Questions and Answers – 2018 Call for Preliminary Proposals - Partnerships for Her Voice, Her Choice

General

• Do we have to include a budget with this preliminary proposal? (April 16, 2018)

  No. You are not required to submit a budget as part of this preliminary proposal. Please see the “How to submit your application package” section of the call page for the documents that must be included in your application package.

• Do the values of the experiences provided have to both be of the same nature as the proposed project? (April 16, 2018)

  No, the values of the experiences provided do not have to be of the same nature as the proposed project. However, the experiences must meet the requirements under the “Organization eligibility” section on the call for preliminary proposals page.

• In the application form, are overhead costs included in the eligible direct project costs of the cost sharing table in section A: Cost Share? (April 16, 2018)

  Overhead costs are not considered an eligible direct project cost and thus should not be included in the cost-sharing table. However, it should be included in the total Global Affairs Canada funding requested in the Initiative Summary.

• Would health projects undertaken by an organization in a humanitarian context be considered as relevant experience for the purpose of this call for preliminary proposals? (April 16, 2018)

  All project experience must demonstrate development-related experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights, or other health-related programming including in conflict or disaster affected areas. However, humanitarian projects, that focus on short term results, (i.e. meeting immediate humanitarian needs), will not be considered as relevant experience.

• How is “relevant experience” defined? Does it require the organization to have directly funded the work of partners in developing countries? Or is it enough that the organization has worked extensively with partners in developing countries even if the funding relationship was either small or none. (April 16, 2018)

  In this call for preliminary proposals, applicants are asked to provide project examples that demonstrate experience in delivering results in sexual and reproductive health and rights, or other health-related programming. It is not expected that applicants will have experience directly funding partners in developing countries. However, the past project examples should demonstrate, how in the past, your organization has provided relevant technical experience and met requirements similar to those of your proposed project. Please see How we assess your proposal.

• Do we need to include the signatures of partner organizations in the Signatory box of the Initiative Summary section of the preliminary proposal form? (April 16, 2018)

  No. This call for preliminary proposals has stipulated that only one organization can be identified as the lead implementing organization (i.e., as sole signatory with Global Affairs Canada). Only the signature of the lead implementing organization should be provided.

• If a response to a specific section of the application form makes reference to a text box elsewhere in the preliminary proposal form, will the reference be read and assessed as part of the response to that section? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes, Global Affairs Canada assesses both preliminary proposals and full proposals as a whole. We read the complete form to see how strong a proposal is. Please see How we assess your proposal.

• Would a preliminary proposal submitted under this call affect the assessment of an unsolicited proposal currently under consideration by GAC, particularly if the subject area is the same (i.e. SRHR), but not for the same project? (April 18, 2018)

  The two funding mechanisms are distinct. Proposals received under this call will be evaluated separately from any unsolicited proposals received by GAC.

• Would Global Affairs Canada prefer to see single or multi-country proposals? (April 20, 2018)

  Applicants can propose activities in one or more of the ODA eligible countries as listed in the Partners@International portal of Global Affairs Canada.

• Would an application to the previous call for preliminary proposals for Canadian Small and Medium Organizations (SMO) for Impact and Innovation preclude organizations from being considered for this call? (April 20, 2018)

  No. Having applied to the SMO call does not preclude organizations from also applying to Partnerships for Her Voice, Her Choice.

• What is the expected time frame for the submission of full proposals? (April 20, 2018)

  Invited applicants will have approximately 8 weeks after they receive a letter from the Department to submit a full proposal. Global Affairs Canada anticipates that full proposals will be submitted at the end of summer 2018.

• Can Global Affairs Canada share more details on the specific performance indicators that will be used for this call? (April 20, 2018)

  The identification of performance indicators is not required as part of the preliminary proposal application form. Global Affairs Canada may share performance indicators with applicants selected to submit a full proposal.

• As this call will give preference to organizations that are not currently funded PSMNCH partners, will there be another allocation of funding for existing PSMNCH partners to strengthen SRHR? (April 20, 2018)

  Currently there are no other calls for preliminary proposals planned for PSMNCH partners. Global Affairs Canada invites organizations to monitor our Web site and to subscribe to our RSS Feed to keep up to date on future funding opportunities.

