Pathways to Peace is pleased to invite Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Sri Lanka to submit concept notes designed to build inclusive governance and social cohesion in Sri Lanka.
Selected concepts will be invited to submit a full proposal if they meet the objectives of the Inclusive Futures Fund (IFF), and the eligibility criteria detailed below.
1. Introduction to Pathways to Peace
Pathways to Peace: Building Inclusive Governance and Social Cohesion is a five-year (2024-2029) project that aims to strengthen peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka among and within religious, ethnic and linguistic communities, particularly for women and girls.
The purpose of the IFF is to empower civil society, communities and individuals, particularly women and girls and LGBTQI+ persons, to demand Inclusive, Equitable and Accountable public services for women and girls; LGBTQI+ persons; religious, ethnic and language minorities; and persons with disabilities.
In addition to supporting civil society, the project plans to work with the ministries responsible for public administration and women’s affairs and the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation, as well as 15 sub-national institutions in seven districts in five provinces, to:
01. Deliver inclusive, equitable and accountable public services, and
02. Implement Sri Lanka’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) National Action Plan (NAP) in the areas of language rights, gender – responsive services, and social cohesion
Inclusive Services
Creating relational and experiential environments where all people feel that they are welcome and belong.
Equitable Services
recognizes that barriers and privileges mean not everyone has the same resources. Equitable services aim to correct for those imbalances by improving procedures and processes so that no one is left behind.
Accountable Services
The obligation of the State to account for its actions as well as the right of citizens to hold the State accountable.
Please note that a separate Call for Concept Notes for the Women Peace & Security Fund (WPSF) will be launched in November this year, exclusively for Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs).
Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs): WROs are defined as demonstrating that its core work is in the field of women’s rights, gender equality, the elimination of violence against women and/or girls, or sexual and gender-based violence. The organization’s official mission and vision statements must reflect its commitment to pursuing gender equality and empowering women and girls.
2. Organizations Eligible to Apply to the Inclusive Futures Fund
| Type | Description | Eligibility Criteria |
| Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) | Formally registered organizations which are voluntary, and non-profit making and have the mandate(s) or objective(s) of promoting inclusive governance, human rights, training/education, women and development, gender equality, social cohesion, promoting language rights, transparency, peacebuilding and/or reconciliation. The organizations could be national, provincial, district level or divisional secretariat division level. | Concept Note Stage:
Proposal Stage:
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| Professional Associations | Organizations that confer certification upon professionals such as lawyers, accountants, doctors, technicians and other professions. Associations are voluntary and non-profit and should align with promoting inclusive governance and social cohesion. Ex: Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Social Scientists Association (SSA), etc. | |
| Academic/Research Institutions | Institutions having expertise and experience in conducting research and development, including making recommendations for policy iterations and amendments in the thematic areas of inclusive governance, social cohesion and gender equality. For example, universities, colleges or organizations of a voluntary and/or non-profit nature. | |
| Community Based Organizations | Organizations that are registered as voluntary and non-profit making at the district or divisional secretariat level which are working closely with the communities on issues of concern locally and representing the community in broader regional and national forums. | VARIATION FROM THE ABOVE (otherwise same criteria):
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3. Partnerships and Consortia
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) may work in partnership with other CSOs and/or Co-Existence Societies CSOs are encouraged to (CES) consider the following criteria when selecting CES to support or partner with through their interventions:
- Is a duly registered society under the relevant Ministry
- Has been in operation for a minimum of one year
- Located in one of the geographic areas targeted by Pathways to Peace.
When two or more organizations apply together, only the lead partner is expected to meet the eligibility criteria detailed in Section 2. In this situation, the contract will be with the lead partner, which will be accountable for the funds received. The lead partner will be required to contract with the partner organization(s) and submit a copy of the contract to Pathways to Peace.
CES are voluntary, non-profit making organizations administered under the purview of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR). CES are mandated to support inclusion, national integration and co-existence amongst religious/ethnic/linguistic groups and national reconciliation.
4. Due Diligence Process
Successful completion of the due diligence process, which includes safeguarding checks, is a prerequisite for CSOs to be granted funding under the IFF
Applicants will be required to submit the following supporting documents with their concept note:
- 01. Certificate of Registration
- 02. Audited financial reports for the past two years
- 03. Copy of the institutionalized financial and internal controls policy (if available)
- 04. Copy of the organization’s Safeguarding Policy (if available)
Provided that all other due diligence requirements are met, Pathways to Peace will support CSOs that do not have a Safeguarding Policy in place with capacity building opportunities to develop a Policy.
5. Geographic Focus
Priority will be given to CSOs headquartered in the districts targeted by the project. National-level or provincial-level CSOs must work in the geographic areas targeted by the project and demonstrate their ability to do so.
