RAN | ResilientAfrica Network

Collaborative Resilience Innovation Design for Recurrent Effects of Chronic Internal Displacement (CRID4CID)

About CRID4CID

The CRID4CID call focuses on sourcing innovative ideas that contribute to resilience building in areas affected by the effects of chronic internal displacement. The ideas submitted will be used as the basis for selecting a team of co-creators from different disciplinary backgrounds and organizations. The selected team members will then collaborate to transform their ideas into a set of fundable projects that have shared platform integration features (e.g. the ability to use the same mobile-based customer payment system)

In sourcing for these innovations, RAN is applying a Collaborative Resilience Innovation Design (CRID) approach that uses a highly collaborative intervention design process in which multi-disciplinary teams of experts, scholars and stakeholders are invited to develop system level interventions in a CRID Workshop. It is based on the thinking that innovative ideas can be co-created collaboratively by experienced stakeholders working with the target communities. The CRID approach is specifically designed to generate “platform-oriented solutions” i.e. solutions that result in a platform that can facilitate multiple development functions instead of a discrete project.

In Phase 1, grants ranging from US$ 30,000 to US$ 100,000 will be awarded to teams formed around projects from the CRID4CID Co-creation Process. Winners of Phase 1 qualify to compete for Phase 2 grants ranging from US$ 100,000 to US$ 200,000
Applications will be accepted from 23rd September to ~~Fri 9th December 2016~~ Fri 6th Jan 2016 at 11:59 pm (GMT+3, Local time in Somalia/East Africa). Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in a co-creation process to develop a set of CRID4CID projects that have shared platform integration features. Teams behind the best projects from the co-creation process will be funded to implement their projects. More..

Download the complete CRID4CID Document
Download the complete CRID4CID Summary Document
Download the complete CRID4CID Application Template Note that this is just an application template to guide you on how to complete your application. Applications are only accepted online by filling in the form here (login required)

Brief Overview of ResilientAfrica Network (RAN)

The ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) funded by USAID is a partnership targeting 20 partner universities in 16 African countries. The main agenda of RAN is to strengthen resilience of communities vulnerable to shocks and stresses in Sub-Saharan Africa through university led-local African innovative solutions. ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) is led by Makerere University, with the secretariat at School of Public Health. It is one of eight university development labs under the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) of USAID’s Global Development Lab. RAN’s core partners are Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy (DRLA), Stanford University, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). RAN comprises four Resilience Innovation Labs (RILabs) each working with Partner Universities and focusing on different thematic areas as summarized in in the figure below

Note:
For more information and to apply, please visit grants.ranlab.org. Applicants may email any questions on the call or on any aspect of the application process to support.hoarilab@ranlab.org or call +256 414 343 597

Pathways

At the basis of this call are four priority intervention pathways for resilience building around chronic internal displacements and its associated shocks and stresses

Priority Intervention Pathway 1: Innovative technology for climate risk mitigation and market access
Currently in Somalia, there is lack of access to market information such as prices; there is limited access to early warning information; and there are eminent barriers to trade and limited access to credit facilities by farmers, traders, service providers and the customers. There is need for a platform that provides information about markets, climate related information, and information on credit facilities availability to mitigate risks and create financial security competitiveness. This pathway considers that if information about markets, produce, climate change, and credit is made available through user friendly technology, then efficiency, risk mitigation and competitiveness can help decrease vulnerability and increase resilience. This pathway seeks for solutions that promote real time information access for increased resilience.

Priority Intervention Pathway 2: Skills development for quality service delivery
The quality of Somalia's human capital is reflected in the quality of services delivered by the service industry. Lack of relevant regulations compounded by the weak legislative regime, poor education system infrastructure, absence of standard curricular, poor attitude towards vocational education, poor public - private sector relations compounded by suspicions has yielded unskilled and inadequate human capital for socio economic transformation. If the education sector governance issues and poor attitudes and behaviors in the sector are reduced with appropriate resources allocation there would be strengthening of skilled human capital for quality services delivery. This pathway seeks for solutions that will deliver strengthened skilled and appropriate human capital.

