2. Who can apply? Applicants should be:
Legal persons for at least 12 months
‘Small’ – a turnover of <£250k for last two years
‘Scottish’ – premises in Scotland from where grant would be managed
Working internationally in a substantive way/adding value
Working in a low / medium UN HDI country
Working in line with due diligence (good governance, equality & diversity and safeguarding* policies)

3. What’s different about 2020?
To take into account a review of the Small Grants Programme, now six years old, this year will:
Offer only grants for a maximum of 12 months (Apr to Mar 2021);
Not provide an opportunity to apply for Project Grants;
Only accept applications for Feasibility Studies or Capacity Building grants (only one type of grant);
Raise budget limits for Feasibility Studies or Capacity Building grants to £15,000 per grant.
It will also require online applications.

4. Partner Criteria
Scottish organisation required to be ‘lead applicant’.
Local partner(s) based in the target country overseas:
For FS grants, organisations must have a local lead partner in the target country.
For CB grants, a local partner is optional. An in- country partner is not required if all the capacity building activities will happen in Scotland, but if a local partner is involved then the grant can partly or completely focus on building their capacities.

5. Preferences Preferred / welcomed aspects of applications:
Activities targeting the Scottish Government partner countries of Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia
To strengthen organisations’ governance and safeguarding policies and procedures
From diaspora-led organisations
In the area of civic governance, and which support innovations
‘Dovetailing’ or collaboration among different Scottish Government grantholders

6. The Application First steps…
Grant title – brief, descriptive, and best if short
Grant aim / statement – one sentence ‘snapshot’

7. The Application Who’s applying?
Background on organisation(s), history, skills, knowledge, experience relevant to the proposal
Background on strength of organisation(s), internal governance, OSCR returns and accounts, reserves, stability, strength of systems (E&D, safeguarding) and oversight.
Background on people and relationships, experience of Project Manager(s) and experience of past joint work.
Attachments, essential documents and evidence.

8. The Application What is the need?
Explanation of the problem, sufficient background
Presentation of needs assessment
Presentation of stakeholder consultation, community, local/national authorities, other actors & implementers
Policy and strategy fit – SDGs, Scottish, national, local
Gender and diversity!

9. The Application What will you do?
Explanation of proposed intervention (‘project’)
- CB, what “key areas” & “changes or improvement”?
- FS, what is “the question to answer”?
Clear framing of the results to be achieved
Precise outline of what activities will be undertaken
By who, where, when (steps, work plan)
(Not forgetting gender and diversity…)

10. The Application More about how you will do it…
(For FS, methods, dissemination of learning)
Risks
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
Sustainability (exit strategy)
Consideration of unintended negative outcomes
(Still not forgetting gender and diversity…)

11. The Application What resources/funds do you need to do it?
Clear presentation within categories
Within limits (20/50% capital; 50% match funding; for FS, 8% outwith country, incl. staff, excl. expertise*)
Budget notes - required! Explain any ‘lump sums’
Budget matches activities in proposal
Highlight key in-kind contributions (e.g. staff time, use of venue, vehicle, etc.)

12. Support when applying
For details on the grants criteria and application process:
Guidance docs, forms and criteria published on the Corra website: development/
From the Corra International Team on or
For ideas, suggestions and feedback on the quality of drafts:
Scotland’s International Development Alliance:
Scotland Malawi Partnership: malawipartnership.org/

13. Sending applications in
Classic mistakes, don’t:
Leave it too late (NB online form, office hours support)
Skip partner requirements, incl. CVs, LoS, LoUs/MoUs
Omit any of the listed essential application documents
Try and attach docs with ‘overspill’ info
Go over word limits
Go over budget limits
Noon, 8th November 2019

14. Sending applications in
Classic wins, do:
Start early! And call us (early) if you’re not sure about any of the criteria or processes
Gather information and supporting documents early, especially partner discussions, and due diligence on all organisations involved in the application
Send in all the docs required by the deadline – call us to check if you’re in any doubt
Clearly present a clear plan
Noon, 8th November 2019

15. Contacts at Corra
At the end of the phone / and happy to answer any questions:
Chrissie Hirst,
Lillian Owiti,

16. Thank you Alliance!