Small grant facility
The ALiSEA network has put in place enabling mechanisms to support and boost the implementation of agroecological innovations through the setting up of a small grant facility for actors engaged in agroecology. ALiSEA network launch Small Grant Facility calls for proposals drawing upon priorities levers for agroecology transition such improving market access for agroecological products, strengthening youth involvement, technical innovations.
In addition, small grants specific objectives are:
- to strengthen partnerships between the ALiSEA members and encourage joint actions;
- to reinforce members’ skills through building partnerships with non-members;
- to broaden the network efforts of inclusiveness, and representativeness of the variety of stakeholders in agriculture and food systems.
Since 2016, 44 small grants have been awarded for a total budget of 534,00 Euros. Through direct funding provided to farmers’ organizations, local and national CSOs, universities etc., the SGF enables to support and implement concrete initiatives that respond to needs on the ground. The small grant facility is also an interesting tool for involving stakeholders in the developing knowledge products, sharing lesson learned and field evidence.
The ALiSEA Small Grant Facility 2024 aims to support agroecology initiatives across Cambodia, empowering organizations and communities to enhance sustainable agriculture, market access, youth engagement, and policy advocacy.
1) Call for Proposals, Guidelines & Templates
Overview
ALiSEA has launched the Small Grant Facility 2024 to support agroecological transitions in Cambodia. The initiative is coordinated by the Development Partnership in Action (DPA) as the National Secretariat of ALiSEA in Cambodia, with financial support from Uni4Coop’s PArTNER project and technical assistance from GRET and other ALiSEA Board members.
This year’s Small Grant Facility prioritizes three key areas:
- Enhancing Market Access for Agroecological Products – Strengthening and expanding sustainable markets for agroecological products.
- Linking Field Experience to Public Policy – Amplifying the role of ALiSEA members in policy dialogues, demonstrating the impact of agroecological practices.
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Empowering Women and Youth in Agroecology – Encouraging participation and leadership of women and youth in agroecology.
Key Dates
- August 21, 2024 – Call for proposals officially launched.
- October 18, 2024 – Deadline for full proposal submissions.
Proposal Submission & Guidelines
Applicants were required to submit the following documents:
2024 ALiSEA Small Grant Facility: Organizations Administrative Information Template (English version)
2024 ALiSEA Small Grant Facility: Organizations Administrative Information Template (Khmer version)
Submissions were accepted in English via an online platform. If you need more details on the proposal process, you can download the ALiSEA Small Grant Guideline & Templates here:
2) Information Sessions
To assist potential applicants, ALiSEA organized an Information and Proposal Writing Session on August 30, 2024, with 29 participants from 22 organizations. This session provided guidance on the application process and answered participant queries.
Key Content of the Sessions:
- Grant Topics: Applicants may choose one or multiple focus areas.
- Integration with Existing Activities: Proposed projects should complement, not duplicate, ongoing activities.
- Knowledge Products: Deliverables can include videos, reports, or case studies.
- Budgeting: Budgets must be presented in US Dollars (USD) using the provided templates.
- Eligibility: Non-ALiSEA members may co-apply with ALiSEA members but cannot lead applications.
For session materials and Q&A details, visit Information Session for ALiSEA’s Small Grant Facility 2024 in Cambodia.
3) Results & Award
The ALiSEA Small Grant Facility 2024 has awarded funding to two organizations in Cambodia, focusing on enhancing market access for agroecological products and empowering women and youth in agroecology.
1. Enhancing Market Access for Agroecological Products
- Lead Applicant: Lutheran Hope Cambodia Organization (LHCO)
- Co-Applicant: Farmer and Nature Net Association (FNN)
2. Empowering Women and Youth in Agroecology
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Lead Applicant: Forests and Livelihood Organization (FLO)
The ALiSEA Small Grant Facility 2023 aims to support agroecology initiatives across Southeast Asia, empowering organizations and communities to enhance sustainable agriculture, market access, youth engagement, and policy advocacy.
1) Call for Proposals, Guidelines & Templates
Overview
The Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia (ALiSEA) launched the 2023 Small Grant Facility to empower its members and partners in promoting agroecology within the Sub-Mekong Region. This initiative, supported by the ASSET project and Uni4Coop – Partner Project, focused on three key thematic areas:
- Supporting and Improving Market Access for Agroecology Products – Strengthening market linkages to ensure fair valuation of agroecological products and promote sustainable food systems.
- Linking Field Experience in Agroecology and Food Systems to Public Policy – Enhancing engagement between agroecology practitioners and policymakers to create a supportive policy environment.
- Empowering and Strengthening Youth Involvement in Agroecology – Encouraging young people to engage in agroecological practices and leadership.
Key Dates
- August 2, 2023 – Call for proposals officially launched.
- October 16, 2023 – Deadline for full proposal submissions.