• Will Global Affairs Canada give preference to preliminary proposals that involve multiple organizations? (April 20, 2018)

  No. Please see Additional Guidance on the call web page for more information on preferences that will be given for this call.

• Does Global Affairs Canada require proof or documentation of established partnerships between organizations at this preliminary stage? (April 20, 2018)

  Proof or documentation of established partnerships between organizations is not required at this preliminary stage. Applicants should use the Local Partner(s) - Information to provide the required information.

Objective

• Are refugees and/or internally displaced person(s) (IDPs) acceptable target beneficiaries for this proposal? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes, refugees and IDPs are acceptable target beneficiaries. Proposed interventions should also recognize and aim to address the intersecting inequalities that can amplify or exacerbate the marginalization or vulnerability of targeted beneficiaries, including refugees or displaced persons, as it relates to the realization of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Identity factors, including sex, race, ethnicity, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and migrant or refugee status, should be taken into consideration with the recognition that inequalities can exist along intersectional lines.

• Do proposed projects need to support ALL five of these:

  • increased knowledge of SRHR issues and services among women and adolescent girls, men and boys, and community members;
  • improved availability of quality sexual and reproductive health services, including referral services for women and adolescent girls;
  • increased capacity of facility and community health providers to deliver gender‑responsive and adolescent-friendly sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services (including family planning and contraception, safe abortion where legal and post-abortion care, HIV/AIDS/STDs and sexual and reproductive health training);
  • increased capacity of government facilities and civil society organizations to use evidence-based, gender-responsive, and adolescent and youth-friendly planning and management to develop policies and regulations for sexual and reproductive health services; and
  • increased ability of women, male and female youth, adolescent leaders and community members to participate in decision-making spaces and advocate for women’s and adolescent SRHR. 

  (April 16, 2018)

  No. Proposed projects are not required to support all FIVE of the overall goals of the call, but should support at least one or more of these goals.

• Do all programs need to increase capacity of facilities and community health providers to deliver safe abortion where legal and post-abortion care? (April 16, 2018)

  No, these activities are at the discretion of the applicant to include or not in their project design as appropriate.

• How extensive a gender analysis needs to be done as part of the preliminary proposal? (April 16, 2018)

  The purpose of the gender equality (GE) analysis is to understand the current gender equality situation in the proposed project location. For a preliminary GE analysis, Global Affairs Canada is looking for enough information to give us a good sense of the key gender issues that the project is trying to address. Specifically the GE analysis should be scoped to the scale and nature of the project and relevant to the focus of the project. It must also be evidence-based and should cite appropriate sources and references (e.g. sex-disaggregated data, studies, surveys). The preliminary proposal should include a summary of the GE analysis, not its entirety. The summary should include main conclusions or the key gender issues relevant to the focus of the initiative.

• Is maternal health included as a topic in this call? Does maternal health fall under SRHR? (April 16, 2018)

  Submitted proposals must meet two of the four intermediate outcomes set out in this call. Only the four stated outcomes are considered to fall within SRHR for Global Affairs Canada.

• Is there a maximum number of result areas that can be addressed? (April 20, 2018)

  As stipulated in the Objective section of the call web page, project proposals must contribute to at least two of the intermediate outcomes identified. In addition, the logic model (LM) in the preliminary application form allows for a maximum of three intermediate outcomes.

• Do projects need to have all outcomes/pillars as SRHR, or can other health activities be included as other pillars within the project? (April 20, 2018)

  As stipulated in the Objective section of the call web page, project proposals must contribute to at least two of the intermediate outcomes identified. Any proposed health activity must be aligned to the overall SRHR objective and results as outlined.

• Is the call primarily focusing on contraceptive and post abortion care/services or does it also consider maternal and newborn care as part of a package of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents? (April 20, 2018)

  The call intends to address five results areas, and does not place emphasis on any one area.

• Is the focus women and adolescents, or primarily adolescents? Does it exclude men and boys? (April 20, 2018)

  In line with the Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, this call for preliminary proposals will focus on women and adolescent girls, and does not prioritize one over the other. Although the call emphasises a focus on women and adolescents it does not exclude men and boys.

