Funding Sunday!

10 new funding opportunities this week!

Woops, we missed sending on Friday…

Happy Sunday!

I hope this email finds you well! As we navigate through the ever-changing landscape of opportunities and challenges, it's crucial to stay updated on the latest funding initiatives that can make a difference. That's why I'm thrilled to bring you this week's edition of Develop Impact, packed with exciting funding opportunities and thought-provoking insights.

🌟 What's Inside This Week:

• 💭 Dive into the Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program that aims to address water and energy security.

• 🌍 Explore USAID's Locally Led Development initiative in Nepal, focusing on community resilience.

• 🌱 Learn about the Joint SDG Fund and Bangladesh Government's efforts to improve social protection for female tea garden workers.

• 🩺 Discover Small-Scale Projects funded by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cambodia.

• 🖥️ Uncover Mozilla's Africa Innovation Mradi Research Grants focusing on AI's impact on marginalized communities.

• 🌟 Get to know about the Youth Well-Being Prize Competition by USAID.

• ☀️ Check out the Youth Climate Justice Fund's flexible funding options for youth-led initiatives.

• 🌊 Learn about UNDP's Plastic Challenge in Vietnam.

• 📚 Engage with SEA Junction's Essay Competition commemorating the 56th Anniversary of ASEAN.

• ✋🏾 And last but not least, find out about the LeadNext program by The Asia Foundation.

Each opportunity comes with thought-provoking questions and insights to spark your curiosity and deepen your understanding.

Let’s have a great week!

Jesse

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What’s funding this week…

💭 Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program

📝 The program is inviting applications for its flagship research studies, focusing on water security, energy security, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Supported by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the initiative aims to enhance the capacities of knowledge-based policy influence organizations in the Mekong Region. The ultimate goal is to contribute to improved and equitable water and energy security, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation in the region.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

• Water Security: How can research contribute to sustainable water management in the Mekong Region?

• Energy Security: What role do think tanks play in shaping energy policies that are both secure and sustainable?

• Climate Change: How can the program help in climate change mitigation and adaptation, particularly for vulnerable communities?

🔗 Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program

🌍 Locally Led Development for USAID/Nepal’s Local Works

📝 The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nepal is offering a grant program aimed at partnering with local organizations that directly engage with marginalized and vulnerable populations in ten municipalities. The program focuses on improving resilience to poverty backsliding and strengthening local networks. The grant is expected to cost between $4M and $9.99M.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

1. Community Resilience: How can local organizations effectively use this grant to improve resilience against poverty in marginalized communities?

2. Local Networks: What strategies can be employed to strengthen existing local networks for long-term impact?

3. Funding Allocation: With a budget ranging from $4M to $9.99M, how should the funds be allocated to ensure maximum impact?

🔗 Locally Led Development for USAID/Nepal’s Local Works

🌱 Joint SDG Fund and Bangladesh Government Initiative

📝 The Joint SDG Fund and the Government of Bangladesh are collaborating with four UN agencies to improve social protection for female tea garden workers in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh. The initiative aims to enhance access to national social protection and local social services, empower women, and improve service coordination and regulation. The program includes policy advocacy, data generation, capacity development, and skills training.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

• Social Protection: How can this program effectively extend social protection to marginalized communities like female tea garden workers?

• Empowerment: What strategies can be employed to empower women in these communities to claim their rights?

• Multi-Stakeholder Approach: How does the involvement of multiple stakeholders like the government, private sector, and trade unions contribute to the program's success?

🔗 Joint SDG Fund and Bangladesh Government Initiative

🩺 Small-Scale Projects (SSP) 2024 - Embassy of the Czech Republic in Phnom Penh

📝 The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Phnom Penh is inviting proposals for Small-Scale Projects (SSP) that align with the Czech Development Cooperation's priority areas in Cambodia. These areas include inclusive social development (health and education) and natural resources management (water and sanitation). The funding for each project ranges from approximately 9,000 USD to 23,000 USD. The projects should also be sustainable and may involve cooperation with Czech entities.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

1. Alignment with National Goals: How can these small-scale projects contribute to Cambodia's National Development Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals?

2. Local vs. International Cooperation: What are the benefits of having local organizations cooperate with Czech entities for these projects?