Priority will be given to projects working in the communities serviced by the following targeted institutions.
| Province | Districts | Targeted Institutions |
| Northern | Jaffna | 1. Head Quarters Police Division – Jaffna [NEW] |
| Vavuniya | 2. Head Quarters Police Division – Vavuniya [NEW] | |
| Eastern | Trincomalee | 3. Divisional Secretariat – Trincomalee Town and Gravets |
| 4. District General Hospital – Trincomalee | ||
| Central | Kandy | 5. Divisional Secretariat – Kandy Four Gravets – Gangawata Korale |
| 6. Municipal Council – Kandy | ||
| Nuwara Eliya | 7. District Secretariat – Nuwara Eliya | |
| 8. Municipal Council – Nuwara Eliya | ||
| 9. District General Hospital – Nuwara Eliya | ||
| 10. Divisional Secretariat - Talawakelle | ||
| 11. Magistrate and District Court – Hatton | ||
| 12. Divisional Secretariat – Norwood | ||
| Southern | Galle | 13. Divisional Secretariat – Galle Four Gravets |
| 14. German - Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital for Women – Karapitiya/Galle | ||
| North-Western | Puttalam | 15. Divisional Secretariat – Puttalam |
6. Expected Results
All proposed concepts must be designed to achieve one or more of the results listed below. Concept Notes will not be scored higher simply because a project is focusing on more than one result area. When it comes to impact, depth rather than breadth is encouraged.
| Objective: To increase capacity of civil society, communities, and individuals, particularly women and girls and LGBTQI+ persons, to demand inclusive, equitable and accountable public services for women and girls; LGBTQI+ persons; religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities; and persons with disabilities. | |
| Result 1 | Diverse groups/persons (women and girls; LGBTQI+ persons; religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities; persons with disabilities) are aware of their rights and able to demand inclusive, equitable and accountable public services. |
| Result 2 | Increased awareness of the Official Languages Policy (OLP) and/or implementation of the OLP in communities where the targeted institutions are located. |
| Result 3 | Targeted institutions are supported to provide inclusive services. |
| Result 4 | CSOs and Co-Existence Societies network and advocate for conflict transformation and the provision of inclusive public services. |
| Result 5 | Increased social cohesion in selected project locations. |
| Result 6 | The body of knowledge is enriched with timely and accurate data and information on diversity and inclusion in the public service, innovation in public service delivery and inclusion in Sri Lanka. |
7. Project Duration and Budget
Pathways will fund initiatives up to LKR10,000,000, based on proposed project complexity, scope and impact. Proven capacity of the applicant to deliver a project of this scale must be demonstrated, including examples of previous projects with similar budgets. Applicants will have the option of implementing 12-month, 24-month or 36-month projects.
Please note that the following costs are not eligible for IFF-funded projects:
- Purchase of property
- Purchase of vehicle
- Purchase or rental of luxury goods/services (e.g. hiring luxury vehicles for travel)
- Direct financial support to government institutions/public servants
- Expenses incurred prior to the signing of the agreement, or after it expires
8. Evaluation Criteria for Concepts Notes and Invitations for Full Proposals
| 1. Organizational Capacity | 30 Points |
| Capability of organization to undertake the activities proposed: Organisational experience (management and project implementation). How long has the organization been in operation? Does the organization have audited accounts? Compare size of annual budget and budget of proposed initiative. Review donors and projects that the organization has already completed / is presently implementing. Staff composition (number, internal expertise). | 15 |
| Experience in implementation of activities in the geographic focus areas. Review thematic areas in which the organization has experience and the projects that are being implemented; Building inclusive governance and/or social cohesion | 15 |
| 2. Merit of Activities Proposed | 50 Points |
| The proposed activities are relevant of activities proposed to the IFF’s objectives and have the propensity to strengthen inclusive governance and/or social cohesion. | 10 |
| The proposed activities are relevant to the needs and priorities of target groups in the project locations proposed | 10 |
| The project is designed to make significant impact in one or two thematic areas rather than spreading resources too thin over several areas (i.e., depth over breadth in design of activities). | 10 |
| The proposed activities contain specific elements to facilitate gender equality, especially for women and girls | 10 |
| The proposed activities are innovative. | 10 |
| 3. Reach | 10 Points |
| The estimated budget and estimated direct and indirect beneficiaries are proportionate and justifiable | 10 |
| 4. Sustainability and Visibility | 10 Points |
| The proposed activities have the potential to bring about sustainable results | 10 |
| Total points | 100 |
10. Timeframe
| Details | Oct 2024 | Nov 2024 | Dec 2024 | Jan 2025 | Feb 2025 | Mar 2025 |
| Launch ‘Call for Concepts’ | 15 | |||||
| Deadline for concept submission | 15 | |||||
| Applicants informed of status of application | 20 | |||||
| Deadline for submission of full proposals | 12 | |||||
| Applicants informed of status of applications | 14 | |||||
| Contracting begins | 31 |
How to Apply
Please complete the Survey Monkey ‘Section A: Eligibility Screening Form’ which will assess your eligibility.
If you are eligible, Pathways will send you a Concept Note Form by email.
Submit the Concept Note Form with the required supporting documents noted under Section 4 by email before 23:59hrs on November 15, 2024. Concept notes may be completed in Sinhala, Tamil or English. Please follow the instructions provided on the Concept Note template.
