What is the small grant program (SGP)?

The JEMBS has initiated the Small Grants Program (SGP) in order to strengthen Afghan civil society, by supporting Afghan groups and communities to organize events which include civic education messages.

All Afghan groups, including local NGOs and communities, who would like to organize a civic education related event, are welcome to apply to the Small Grants Program.

What is a Small Grant?

• It is the financial support used to plan and conduct your civic education related event.
• It is complementary to your local initiatives. Community volunteering is essential for SGP projects. It means that your community must contribute to the project. This contribution could be, for example, by supplying material and/or labor.

What types of activities does the SGP support?

The goal of the Small Grants program is to promote and strengthen Afghan civil society through participation and networking.

Therefore, it will help your group if:

• You are cooperating with other groups in planning and carrying out the activities of the project.
• Your project promotes civic values such as tolerance, moderation, solidarity, non-violence, etc.
• Your project promotes participation of local people in social and political affairs .

• Your project promotes full and effective participation of youth and women in the socio-political process.

Here are some practical ideas:

• Your project can be a cultural or sporting event : poetry, song, tales, crafts, etc.
• Your project can be an environmental event : planting trees in communities, cleaning the surrounding of houses, etc.
• Your project can be a social event : collectively helping the disabled, assisting poor orphans and widows, etc.
• Your project can be any other activity such as: organizing debates about peace, reconstruction, inter-ethnic/inter-faith cooperation, etc.

How much will be AVAILABLE?

• The maximum amount available to your group is $1,000.
• If your first project is successful, it can be followed up by other projects that the Small Grants Program will also fund.
• All your expenses must be presented clearly in a budget and justified by receipts, which must be presented on an accounting ledger.

Not all activities will be supported!

Which activities will not be supported?

• Projects which are politically biased in any way.
• Projects involving pure training that exclude community participation.
• Projects requesting funds predominantly for capital expenditure e.g. vehicles, office or other equipment, computers, etc.
• Projects with more than 10% of funds allocated for salaries, management, or office costs.
• Grants are not available for commercial operations, international NGOs, families, or individuals.

What do you have to do?

If your group has an idea that could be supported by this program, the first thing to do is to write down your idea and answer the following questions:

• What is the name of your group?
• Why is your project necessary?
• What are the benefits of your project? How many people will benefit?
• Where will your event take place?
• What do you want to achieve with your project?
• What is the activity that you will carry out?
• What will be the expenses?
• How will your community contribute to the project?

Once you have clarified this, please visit your nearest Provincial JEMBS Election Office in order to discuss your proposal. If the project fits within the criteria, you will receive the appropriate application forms to complete.

Where can you find assistance?

Every Provincial JEMBS Election Office, located in provincial centers has a specialized SGP person - the SGP Focal Point. All SGP Focal Points are well informed about the Small Grants Program and are ready to help you develop your project.

How will funding decisions be made?

The SGP Focal Point in your province will review the application and forward it to a review committee in Kabul , which will decide on the approval of the project. Approved projects will be forwarded to your SGP Focal Point, who will contact you so you can begin to organize your civic education event!