3. Sustainability: What measures can be put in place to ensure that these projects are sustainable in the long term?

🔗 Small-Scale Projects (SSP) 2024 - Embassy of the Czech Republic in Phnom Penh

🖥️ Africa Innovation Mradi Research Grants

📝 Mozilla is offering research grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 USD to individuals and organizations in Eastern and Southern Africa. The grants aim to study the impact of AI on various communities, focusing on areas like human rights, economic justice, and more. The initiative is particularly interested in understanding AI's influence on marginalized communities.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

1. AI and Marginalized Communities: How can research into AI's impact help marginalized communities in Africa?

2. AI Ethics: What ethical considerations should be taken into account when deploying AI in these regions?

3. Community Engagement: How can local communities be involved in the research and decision-making processes related to AI?

🔗 Africa Innovation Mradi Research Grants - Mozilla Foundation

🌟 Youth Well-Being Prize Competition - Challenge.Gov

📝 The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is inviting young innovators between the ages of 10 and 29 to participate in the Youth Well-Being Prize Competition. The competition aims to find solutions to pressing issues affecting young people's well-being, such as mental health, digital harm, safeguarding, gender-based violence, and climate change. Applications are open from July 31, 2023, to September 29, 2023.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

1. Digital Transformation in Well-Being: How can digital tools be effectively utilized to improve the well-being of young people?

2. Youth-Led Solutions: What role can youth play in creating and implementing solutions for their own well-being?

3. Inclusivity and Diversity: How can solutions be designed to cater to the diverse identities and needs of young people?

Challenge.Gov

☀️ Youth Climate Justice Fund

📝 The Youth Climate Justice Fund offers core flexible funding to emerging youth-led climate justice collectives. Groups can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 USD, which can be used for a period of 12 months. The fund is open to groups led by individuals aged 35 and below and is particularly interested in collectives based in various global regions including Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and more.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

1. Youth-Led Initiatives: How can youth-led initiatives make a significant impact in the fight for climate justice?

2. Global Reach: What challenges do youth-led collectives face in different regions, and how can this fund help overcome them?

3. Flexible Funding: How can flexible funding empower these collectives to be more agile and responsive in their climate justice efforts?

🔗 Youth Climate Justice Fund - How To Apply

🌊 UNDP Plastic Challenge - Take The Challenge

📝 The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam is inviting individuals, startups, and organizations to participate in the Plastic Challenge. The challenge aims to find innovative solutions to reduce plastic waste and pollution. Winners will receive financial support, mentorship, and access to a network of experts to bring their ideas to life.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

1. Innovation in Waste Management: How can innovative solutions effectively reduce plastic waste and its environmental impact?

2. Collaborative Efforts: What role can partnerships play in accelerating the adoption of these solutions?

3. Scalability: How can winning solutions be scaled to have a broader impact on reducing plastic waste?

🔗 UNDP Plastic Challenge - Take The Challenge

📚 SEA Junction Essay Competition: "Which Road for Southeast Asia?"

📝 In collaboration with the JFK Foundation of Thailand, SEA Junction is hosting an essay competition to commemorate the 56th Anniversary of ASEAN. The competition is open to emerging writers and artists from Southeast Asia, including Timor Leste. Participants are invited to reflect on the future of the region and the role of ASEAN. Essays can be written or visual and should focus on recent regional developments, the role of ASEAN, and a vision for the future. Written essays should be between 1,500 to 2,500 words, while visual essays require a description of 500 to 1,000 words. The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2023. The award money for the winners ranges from $200 to $750.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

• Future of ASEAN: What role can ASEAN play in shaping the future of Southeast Asia, especially in the context of current challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions?

• Youth Perspective: How important is it to include the views of young people in discussions about the future of the region and ASEAN?

• Essay Formats: What are the advantages and disadvantages of allowing both written and visual essays in capturing diverse perspectives on the future of Southeast Asia?

🔗 SEA Junction Essay Competition

✋🏾 LeadNext - The Asia Foundation

📝 The LeadNext program aims to build a network of future leaders aged 18-25 from across Asia and the United States. The program focuses on equipping these emerging leaders with international networks, diverse experiences, and leadership tools. The initiative is designed to address challenges like rising inequality, climate crises, conflict, and community vulnerabilities.

🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights

1. Global Leadership: How can programs like LeadNext contribute to the development of globally minded leaders?

2. Cross-Cultural Exchange: What is the significance of fostering cross-cultural relationships among young leaders?

3. Addressing Challenges: How can young leaders leverage this program to find solutions to pressing global issues like climate change and inequality?

🔗 LeadNext - The Asia Foundation