Priority Intervention Pathway 3: Livelihood Diversification & Financial Inclusion
Farmers and pastoralists continuously experience low productivity and engage in production methods with adverse effects on the forests, water sources and other natural resources. The situation is aggravated by poor production technology, poor beliefs and customs concerning early warning indicators, fluidity and uncertainty of the security situation, poor production inputs like seed varieties, and a lack of innovative technologies. The farmers, pastoralists, higher education institutions and leadership need to engage in innovative solutions to address the challenge. If new technologies are introduced to the communities, made accessible and adoptable with relevant skilling provided by higher education institutions, amidst the appropriate legislative frameworks, communities will be better able to adopt better agricultural production and sustainable natural resource management. This pathway seeks innovations that promote food secure and productive societies that manage their natural resources more effectively and sustainably.

Priority Intervention Pathway 4: Agricultural Policy and regulations intervention pathway tool
The target communities work with agricultural policies that do not reflect realities on the ground. There is need for policies in support of government institutions’ operations, market access, and private sector investment that are promulgated and interpreted at local level in record time. The interventions in this pathway target engagement of farmers, donors and local leaders in collective participation to engage on locally relevant policies that not only reduce strong clanism in the community but also bring group interests to the fore and drive towards improving productivity, better market access and building inclusive engagement of the community. The pathway seeks innovations that create a platform for specific agricultural sector regulation building to ensure cooperation among sector actors for improved productivity, better market access, information sharing, improved harvest/ produce handling and better transportation.

Click here for more about the CRID4CID Pathways

Download the complete CRID4CID Document

Challenges

The Somalia Collaborative Resilience Innovation (CRID) workshop analyzed the four priority intervention pathways identified in the region’s Intervention Strategy Workshop (ISW) and developed three innovation challenges, namely:

Up to three Phase 1 grants ranging between US$ 30,000 to 100,000 are anticipated to be awarded to teams formed around the final micro-projects selected from those co-created by the co-creation team. Winners of Phase 1 Grants will then qualify to compete for Phase 2 grants. Up to two grants ranging between US$ 100,000 and 200,000) will be awarded. It is envisioned that the grants will support development of complementary innovative approaches and technologies that will strengthen resilience to the recurrent effects of rapid urbanization in West Africa. [Note: Submission of initial ideas will not automatically mean that an idea is eligible for funding. Eligible ideas for funding will be co-created by the participants of the co-creation workshop. RAN reserves the right to change the projected award amounts or the number of anticipated awards.]

We invite initial original ideas in any of the 3 innovation challenge categories from intending co-creators as below

Innovation Challenge 1: Competence and Skills Development for Improved Service Delivery

In the displaced communities and across wider Somalia, except for household roles, there is limited opportunity for mothers to train their children at the household level. Peer to peer learning is limited to formal settings, the youth competence skills are weak and gender biased in favor of male youth. Further, there is limited access to ICTs due to high poverty incidence which is limiting the ICT adoption and competence development and girls are marginalized and lack empowerment opportunities to live independent lives. Education and health service provision is vital for communities to stay productive and responsible in nation building. Integration of ICTs in education and health provision would ensure inclusiveness and improve accessibility to all. In addition, engaging mothers in the provision of education to their children promotes access to education and would create opportunities for mothers, and communities to guide curricular development.

The Innovation Challenge:
TRAN is looking for innovations that promote family and community centered education to accord mothers and other community members a platform to extend their teaching to children beyond informal and household chores. There is need to create community learning and information platforms for members especially for youth who missed formal education and those out of school. Targeted groups will need to be availed with convenient schooling times and a social media platform to further facilitate development of their skills sets through discussions and peer-to-peer learning. ICT training is expected to be a priority because of the increasing value of ICT skills in development. The number, experience, and skills of diaspora returnees is seen as a potential resource to be tapped into to empower community members with livelihood skills and information, and to prepare the youth for future responsibilities.