Organization eligibility

• If the lead implementing organization is legally incorporated in Canada, can the lead organization’s preliminary proposal include sub-applicants who are not legally incorporated in Canada? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes. Only the lead implementing organization must be legally incorporated in Canada. Additional, non-signatory partners are not required to be legally incorporated in Canada.

• Can a university in Canada be the lead organization in this call for proposals? (April 16, 2018)

  All Canadian organizations, including educational institutions such as universities that meet the eligibility criteria, may submit an application under this call for preliminary proposals.

• We plan to submit a proposal as part of a consortium, in which we are the lead partner. Do all of the consortium partners need to comply with all eligibility requirements? (April 16, 2018)

  This call for preliminary proposals has stipulated that only one applicant be identified as the lead implementing organization (i.e., as sole signatory with Global Affairs Canada). The lead implementing organization must comply with all eligibility requirements.

  An application to this call for preliminary proposals may also include additional non-signatory partners. These non-signatory partners are not required to meet eligibility requirements. However, please note that the lead implementing organization must identify the roles of the other partners.

• Under the relevant applicant experience (3.1) section of the application form, can one of the examples of current or past initiatives be from a consortium partner? (April 16, 2018)

  No. This call for preliminary proposals has specified that only one applicant be identified as the lead implementing organization (i.e., as sole signatory with Global Affairs Canada). Only the proposed signatory with Global Affairs Canada may provide the experience examples in section 3.1.

• Can the operational experience of an international federation to which a Canadian organization belongs be provided as the operational experience of the Canadian organization for the purpose of this call? (April 16, 2018)

  No. This call for preliminary proposals has specified that only one applicant be identified as the lead implementing organization (i.e., as sole signatory with Global Affairs Canada). The proposed signatory with Global Affairs Canada must comply with all eligibility requirements and provide the experience examples in section 3.1.

• Can a Canadian organization partner with an organization based in another country to implement a project under this call? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes. Only the lead implementing organization must be legally incorporated in Canada.

• If an organization is a lead applicant and submits a proposal for Her voice, Her Choice, can the same organization also participate as a partner (not as the lead organization) in another proposal under this call? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes. As stipulated on the call page, applicants are permitted to submit only one application under this call as the lead implementing organization (i.e., as sole signatory with Global Affairs Canada). However, they may also participate in other applications as a non-signatory partner. Please refer to the organizational eligibility section of the call page.

• Can international NGOs participate in an application as a non-signatory partner through their local country office? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes.

• Is the applicant required to provide one or two project examples? (April 16, 2018)

  Applicants are required to provide two project examples in Section 3.1 of the preliminary proposal application.

• Are international and/or local organizations eligible to submit a preliminary proposal to this call? (April 16, 2018)

  For this call for preliminary proposals, the lead implementing organization must be legally incorporated in Canada. International and/or local organizations are permitted to partner with a lead applicant that is legally incorporated in Canada.

• Are only non-governmental Canadian organisations eligible to act as lead applicant, or are non-profit organisations, registered as charities in Canada (not necessarily non-governmental) also eligible? (April 16, 2018)

  The Organization eligibility section of the call web page identified the eligibility screening requirements for this call. To be eligible, applicants must be able to respond “yes” to each of the eligibility requirements.

• Can current operational projects be used as project examples in section 3.1? Are there any requirements as to how recent the two projects examples need to be? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes, current and/or past initiatives may be used as project examples to demonstrate your organization’s relevant experience in delivering results. There are no requirements as to how recent the project examples must be.

• Are there any eligibility requirements relative to the size (annual budget, number of employees, etc.) of the lead implementing organization? (April 16, 2018)

  The size of the lead implementing organization is not an eligibility requirement for this call for preliminary proposals. That said, the capacity of the organization to manage the amount of funds requested is part of the assessment of preliminary proposals and has an impact on whether organizations are invited to submit full proposals.

• Can projects related to health implemented under a more general program be used to demonstrate relevant experience in SRHR, or other health-related programming? (April 18, 2018)

  Any projects for which there are SRHR or health outcomes at either the immediate, intermediate or ultimate outcome levels can be used to demonstrate relevant experience in SRHR, or other health-related programming.

• Can we provide an example of an international internship project that included programming and expected results in SRHR and health to demonstrate relevant experience? (April 18, 2018)

  Project examples provided in section 3.1 Relevant Applicant Experience must demonstrate experience in SRHR or other health-related programming, and demonstrate related development experience in relevant experience in Official Development Assistance (ODA) - eligible countries.