Proposal Submission & Guidelines
Applicants were required to submit the following documents:
Submissions were accepted in English via an online platform. If you need more details on the proposal process, you can download the ALiSEA Small Grant Guideline & Templates here:
2) Information Sessions
To support applicants in preparing strong proposals, ALiSEA organized in-person Information and Proposal-Writing Sessions in three countries:
- Vietnam – August 15, 2023
- Laos – August 16, 2023
- Cambodia – August 17, 2023
These sessions aimed to clarify the proposal process and enhance the capacity of ALiSEA members in proposal writing. A total of 51 participants, including 22 women, attended the sessions.
Key Content of the Sessions:
- Overview of the ALiSEA Small Grant Facility
- Detailed guidance on writing a strong proposal
- Budgeting techniques and common mistakes to avoid
- Q&A and one-on-one consultations with facilitators
A summary report from these sessions were made available download below:
3) Results & Award
The evaluation of proposals was conducted in two rounds:
- November 14, 2023 – Round 1: Pre-screening by a restricted selection committee (4 weeks)
- Mid-December 2023 – Round 2: Final selection by the full selection committee (4 weeks)
- January 10, 2024 – Final selection meeting
- January 15, 2024 – Grant agreements signed with selected organizations
Proposal Outcomes
- 30 proposals were submitted in October 2023.
- 15 proposals were pre-selected for the concept note stage.
- 9 full proposals were selected for funding.
Distribution of Awarded Proposals
- Market Access for Agroecology Products: 4 proposals (Laos: 1; Cambodia: 1; Vietnam: 1; Thailand: 1)
- Linking Agroecology to Public Policy: 1 proposal (Vietnam: 1)
- Youth Involvement in Agroecology: 4 proposals (Laos: 2; Cambodia: 2)
Total Funding Granted
The total cumulative budget granted in 2023 by ALiSEA is 125,939 EUR. In addition, we have a strong collaboration and contribution budget granted by Uni4Coop for ALiSEA members in Cambodia from 2022-2026 in the amount of 72,415 EUR.
In 2022, the Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia (ALiSEA) launched a Small Grant Facility to support initiatives promoting agroecology in the region. Below is a consolidated overview of the call for proposals, associated guidelines and templates, and information sessions held during that period.
1) Call for Proposals, Guidelines & Templates
In May 2022, ALiSEA launched the 2022 Small Grant Facility to support initiatives promoting agroecology in Southeast Asia. This call for proposals encouraged projects that addressed three key areas:
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Strengthening agroecology networks and alliances
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Enhancing knowledge management and dissemination
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Evaluating the performance and impacts of agroecological initiatives
Applicants were required to submit a concept note and a detailed budget before the deadline on June 21, 2022. The application process was conducted online, and all documents had to be submitted in English.
To assist applicants, ALiSEA provided comprehensive guidance through the following templates and documents:
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Small Grant Guidelines – Included details on eligibility criteria, funding scope, and evaluation processes.
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Concept Note & Full Proposal Template – A structured format to ensure clarity and completeness in proposals.
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Budget Template – A standardized format to outline financial planning.
All these documents were made available for download below:.
2) Information Sessions
To provide additional clarity and support to potential applicants, ALiSEA organized an online information session on May 27, 2022. The session aimed to explain the application process, grant requirements, and expected project outcomes.
Key Highlights:
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35 participants joined the session.
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A detailed presentation was provided on the application and selection criteria.
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A dedicated Q&A session allowed participants to clarify doubts.
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The session was recorded and made available for those who could not attend.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from the Session:
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Are all three themes weighted equally? → Yes, proposals were evaluated based on quality rather than theme preference.
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Can non-members apply? → Lead applicants had to be ALiSEA members, but non-members could be co-applicants.
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Are projects limited to ASSET flagship sites? → No, projects could be implemented in any province of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, or Thailand.
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What was the maximum project duration? → 18 months, with projects beginning in 2022 or 2023.
For a full summary of the session, including the recorded video and presentation slides, please visit the links below:
3) Results & Award
In September 2022, ALiSEA announced the recipients of the 2022 Small Grant Facility, selecting projects that demonstrated strong potential to advance agroecology in Southeast Asia. The selection process emphasized the quality and relevance of proposals, focusing on their alignment with ALiSEA’s objectives and their potential impact on local communities.
Selection Process:
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22 concept notes received (Lao PDR: 9, Vietnam: 7, Cambodia: 6).
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11 full proposals invited for submission.
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7 projects approved (Lao PDR: 2, Vietnam: 3, Cambodia: 2).
Total Funding Granted
ALiSEA allocated a total budget of approximately €140,000 for these projects. Additionally, Uni4Coop contributed €72,415 to support ALiSEA members in Cambodia from 2022 to 2025.
