Syed M Waqar Azeem

Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program (SGAFP) Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme Project Office: 10, Street No. 30, F-7/1, Islamabad T: -; Fax. No. - Email:-Website: www.sgafp.org.pk USAID Disclaimer: This application format for the Small Grants Program is made possible with support from the American people delivered through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. USAID’s Small Grants Program Table of Contents Section A: The Organization .................................................................................................................... 3 1. Contact information ........................................................................................................................ 3 2. Date of Registration of organization: ___________________ ................................................... 3 3. Legal Status: (if applicable) ............................................................................................................. 3 4. Organizational Funding Sources ..................................................................................................... 4 5. Details of Ongoing & Completed (donor funded) Projects as direct recipient ............................... 4 Section B: The Proposed Project ............................................................................................................. 5 1. Project Rationale/Justification: ....................................................................................................... 5 2. How is the proposed project aligned with organization’s vision/mission and previous work experience? ......................................................................................................................................... 5 4. Project Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 7 5. Implementation Methodology:....................................................................................................... 7 6. Proposed Project Beneficiaries ....................................................................................................... 8 7. Details of the Proposed Team for Project Implementation............................................................ 8 8. Monitoring Strategy ........................................................................................................................ 8 9. Post-Project Management and Sustainability................................................................................. 9 10. Itemized Budget Details of the Proposed Project (Pak. Rupees): ................................................. 9 11. Project Implementation Plan ...................................................................................................... 10 Section C: Declaration from the Applicant ........................................................................................... 11 Section D: Application Checklist ........................................................................................................... 11 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 12 2. Preparation of Technical Documents............................................................................................ 12 3. Provision of Technical Documents ................................................................................................ 13 Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 2 USAID’s Small Grants Program APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING UNDER USAID SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM Please submit all applications via email (Word or PDF document) at-or by post to: Deputy Chief of Party Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program 10, Street # 30, Sector F-7/1 Islamabad, Pakistan T:- Note: a. This form is to be filled by an applicant organization only if applicant qualifies the eligibility criteria set for funding assistance under SGP as explained in Application Guidelines; b. Provide complete information including supporting documents like Bill of Quantities (BOQs) & cost estimates (where applicable), NOCs & Letter of Commitments (if required) from concerned line departments and other stakeholders. Incomplete applications will not be processed further c. The space given under each category of the application template is indicative. Applicants are required to use as much space as needed. Does this application involve any construction related activities? Yes / No No Date of Application: ________________________________ Section A: The Organization 1. Contact information a. Name of the organization: b. Type of the organization - CBO/NGO/ Private Sector/Other – specify): c. Name of the head of organization: d. Postal Address: e. f. g. h. i. Office phone numbers: Cell number (organization head): Fax: Email: Website: j. k. Key Contact person – Name & Designation: Contact number of Key Contact Person: Suave Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Private Sector Nauman Malik, Co-Founder and Director 5-6, Ross Residencia,1. Campus Road, outside Wafaqi Colony, Main Canal. Lahore--www.littletreehouseapps.com www.suavesolutions.net Waqar Azeem. Project Lead- /- 2. Registration Details of the Applicant Organization: Please attach copy of registration certificate Registration Date: Validity of Registration (date): 3. Legal Status: (if applicable) The Societies Registration Act, 1860 The Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961 The Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Rules, 1962 The Cooperative Societies Act, 1925 The Companies Ordinance, 1984 – Section 42 The Social Welfare Agencies (Registration & Regulation) Act, 1996 The Trust Act, 1882 The Charitable Endowment Act, 1890 Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 3 USAID’s Small Grants Program Others, Please specify: 4. Organizational Funding Sources What are the major funding sources of your organization? Please Tick the relevant categories: Donor organizations – national and international Endowment Government – federal and/or provincial Philanthropists/individual donations Private (corporate) sector Member’s fee and contributions Others – specify ✓ 5. Details of Ongoing & Completed (donor funded) Projects as direct recipient Enlist all ongoing and completed projects during last three years, placing the latest projects on the top. Project Donor/ Funding Source Major Outputs Project duration (From – To) Total Budget (Rs.) Experience of Implementing Similar Projects Enlist all projects undertaken by the applicant, prior to the last three years, that are similar to the proposed project intervention Project Donor/ Total duration Project Funding Major Outputs Budget (From – Source (Rs.) To) Development of e- In-House 3 applications have Learning applications. funding. been made for early learning and have been deployed online. Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 4 Commented [s1]: Duration to be confirmed USAID’s Small Grants Program Section B: The Proposed Project Commented [s2]: Project Title: Digitalization of local educational contents and introduction of innovative method of e-Learning (tablet/smartphone educational applications) for early education for less privilege students. Project Duration: 12 months Sector: Please tick (✓) the relevant box Education A. Improved Early Grade Reading Outcomes ✓ B. Increased Equitable Access to Basic Education ✓ Civic Participation A. Capacity Building of Civil Society to Support Government Institutions for Essential Services B. Citizen Participation and Oversight ✓ C. Strengthen Worker Unions and Corporate Accountability Project Location (District/Tehsil/Union Council/village): Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasure, Jehlum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Murree. 1. Project Rationale/Justification: Describe in detail the situation/circumstances which have led to the need to develop the proposed project. Support your arguments with primary and/or secondary research and statistics. Please give complete and appropriate, references where required. Please note that USAID encourages demand oriented projects. Little Tree House is an initiative of Suave Solutions (pvt.) Ltd. Co. Being actively involved in developing applications for smart phones and tablets, we identified a big gap for educational applications for local contents in Pakistani Education context. There are many applications on play store with foreign contents which somehow either do not fulfill the need of Pakistani students. There are no applications on Urdu language grammar and the present online are either just too basic or not of good quality. Under the banner of Little Tree House, we initially have developed few basic applications on our own and introduce them along with games oriented printed reusable activity sheets to SOS Village students, Lahore Grammar Education System and other students at children literature festival. From the great interest level of audience and students, we identified the need of gamified learning methods or Edutainment methods for Pakistani students. Having an expertise in developing applications, we proposed our project of development of Elearning interactive applications for students in Pakistan with local and national course contents. The target students will be from under privilege background, who do not have access to e-learning applications. The beneficiaries will not be discriminated in terms of gender or religious background. 2. How is the proposed project aligned with organization’s vision/mission and previous work experience? Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 5 USAID’s Small Grants Program • • • • We have technical expertise of development of applications for all platforms. We have exposure in Edutainment or learning through fun activities. We have developed e-learning applications and they are present online for download. Learning through fun applications adds variety and enrichment in our portfolio. 3. How is the proposed project unique and innovative? Is the proposed idea or approach original, innovative i.e. has not been experimented before in the proposed geographical area and proposes to address the problem in a non-conventional way? If yes, please elaborate. There might be some e-learning orientation projects going on, however our project is unique as we focus on local course contents and in urdu language educational applications. The underprivileged students do not have access to e-learning and the schools have no knowledge about the learning through fun mode of teachings. Our project will focus on these segments of learning and education which are not known to Pakistani students and education sector. Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 6 USAID’s Small Grants Program 4. Project Objectives Please provide details of the key project outputs for every objective (in case of multiple objectives) along with a list if activities. The objectives must be SMART i.e. Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound Project Objective Key Outputs Activities Objective No. 1: Improve 1) Digitalization of course Course content to be selected early education learning content of early education. which is required for early through elearning applications education. supporting the traditional 30 application to be made with mode of teaching. course contents of early education. 2) Introduction of gamified Schools to be selected from learning to under privilege 15- underprivilge areas. 20 schools and assist schools for Develop a schedule for Little adapting elearning Tree house elearning camp methodology. 3) Access to e-learning to 2000 Educate basic early education students for course contents for course content to at least 2000 class prep, I and II. students. Objective No. 2: 1) 2000 students attending the little tree house camps. Increase in attendance and 2) At least 50 teachers be Survey from teachers about the interest level of students benefited from little tree house improvement in interest level of through our elearning camps. students through elearning. applications. 3) Parents feedback about Survey from parents about improvement in child learning interest level of their children abilities. during elearning sessions. Objective No. 3: Teachers 1) Orientation sessions for at Training sessions for selected capacity building on least 50 teachers on teachers on elearning strategies. Edutainment and learning edutanment and elearning. through fun. 2) Thematic sessions on how 3 Thematic sessions from the interest level and learning industry experienced child capabilities of students can be psychologists. enhanced. 