Call for Proposals ’25: Sustainable Action Fund to Protect and Expand Civic Space in Malawi

Introduction

Hivos, via its Connect, Defend, Act! (CDA!) initiative in Malawi, is inviting proposals for the Sustainable Action Fund (SAF)—a strategic grant mechanism established to help grassroots and civil society-led initiatives working to safeguard inclusive civic house and human rights in the nation. With funding help from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), this fund will empower native civil society actors (CSAs) to take swift and sustainable motion in response to civic challenges and alternatives.

The initiative comes in response to the rising world and nationwide threats dealing with civil society. Even in democratic settings, civic actors typically face authorized restrictions, digital surveillance, intimidation, and funding limitations. The Sustainable Action Fund presents versatile monetary and technical help to organizations on the frontlines of defending human rights, particularly in underrepresented and marginalized communities.

Project Objectives

The Connect, Defend, Act! venture goals to:

• Empower civil society actors in Malawi to affect and reply to shifts in civic house.

• Strengthen coalition constructing throughout various civil society sectors.

• Enhance secure, inclusive digital civic areas and increase digital safety.

• Increase speedy response capabilities and resilience via funding and organizational growth.

Purpose of the Sustainable Action Fund

The SAF is designed to:

• Support time-sensitive, high-impact civic initiatives.

• Provide funding that strengthens civic engagement, human rights protection, and inclusive participation.

• Improve digital safety, freedom of expression, and gender equality in civic discourse.

• Boost the institutional capability of CSOs working in difficult environments.

Two CSOs might be chosen for grant help underneath this spherical, every receiving up to EUR 80,000 for a 12-month implementation interval.

Thematic Areas

Projects should align with a number of of the next focus areas:

• Civic engagement and public participation

• Human rights and freedom of expression

• Digital rights and safety of on-line civic areas

• Gender equality and inclusive civic dialogue

Eligibility Criteria

Organizations eligible to apply embrace:

• Registered CSOs, CBOs, grassroots actions, or neighborhood motion teams based mostly in Malawi

• Entities led by or strongly engaged with youth, girls, conventional/indigenous populations, and folks with disabilities

• Groups with a powerful observe file in human rights advocacy and civic house protection

• Organizations that reveal operational capability, a clear human rights file, and a dedication to intersectionality

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Applications might be assessed based mostly on:

• Quality of proposal (40%): Clarity of aims, contextual understanding, and sensible relevance

• Team experience (25%): Skills, expertise, and collaboration capability

• Track file of efficiency (10%)

• Budget and compliance (25%): Cost-effectiveness and organizational transparency

Strong proposals will reveal:

• A holistic understanding of each bodily and digital civic areas

• Rightsholder illustration and engagement

• Innovative and intersectional approaches to civic house protection

• Integration of findings from the Connect, Defend, Act! baseline study

• Feasible and detailed plans with clear deliverables

Required Documentation

Applicants should submit a complete application package deal together with:

• Proposal (max 10 pages)

• Updated group profile and organogram

• Cover letter

• NGORA registration certificates

• Letter of help from authorities authorities

• Consolidated annual audit experiences (2022–2024)

• Three donor references (to be despatched straight to Hivos)

• Names and CVs of key personnel

• Detailed exercise plan with timeline and outputs

• Budget aligned with the 12-month work plan

• Two pattern experiences of finest earlier work

Submission Details

All purposes must be submitted through e mail to proposals.hubsaf@hivos.org with the topic line “CDA Sustainable Action Funds” by July 3, 2025, 16:00 hrs CAT.

To help along with your submission, obtain the required templates and paperwork (Annex A, finances template, narrative proposal template, and declaration kind) from the CDA Sustainable Action Fund resource package.

Further Inquiries

For questions or clarifications, e mail proposals.hubsaf@hivos.org with the topic line “Queries – Sustainable Action Fund.”

Conclusion

The Sustainable Action Fund presents a strong alternative for native organizations in Malawi to entry much-needed sources to defend civic house, promote democratic governance, and defend basic human rights. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and resilience, the SAF is poised to empower the subsequent technology of changemakers.

For extra alternatives, go to