Examples of innovative ideas could include:

• Innovative family and community centered education that mothers or other community members teach to children
Innovative community learning platform where information is availed including from radios, television and internet/ newspapers.
• Innovations that target youth who missed the formal education
• Innovative ways of targeting the out-of-school youth
• Avail convenient schooling time in an innovative manner
• Avail social media platform that can be accessible to all
• Innovatively engaging Diaspora returnees
• Empower community members with livelihood skills innovatively
• Innovatively prepare girls for future responsibilities

Innovation Challenge 2: Diversified Livelihoods

This livelihood diversification challenge targets specifically the hides and skins sector. Somalia is a big exporter of fresh/raw hides and skins yet there is an untapped natural resource of salt at the sea. There are no existing hides and skins value addition initiatives like factories in the target communities of Somalia to add value to the hides and skins, to process the key ingredient salt at the sea, or even related value chain points like leather tanning cottage manufacturing and soap making from the hides and skins by-products. As a result, there is need to diversify activities in the hides and skin business sector. The proposed innovation calls for community based inclusive livelihood diversification initiatives that would promote community integration, create opportunities for business financing that create start up and growth of multiple enterprises around the hides and skins sector in Benadir region

Due to a lack of mechanisms for value addition, the Benadir community pastoral farmers do not gain extra income from cattle products (hides and skins). Hides do not find markets because they are not processed and yet the animals are poorly handled with less regard to the resultant quality of the hides and skins that would fetch additional incomes through higher prices both locally and elsewhere. Further, the region is blessed with natural salt deposits of the ocean which, if utilized, would yield a vibrant diversified life around animal skins and hides.

The innovation challenge:
This innovation challenge is premised on the need to spur diversification especially among the women and youth in the Benadir region. The challenge envisages value addition points that will attract community women and youth to be engaged in processing of the hides and skins, salt extraction from the ocean which would have ready market to be used in processing and leather tanning among other related value chain stages. Processing points are envisaged to serve not only value addition but also promote technology transfer. The Value Addition Points (VAPs) are proposed act as collection and bulk producing points for the processed products. Produce bulking will enable small scale subsistence based outputs to create critical bulk that can compete in larger markets. It is envisioned that VAPs could be managed by women and youth groups identified by the target communities. The VAPs could also serve as a platform for demonstration of entrepreneurship skills. VAP resource persons will help participating women and youth to identify opportunities for livelihoods diversification beyond the hides and skins products. Through continuous quality improvement and bulking, it is hoped that the VAPs will drive the improved products from these regions forward to create market recognition

Examples of innovative ideas could include:

Innovation Challenge 3: Agro-Progress for Resilience

The Benadir regions communities have limited information on the quality of inputs and where to purchase them which limits individual community members to purchase small quantities of often poor quality. Communities need to enhance their resilience by harnessing existing technology, becoming innovative and partnering to ensure increased agricultural productivity. There are very few training opportunities available and indigenous knowledge is heavily relied upon. Further, there are limited chances for individual farmers accessing agro-equipment, agro-inputs are expensive, and marketing of produce is individual based and subject to price fluctuations. This is further exasperated by the IDPs/ returnees who have no clear means of getting integrated back or into their host communities.

Climate and weather based information (early warning) is also not readily available to the agricultural communities and lacking such information affects their plans to undertake agricultural-farming practices like when to plant, weed, and harvest. Absence of such climate related information feeds into the systematic deficiencies related to storage facilities relating to moisture content in the atmosphere.

The innovation challenge:
This challenge calls for solutions that promotes community cohesion and resilience through technology innovation, partnerships and increased agricultural productivity. This challenge builds on the premise that Benadir region communities are facing challenges in accessing information on climate related early warning, quality inputs and providers as such is purchased at household level. This innovation challenge proposes availing climate information early warning data, mapping of quality input providers at discounted prices, institutionalizing field schools, and introducing international standards for exports. It also proposes partnerships to pull the resources together in purchase of expensive agro-inputs, in coordinated marketing, in stabilizing prices and avoiding market flooding, in increased social cohesion, in reduced social conflict in community bodies and in offering of social integration to IDP or returnees; all of which may offer opportunities for strengthening the resilience of the affected communities.