• Is previous experience in SRHR in the country of proposed work required? (April 20, 2018)

  No. Previous SRHR experience in the specific country(ies) of proposed project work is not a mandatory requirement.

• In terms of experience in past health projects, how is this defined? For instance, would a food security and nutrition project qualify as experience in health, or must the project be the same as the proposed area of work? (April 20, 2018)

  Any project example for which there are health outcomes at either the immediate, intermediate or ultimate level can be considered as health related experience.

• Does the relevant health project experience demonstrated in section 3.1 of the application form need to be from Canadian-funded projects, or can this experience be demonstrated in SRHR or health-related projects funded by other international donors? (April 20, 2018)

  SRHR or health-related projects funded by other international donors can be used as examples of relevant project experience in section 3.1 for the application form.

Required project parameters

• What are the eligible countries for this call for preliminary proposals? (April 16, 2018)

  Proposed projects must take place in official development assistance-eligible countries listed in Global Affairs Canada’s Partners@International portal. Please note that preference will be given to projects that include activities that take place in sub-Saharan Africa and countries of the Ouagadougou Partnership.

  To view the list of eligible countries for this call in the Partners@International portal, applicants must have an Organization Profile account registered in the portal. Organizations that do not yet have such an account are encouraged to follow the instructions provided on the call page and application form and to do so as quickly as possible. Once they are logged into their Partners@International account, applicants must create a proposal via the Access Proposal section of their Organization Profile. While in the Proposal view in the portal, applicants have the option to view all eligible countries in the country drop-down menu.

• Can a local partner be a regional organization that provides support and programming to multiple countries within a region? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes.

• Can we propose structure refurbishment activities if our organization has managed minor roof repair and painting jobs? (April 18, 2018)

  It would be preferable to demonstrate that you have construction management experience in projects whose scope is equivalent to those in this call for preliminary proposals.

Additional Guidance

• The call documents state that "preference will be given to meritorious proposals in which the lead implementer is not among the 36 Partnerships for Development Innovation Branch partners receiving funding through the PSMNCH initiative". What is the definition of a PSMNCH partner? Are partners that receive funding as lead implementing organizations through the PSMNCH eligible to submit proposals as lead implementing organizations to this call? Also, are PSMCH partners that receive funding as lead implementing organizations through the PSMNCH initiative discouraged from submitting a proposal as lead implementing organization to this call? (April 16, 2018)

  The Department refers to “PSMNCH partner” as one of the lead implementing and signatory partners of the 36 organizations that were successful in receiving funding through the Department’s 2015 Partnerships for Strengthening Maternal Newborn and Child Health Call for Proposals. This definition does not include non-signatory partner organizations in a PSMNCH initiative. PSMNCH partners are eligible to apply for funding under this call for preliminary proposals. This call for preliminary proposals has indicated only that a preference will be given for meritorious proposals submitted by lead organizations which are not among the 36 PSMNCH lead partner organizations. Please note as well that PSMNCH partners can choose to be part of another organization’s application as non-signatory partner.

• Will countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa and the Ouagadougou Partnership be considered and eligible? (April 16, 2018)

  Yes. Any eligible country(ies) as listed in the Partners@International portal of Global Affairs Canada can be included in the preliminary proposal but as stated on the call page, preference will be given to projects that include activities that take place in sub-Saharan Africa and countries of the Ouagadougou Partnership.

• Will preliminary proposals covering the countries of the Ouagadougou partnership (Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Niger) be given preference over other sub-Saharan countries? (April 16, 2018)

  No.

• Can you provide specific examples of advocacy activities that will be supported? Should advocacy activities engage Canadian and/or in-country national governments, local governments and communities? (April 18, 2018)

  Global Affairs Canada defines advocacy as the deliberate process of influencing the laws, policies and actions of governments at all levels, international institutions and the private sector to achieve positive changes in women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights. Advocacy encompasses petitioning decision-makers inside and outside government, public campaigning, and policy analysis and research related to public campaigning efforts. Examples of advocacy activities include but are not limited to: activities aimed at the removal of judicial and legal barriers to the fulfillment of SRHR for marginalized or vulnerable groups, including access to safe and legal abortion; strengthening of accountability mechanisms for SRHR; and supporting SRHR advocacy and campaigns by women’s rights, feminist, youth, indigenous, and LGBTQ2 civil society groups, particularly those that work to challenge social norms that limit an individual’s control over their body and/or that limit their sexual and reproductive decision-making.