1) Call for Proposals, Guidelines & Templates
The Agroecology Learning Alliance in South East Asia (ALiSEA) launched its second call for proposals for the Small Grant Facility (SGF) from February 13 to March 13, 2017. This initiative aimed to co-fund projects promoting agroecology through experience sharing, case study documentation, testing of innovative practices, dissemination of success stories, and the development of new concepts.
Eligible countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam
To ensure a structured application process, ALiSEA provided specific templates and guidelines:
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SGF Guidelines: Objectives, eligibility criteria, and application process
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Concept Note Template: Initial submission format
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Full Proposal Template: Detailed project proposal structure
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Detailed Budget Template: Financial planning framework
All templates were made available for download below:
2) Information Sessions
To support potential applicants and clarify the requirements of the SGF, ALiSEA organized information sessions in each target country. These sessions provided an overview of the grant facility, explained the application process, and addressed questions from interested stakeholders.
To support applicants, ALiSEA organized information sessions in each target country, providing an overview of the SGF, application process, and answering participant questions.
Schedule of Information Sessions:
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Vientiane, Laos: February 20, 2017 (morning)
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Phnom Penh, Cambodia: February 21, 2017 (morning)
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Yangon, Myanmar: February 27, 2017 (afternoon)
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Hanoi, Vietnam: February 28, 2017 (morning)
Participation & Key Discussions
Each session was attended by representatives from NGOs, universities, farmer organizations, and government agencies. Participants discussed key challenges in agroecology, funding mechanisms, and ways to improve networking within the region.
These sessions helped clarify expectations and strengthened collaboration between applicants and the ALiSEA network.
For a full summary of the session is available to download here:
3) Results & Award
3.1 Two-Stage Application Process
The grant selection process consisted of two main stages:
🔹 Stage 1: Concept Note Submission
Interested organizations were required to submit a short concept note summarizing their project idea and expected impact.
🔹 Stage 2: Full Proposal Submission
Shortlisted applicants were invited to submit a detailed proposal and budget, providing in-depth project planning and justifications.
3.2 Overview of Submitted Proposals
During the call for proposals, 73 concept notes were submitted from across the four target countries:
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Cambodia – 19
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Laos – 8
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Myanmar – 22
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Vietnam – 20
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Regional initiatives – 4
After a rigorous review process, 28 projects were selected to move to the full proposal stage.
3.3 Awarded Projects & Fund Allocation
Following the second evaluation stage, 14 projects were awarded funding based on their potential impact and feasibility:
- Cambodia – 4 projects
- Laos – 2 projects
- Myanmar – 3 projects
- Vietnam – 4 projects
- Regional initiative – 1 project
All the projects are part of larger initiatives that bring co-funding. The total cumulated budget granted by ALiSEA is slightly under 140,000 USD.
The stakeholders representation is quite diverse with about 40% international NGOs to be granted as main implementer, alongside with 30% of local NGOs and 30% of Universities. The private sector is however not represented for this call.
1) Call for Proposals, Guidelines & Templates
The 1st call for proposal for the ALiSEA Small Grant Facility has been closed on the 3rd of October 2016.
2) Results & Award
We are very glad to announce that a total of 47 Concept Notes (CN) have been received from the 4 targeted countries as follow:
- 16 Concept Notes from Vietnam
- 12 Concept Notes from Myanmar
- 11 Concept Notes from Laos
- 8 Concept Notes from Cambodia
A summary of all the Concept Notes received is available here:
Overall, there was a rather good diversity in term of geographic coverage in each country, with CN addressing different agroecosystem: low lands (rice), dry zones (pulses, orchards, VAC), uplands (vegetable, agroforestry, VAC), coastal areas. As far as the nature of the stakeholders is concerned, it can be pointed out that a large majority of concept notes has been submitted by applicants from NGO sector (49 % from local NGO and 6% from INGO). This figure goes up to nearly 90% from LNGO in Cambodia, and down to less than 20% in Vietnam.
Stakeholder representation, 1st round of call for proposal, ALiSEA Small Grant Facility Universities, with 21% of the CN overall, have been also well represented, although it is very heterogeneous across the region (70% of the University CN are from Vietnam and 30% are from Laos). 75% of the CN address directly one or more Agroecology set of practices that has been identified by ALiSEA. Amongst the practices, Organic Agriculture is by far the most represented (nearly 50%).
Set of practices found in the small grants submitted in the 1st round of call for proposals Most of the concept notes are part of larger initiatives that bring co-funding. The total cumulated budget for all CN (including co-funding) amounts for nearly 700,000 USD. Total cumulated budget requested to ALiSEA is slightly under 400,000 USD, with an average per CN amounting for 8400 USD. Out of the 47 CN, 25 have been selected for the full proposal stage, 6 from each country + 1 with a regional focus. Out of the 25 other CN, 12 full proposals will be selected and funded:
- 3 full proposals from Laos;
- 3 proposals from Myanmar;
- 4 proposal from Vietnam;
- 2 full proposals from Cambodia (given a limited number of CN received compare to other countries).