Examples of innovative ideas could include:

These three innovation challenges will therefore form the core themes for CRID4CID. A detailed description of the challenges is presented here in the CRID4CID Document

In conclusion, what you need to know:
• Innovations are not limited to technologies but could be approaches or models
• An idea may not be new – the innovation could be in its social application

Download the complete CRID4CID Document

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Individuals or teams of individuals as well as entities or organizations working in similar domain areas in the target communities of Benadir Region (Hodan, Hamarwyene, Wadijir) are eligible to apply. Entities or organizations willing to partner with those working within Benadir region (as may be identified through the co-creation process) are also welcome to apply. Potential applicant organizations may include colleges, universities, autonomous or semi-autonomous research institutes, foundations, NGOs, faith-based organizations, community based organizations and civic groups. All applicants in this category must be legally recognized entities, formally registered under applicable law, and they should attach evidence to that effect on their application.

Other General Requirements

Entities that are ineligible to apply include: Government agencies (local and foreign), non-incorporated entities (informal organizations), and individuals not affiliated with any legally recognized entity as specified in 4.1.1. Other entities ineligible to apply include any individuals or organizations participating in, linked to, or sponsoring subversive activities including criminal acts, terrorism or related activities.

Grants may not be awarded to an organization from, or with a principal place of business in, a country subject to trade and economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of Treasury or to any individual or entity subject to targeted trade and economic sanctions administered by OFAC. The current list of OFAC restricted countries includes Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, and Sudan. However, the list of countries subject to OFAC restrictions may change, and RAN will conduct a final eligibility determination prior to award. All USAID restrictions pertaining to US Government funding apply..

Grant winners must not engage in transactions with, or provide resources or support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism, including those individuals or entities that appear on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by the U.S. Treasury or the United Nations Security designation list.

CRID4CID seeks applications that have an operational focus in low-income and middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank. The implementation of the project including pilot and testing will be done primarily in Somalia, and may also be considered for similar communities within Ethiopia and Kenya, all of which are under the Horn of Africa RILab.

Evaluation

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications at the three different stages of the CRID4CID call. For more information on he judging and selection criteria, please click here.

Phase I (Application)
Evaluation Criteria	Evaluation Aspects	Maximum Score
Alignment to CRID4CID pathways and RAN’s theory of change for strengthening resilience	Does the proposed solution address the desired resilience outcomes for each innovation challenge? Does it strengthen human capacity development?	20%
Technical Approach and Methodology	Is the proposed solution innovative? Does it have the potential to disrupt/transform current practices and approaches? Does it constitute a paradigm shift? Is there a plan for awareness creation, imparting knowledge and skills, and skills transfer (capacity building)?	50%
Viability and applicability to local communities	Is it viable for the target communities? Can it be replicated in similar contexts?	20%
Environmental sensitivity	Are proposed approaches and technologies (where appropriate) green and pro-natural resource conservation?	10%
Phase II (Eligibility for further funding)
Evaluation Criteria	Evaluation Aspects	Maximum Score
Technical feasibility	Is the approach or technology technically feasible? Is the solution cost-effective and innovative compared to existing alternatives? Does it have transformative potential? Has it been optimized for efficiency?[By optimization, we mean that the prototype or concept is developed to a model with acceptable or better efficiency than the existing technical standard (e.g. 75% validity for screening tests, 75% efficiency for engines, sufficiently acceptable aesthetics, dexterity and ergonomics (for technology based prototypes) or sufficiently proven cause-effect linkages, input and process considerations and clearly established potential confounders (for a conceptual approach based solution)] Does project significantly contribute to the associated system-level innovation challenge? Have any applications or other innovation projects been able to leverage the approach or technology? Have unintended consequences been identified and strategies to amplify or mitigate these been put in place?	40%
Business model and Market viability	Have market assessments been done? Has the business model been refined to reflect the market trends? Is the refined diffusion strategy sufficiently plausible?	30%
People (user) aspects	Is the solution user-friendly? Is it easily adoptable? Is it acceptable given the socio-cultural dynamics? Have aspects that require human behavior change been addressed? Has the desired behavior been adequately cultivated? Have agency aspects been promoted?	15%
Evidence of Impact Potential	Is there evidence that the solution has had impact or has the potential to create impact? What format is this evidence? How does it compare with trends of other projects/programs addressing similar challenges?	15%
Phase II (Final evaluation at conclusion of project)
Evaluation Criteria	Evaluation Aspects	Maximum Score
Technical Feasibility	Has the technical approach been optimized? Has approach demonstrated potential for adoption and efficacy in transforming lives of the target community? Has the approach served as a launch pad for different applications or for strengthening the impact of the other innovation projects targeting positive changes in the target community?	15%
Evidence of adoption	Is there evidence that a critical number of users adopted and continued to use the solution? Does the solution demonstrate additional positive spin-offs and/or a paradigmatic shift?	25%
Market viability assessment	Is there evidence that the solution viable given the operational context? Has the business model been refined to maximize scaling potential?	25%
Awareness of and strategies to address/comply with policy and regulatory requirements	Does the team demonstrate sufficient actionable knowledge on the policy and regulatory environment that could impede or catapult scaling of the innovation? Have appropriate strategies to address policy or regulatory impediments been designed?	10%
Stakeholder buy-in	Have critical partnerships for implementation and scale been identified? Has commitment to participate been sought and received favorable response?	25%

