistan does not fulfil the requirement of presence in Afghanistan. Kindly also see question 1.4. in the FAQ.
Q: Further on the eligibility criteria where applicants should: "Have a minimum annual turnover for activities implemented in Afghanistan of at least NOK 20 million." Does this apply to all organisations or just the lead applicant in a consortium?
A: The criterion of annual turnover is not an absolute eligibility criterion. For consortia, it applies to the lead applicant, and lead applicants fulfilling it will be prioritised. Kindly also see question 1.4. in the FAQ.
Q: The CFP states that 'Potential grant recipients are: Norwegian and international civil society organisations, understood as non-governmental not-for-profit organisations that operate across national borders, typically headquartered in one country, while maintaining a presence and carrying out activities in other countries.' AND 'If applying as part of a consortium, all members must be eligible grant recipients.' Does this mean that Afghan national NGOs are not eligible consortium members?
A: Only INGOs can apply. The INGO can enter into sub-grant agreements with national partners. Conditions for sub-grantees are set out in the Grant Agreement General Conditions article 11, available here. Kindly also see question 1.4. in the FAQ.
Q: An NGO is founded in a European country but is also an NGO registered in Afghanistan, has its main operational office in and implements programmes across Afghanistan. Would Norad consider this NGO to fall within its definition of a local/national civil society partner?
A: Only Norwegian and international NGOs can apply. Whether the NGO could qualify as an INGO given its registration in a European country, or is a local/national partner (if the registration is only formal and they have no activities in European country/-ies) should be assessed based on the information in the call for proposals under ‘Who can apply for grants’.
Please note that an INGO can enter into sub-grant agreements with international and/or local/national partners. Conditions for sub-grantees are set out in the Grant Agreement General Conditions article 11, available here. Kindly also see question 1.4. in the FAQ relating to criteria for consortia members.
Q: Could you please clarify the requirement to be "operational"? While we were registered in Afghanistan until recently, we now operate exclusively through local partners. Does this satisfy the "operational" criteria?
A: The criterion of operational is not an absolute eligibility criterion. However, organizations that fulfill this requirement will be prioritized. In this call for proposal, operational would entail that the applicant has itself implemented activities in Afghanistan over the past two years.
Q: Is formal registration in Afghanistan a mandatory requirement for eligibility?
A: The applicant, or lead applicant in the case of a consortium, must be a registered legal entity. The registration could be in Afghanistan or in another country, but the applicant must be able to legally operate in Afghanistan. Regarding implementing partners, the requirements of the Grant Agreement General Conditions article 11 must be fulfilled available here.
Q: Does Norad have specific priority regions within Afghanistan, or is the call open to projects nationwide?
A: The call is open to projects implemented nationwide. The project must be based on locally identified and prioritised needs, as stated in the call.
Q: Should proposals cover all thematic areas mentioned in the call, or can we focus on two or three? Are there any specific priority sectors?
A: The proposal does not have to cover all the thematic areas listed in the call. The list is a non-exhaustive list of prioritised thematic areas but other relevant thematic areas may also be included, as mentioned in the call. The important element is that the thematic areas selected in your proposal are based on locally identified and prioritised needs, and fall within the grant scheme’s objective to strengthen economic and social development.
Q: Can you please clarify over what period of time the minimum annual turnover for activities implemented in Afghanistan of at least NOK 20 million applies to?
A: The annual turnover should be the within the timeframe your organization has been operational in Afghanistan, at least the last two years.
Q: Could you please provide further elaboration on what is meant by the “across borders” component?
A: Norad understands this question to refer to the explanation under ‘potential grant recipients’ in the call for proposals. As stated in the call, potential applicants are organizations that have presence and operate in multiple countries, typically headquartered in one country while maintaining a presence and carrying out activities in other countries. A mere formal registration in one country without any presence or activity there would not suffice.
Q: Could you please share additional information regarding Window 1: Program Support methodology and the amount of allocated budget?
A: The programme support window is described under ‘types of programming eligible for the call’ in the call for proposals. Please also be informed that for programme support, reporting will be at program level (including separate program accounts). There is no specific budget amount allocated for each window; the total estimated funding available includes both windows.
Q: Is a requirement that organizations have 10 years of experience in Afghanistan in order to be eligible to apply?
A: The criterion of documented experience and presence in Afghanistan is not an absolute eligibility criterion. However, organisations that fulfil this criterion will be prioritised. Years of experience is one element that will be considered as part of the assessment of the proposal, along with the other requirements listed in the call for proposals.
Budget
Q: Is there a minimum amount of budget that you expect each application to request?
A: No, Norad does not have a fixed minimum budget for each applicant. Please bear in mind the information in the call regarding estimated funding available and the number of agreements expected to be entered into.
Q: Is it possible to include operating costs for our headquarter in an application for core support (window 2)?
A: Core support means that Norad funds a portion of all the partner’s activities. If the partner’s activities as a whole align with what Norad seeks to fund in the call for proposals, it will be possible to support the operation of the headquarters (i.e., activities in Afghanistan and possibly limited activities in other countries that support the objectives of the call, such as information and awareness-raising efforts regarding Afghanistan). Please note that for core support, no separate contribution is provided for indirect costs in addition. Moreover, reporting is done at organizational level for core support, whereas for program support, reporting will be at program level (including separate program accounts).
Q: Can we apply for the total funding amount, Norwegian Krone (NOK) 650 million, or apply for a portion of the ceiling amount based on the proposed activities?
A: Norad does not fix a budget amount for each applicant. Please bear in mind the information in the call regarding the total estimated funding available and the number of agreements expected to be entered into. The total estimated funding available includes both windows.
Partnerships
Q: Cooperating Partners: When providing details for cooperating partners, should we include consortium partners, local implementing partners, or both?
A: Information about all partners involved in the project should be included. Kindly also see question 1.4. in the FAQ.
Q: Could you clarify how Norad defines “established close ties with potential partners”?
A: In your application, you should explain the type of partnership you have with the local organization and demonstrate that the partnership was not established solely for the purpose of this call for proposals (e.g., history, status and content of collaboration; do you have an agreement/MoU). Norad will make an assessment based on this information.
See also: Frequently asked questions