3) Encouraging the teachers to Case studies of teachers on how improve their teaching methods they have adapted the through edutainment. edutainment approach in their classrooms. Objective No. 4: 1) 2) 3) Note: Please create additional space for activities/outputs where needed. Applicants proposing construction activities are advised to visit Section E for basic conditions and are encouraged to visit detailed guidelines for construction activities available at www.sgafp.org.pk. 5. Implementation Methodology: Please give a detailed implementation methodology (preferably supported with a process flow chart) while focusing on the following: Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 7 Commented [W3]: I have somehow developed the objective sections, but I am not sure if I have mentioned it rightly, keeping in mind the outcomes and impact assessment. USAID’s Small Grants Program How will your organization implement the project (this should cover details like who, what, why, when, how, where); ● Provide a sequential flow of proposed interventions/activities; ● In case the proposed project calls for partnership(s) with other stakeholders, explain in detail the distribution of roles and responsibilities. Implementation of project: Project will be mainly responsibility of Little Tree House apps. Little Tree House Camps will be placed at 15 to 20 schools at less privilege locations in Lahore, Kasur, Jehlum, Attock, Rawalpindi, Murree and Sheikhupura Districtt. Each camp will be for students who have been enrolled in Early Grades i.e. from class prep, I and II. Monthly schedule of camps will be finalized and camps will be placed accordingly. Problematic course content will be highlighted for each student and he will be given access to elearning application relevant to his problematic area. Schools selection will be in partnership with an institution working on the welfare and education of less privilege class. ● Note: a) Please provide NOCs/permission/other relevant documents if required from the concerned authorities to carry out the proposed activity. b) In case proposed project involves civil work, please attach designs, drawings, Bill of Quantities (BoQs) & cost estimates. 6. Proposed Project Beneficiaries A. Please elaborate how the proposed beneficiaries (individuals, households, institutions etc.) will be selected. B. Provide gender disaggregated details of the proposed beneficiaries. C. Will this project benefit minorities, disabled and other disadvantaged groups? If yes, please elaborate briefly. The proposed beneficiaries will be from less privilege class which comprises of at least 2000 students and at least 50 teachers from 15-20 schools. The target students will consists of 35-50% of female students and schools of disabled and minorities areas will also be included. 7. Details of the Proposed Team for Project Implementation Please provide information of key staff proposed for the project with relevant technical skills and details of responsibilities. Also attach as annexure their CVs (not more than four pages each) indicating background information and stating all relevant experience. S. Name No. Waqar Azeem Proposed Position Qualification Project Lead MIT, Ms. 10 Project Management Hafiz M. Imran Maahrukh Anjum Total Currently working Working with your Experience organization (Y/N) Yes Yes yes 8. Monitoring Strategy Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 8 Commented [W4]: We are trying to have MOU signed with some org who are running their own schools or have adapted schools like roshni trust, or care foundation , the citizen foundation, bunyad foundation etc. USAID’s Small Grants Program Please explain how your organization will ensure following: A. Operational transparency (programmatic & financial), and B. Information management for reporting purposes and improvement of proposed interventions Monthly and quarterly progress reports. Little Tree House Camps schedule, Attendees list, Subject covered by each beneficiary during each Little Tree House app, Little Tree House Camps details, monitoring visits, videos and photographs of camps, monitoring softwares. 9. Post-Project Management and Sustainability Explain how your organization plans to ensure that the project interventions and benefits will sustain after the completion of project. Enlist concrete measures that your organization will take in the post-project period to monitor project interventions and provide assistance to project beneficiaries. Also indicate recurring cost, if any, needed to manage post-project operations and indicate how this cost will be managed by your organization. e-Learning applications will be available online and can be downloaded on tablets and smart phones. Thus are available readily for anyone from any where. The schools can use applications as per convenience. Note: in case post-project sustainability calls for assistance from other stakeholders, such as government entities etc., please provide letter of support/commitment 10. Itemized Budget Details of the Proposed Project (Pak. Rupees): Specify each activity, total estimated cost and cost share. Please carefully read the instructions before budget preparation. Instructions for Budget Preparation: i. Provide detailed breakdown of budget, do not give a lump-sum budget. ii. Provide detailed breakdown of the project activities as mentioned in the project proposal and provide budget for each activity separately. iii. The SGAFP will fund direct project related costs and only those administrative/management related costs that indirectly support project implementation. iv. The budget should be in Pakistani Rupees, v. Use additional sheets for detailed budget while strictly following this template. vi. Please provide budget narratives, where required, by explaining the Units and Unit Costs. A. Detailed Itemized Budget Attach a detailed breakdown of the cost or itemized budget in Pak rupees (PKR). This is an essential part of the application. The itemized budget must be presented on the following format: Activity Unit Type Unit No. Unit Cost Total Estimated Cost Funds Applicant requested Cost from Share * USAID A. Program Cost ** B. Administrative Cost *** Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 9 USAID’s Small Grants Program Total * The applicant cost share under Small Grants Program is not mandatory. However SGAFP strongly encourages applicant’s cost share in cash or in kind. In case of 3rd Party Cost Share, add a separate column. ** Program Cost includes direct project related costs such as: staff working full time on project implementation; rent of the office directly overseeing project activities; material, equipment, stationary, utilities, vehicle rental and POL to be used only for project implementation, and USAID’s branding & marking related cost (plaques/signboards/banners etc.) *** Administrative Cost includes expenses that indirectly support project implementation such as: support staff cost (finance persons, M&E, management etc.); rent of organization’s other office(s); project’s audit; etc. Note: i)_ In event of their being any third party contribution, please add another column. The cost breakdown listed therein should be in accordance with the guidelines given above. ii) The cost proposed should be realistic and based on recent market surveys/trends. SGAFP reserves the right to independently verify proposed cost estimates. 