FAQs

What is the objective of this resilience innovation challenge??

The call has 3 priority innovation challenges for resilience building around chronic internal displacement and its associated shocks and stresses:

Innovation Challenge 1: Competence and Skills Development for Improved Service Delivery
Innovation Challenge 2: Diversified Livelihoods
Innovation Challenge 3: Agro-Progress for Resilience

What are the levels of funding available under this call?

In the first phase, grants ranging between US$ 30,000 to $100,000 will be awarded to each team formed around the final projects selected from those co-created by the co-creation team. For more information, please click Grant StructureGrant Structure

How can I learn more about the effects of chronic internal displacement in Somalia?

Links to useful online resources that provide background information on Horn of Africa RILab thematic focus and the resilience dimensions for the Horn of Africa region are available at: available here and the First Annual State of African Resilience Report.

What are the CRID4CID Grants Call timelines?

Applications for the CRID4CID Grants Call will be accepted from September 23, 2016 until October 24, 2016 11:59 pm GMT (local time in Somalia). Details are on Timelines

Who is eligible to apply for the Challenge?

Individuals or teams of individuals as well as entities or organizations working in the target communities of the Benadir region in Somalia are eligible to apply. Entities or organisations working in similar domain areas and willing to partner with those working within the target communities (as may be identified through the co-creation process) are also welcome to apply. More in the Eligibility section

If I’m not from HoA Somalia RIHub can I apply for this Grant?

This Call is OPEN to all applicants with innovations that can solve challenges faced by communities in the Benadir region of Somalia. See more about Eligibility Section

How do I register to apply for the CRID4CID Grants Call?

To register for the CRID4CID Grants call, an applicant selects CRID4CID among the open calls, or on the home page, by clicking on the Apply button. The applicant is advised to first read through the different innovation challenges and select the one they wish to apply for. On Apply Now, click to register and you enter details required to start the registration process.

How will the innovation challenges be judged?

A number of members of the Expert Panel (also referred to as Judges) will review all the applications under each innovation challenge. The Panel may decide to invite shortlisted applicants to a pitch if deemed necessary. The Expert Panel will recommend to RAN and thereafter to USAID the selected teams to participate in the co-creation process from which fundable projects will be developed for support by RAN. Phase 1 applicants to participate in the co-creation process will be announced in November 2016.

How do I choose the specific challenge to apply for?

Applicants can apply for the grants as long as their innovation fits any particular innovation challenge. You can also submit more than one concept to an innovation challenge

I cannot access the application form, please help

If the applicant experiences any difficulty submitting a proposal through the Online Application Platform, or failure to receive a confirmatory email from the online platform as proof that their proposal has been successfully submitted, the applicant should send an e-mail to the HoA Somalia RIHub CRID4CID support team at: support.hoarilab@ranlab.org. It is also important to check for the confirmatory email in your spam folder should it not be located in your primary inbox.

Apply

CRID4CID Time Lines

Activity	Date
Call for Applications	23rd Sept – 24th Oct 2016
Dedicated Question and Answer Periods	24th Sept – 20th Oct 2016
Applicants Support Webinar (Click here to Register)	6th October 2016
Application submission deadline	~~9th Dec 2016~~ Fri 6th Jan 2016
Shortlisted applicants invited for co-creation process announced	January 2017
CRID4CID Co-creation Period	Feb 2017
Implementation period	March – October, 2017

Proceed to Application Form