11. Project Implementation Plan Provide a time-bound implementation plan for all project activities. Distribute the targets on monthly basis and highlight/shade the timeline accordingly. The timeline for every activity must be consistent with monthly budget sheet. S. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Activity Total Targets 1 2 Month-wise Implementation Timeline- 11 12 Selection of schools IT Equipment update Development of schedule for little tree house camps. Training sessions of teachers Thematic sessions for teachers and school staff. Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 10 USAID’s Small Grants Program Section C: Declaration from the Applicant S. Statements No. Yes 1. The organization will need necessary permissions such as: /No Objection Certificate (NOC)/Letter of Commitments (LoC)/Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from government and/or other stakeholders to implement the project, and the same have been provided. 2. The organization will be able to implement the proposed project without creating any local conflict 3. The organization will fully comply with USAID’s branding & marking requirements as explained at SGAFP’s website 4. The organization confirms that the project location is safe and subject to the approval of project, SGAFP’s staff can undertake monitoring visits safely. 5 The organization declares that none of its office bearers hold any political office or is involved in political activities and that USAID’s assistance will not be used to gain any political mileage for the organization or any office bearers. No. N/A Section D: Application Checklist S. No- Particulars Yes No N/A All sections of the applications have been filled as per given directions Copy of valid registration certificate is attached Resumes of the proposed team members are attached Necessary permissions/NOCs/LoCs/MOUs (if required) have been obtained and attached Detailed and itemized budget is attached In case organization has undergone an external organizational evaluation in the last five years, its report has been attached with the application Detailed designs, drawings, cost estimates and BoQs (if needed) are complete and attached If applicant organization has implemented a USAID funded project, its project completion report has been attached. (In case of an ongoing project, attach last progress report) In case organization has conducted a baseline/need assessment/rapid assessment of the proposed project area and/or beneficiaries, its final report has been attached. Organization has attached reference letters obtained from two of its largest donors (Government, INGOs, Donor Organizations, Corporations etc.) with whom it has worked during the last 3 years. These letters should have complete contact details of the referees. Commented [s5]: required Commented [s6]: required To the best of my knowledge, I declare that all the above information is true and accurate. Sincerely, Name: Designation: Signatures: Date: (To be signed by head of organization) Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 11 USAID’s Small Grants Program Section E: Applicant guidelines for construction Proposals 1. Introduction These guidelines have been prepared to assist applicant organizations for designing and implementing construction activities under USAID’s Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program (SGAFP). Details about these are available at www.sgafp.org.pk. 2. Preparation of Technical Documents The applicant will engage a qualified Engineer as per below mentioned criteria and based on the scope and scale of construction work. Construction work category Criteria for category Minimal Small non-structural construction or rehabilitation works (like small irrigation channels, room/window repair and boundary walls in schools). Medium Limited structural construction work of worth under US $100,000 And/or construction of single story building having less than 10,000 sq. feet covered area) Standard Construction activities of over US $100,000. And/or MHPs, bridges of span over 10 feet, Urban sanitation, multistory building. And/or Any of small gravity based water supply and sanitation schemes, household level biogas plants, small road/street pavement, and watermills. Preparation and Vetting of construction design (to be done by applicant) Diploma of Associate Engineer (D.A.E) By a qualified B.E (Civil) Engineer having valid registration with PEC. By an Engineering Firm having valid registration with PEC or any District Level Government Department Applicant Engineer: a. identify and assess the suitability of site(s) for proposed construction work; b. conduct construction related surveys and prepare designs, drawings, BOQs, and cost estimates as per Building Code of Pakistan and other standard documents/sources such as: 1) International Code Council (ICC); 2) American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM); and 3) American Concrete Institute (ACI) if needed; c. Prepare cost estimates according to respective notified federal/provincial composite schedule of rates. In case of non-schedule items, applicant can use market rates provided the quotation is attached with application; d. Vet technical designs and signing of declare certificate Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 12 USAID’s Small Grants Program e. Construction design must fulfill requirements of physical disability and gender sensitivity of potential users. For instance, separate latrine for girls and boys and design facilitates people with disabilities. Also minimum standard of earthquake resistant infrastructure and other potential natural disasters are incorporated in the design. 3. Provision of Technical Documents The given documents are mandatory part of the application which should be attached with application as per instructions stated above in the absence of these documents application will not be accepted; i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. xi. xii. xiii. Abstract of quantities and cost as per attached format Working Plan Drawings Cross-sectional Drawings Structural Detail of Foundation Detail of Structural Drawings Detail of Flooring Elevation Plans Detail drawing of Plumbing Work Detail Drawing of Electrical work Bar bending schedule Detail of Fixture with specifications Filled Environmental Documentation Form (EDF) Engineer Declaration format attached in guidelines Application Format for the USAID’s Small Grants Program 13