• Where should a description of the Public Engagement strategy for Canada be included in the Preliminary Call for Proposals Application Form? (April 18, 2018)

  A description of a Public Engagement Strategy may be included in the Project Summary section of the preliminary proposal application form.

• Could Global Affairs Canada provide more specific details as to the types of activities that can be allocated to the public engagement portion of the proposal? Should this work be in Canada, in country, or both? (April 18, 2018)

  Global Affairs Canada’s objective is to engage Canadians, particularly youths, in international development issues.

  Several public engagement activities on development issues can be financed by Global Affairs Canada, in particular: workshops, film presentations, contests, exhibitions, various articles and publications published in traditional or social media, education or awareness campaigns, and conferences (in person or online/social media). Public engagement activities that have received funding must take place in Canada or at the very least be aimed directly at Canadians. For example, a youth doing an internship in a developing country could write a blog for a Canadian audience while still being on site.

• Are Canadian student exchanges, study abroad or internships eligible as "public engagement" activities if they include a knowledge sharing component? (April 18, 2018)

  Canadian student exchanges that are part of an exchange program with a developing country, study abroad in international development, and internships in developing countries could be considered “public engagement” activities if the participants share their experiences with the public and only if they talk about international development.

• Do subcontractors and/or non-signatory partners to one of the 36 PSMNCH partners qualify as new applicants? (April 20, 2018)

  Yes, subcontractors and/or non-signatory partners to one of the 36 PSMNCH partners applying as lead applicants will be considered new applicants under this call for preliminary proposals.

Financial Information

Cost-Share (N.B All cost-share contributions must be eligible and actual direct costs to the project. These contributions must be supported by invoices or other evidence maintained by the lead implementing organization as they are subject to audit as per the Terms and Conditions of Global Affairs Canada contribution agreements):

• Does the cost-share requirement to provide at least 10% of the total eligible direct project costs need to be from Canadian sources? (April 23, 2018)

  For this call for preliminary proposals, in-kind and in-cash contributions can come from either Canadian or international sources.

• For the 10% cost-share contribution, can our contribution be entirely in kind? (April 23, 2018)

  Yes. Applicants are required to provide at least 10 percent of the total eligible direct project costs over the life of the project in cash and/or in kind. There is no minimum in cash requirement.

• Is it required that the lead applicant (or signatory partner) provide all cost share or can the cost share be provided by contributing partners, or other sources of funding such as other donors or foundations? (April 23, 2018)

  The cost-share contribution can come directly from the lead implementing organization and/or from other sources of funding, including non-signatory partners, other donors or foundations. 

• Can equipment, supplies or other goods financed through other donor support (not to support overlapping activities) be included as cost share?  (April 23, 2018)

  The cost-share contribution can come directly from the primary implementing organization and from other sources of funding specifically allocated to the implementing partner’s Global Affairs Canada-funded project. The cost-share eligible expenditures have to be essential to the initiative’s success. The assets purchased / donated as in-kind contribution must be almost new and in good condition. Note that for any in-kind contribution, the value given to the goods must be based on a fair value that is accepted by Global Affairs Canada. In-kind contributions must be identifiable, verifiable and auditable throughout the project life cycle

• Can eligible direct project costs include equipment purchased preceding the start date of the project and which has not been fully depreciated when the project begins and can these be included as cost share? (April 23, 2018)

  No. A direct cost is eligible only if the cost is incurred between the start date of the agreement (the date of the last signature of the agreement) and the end date of the agreement. This rule applies for both property acquired as a result of a payment (financed by a cash contribution) and property obtained by donation (in-kind contribution).

• Can commodities supplied by local government or other donors such as medicines or other consumable supplies be included as cost share? (April 23, 2018)

  The cost-share contribution can come directly from the primary implementing organization and from other sources of funding specifically allocated to the implementing partner’s Global Affairs Canada-funded project. 

  However, contributions by beneficiaries of a project cannot be counted toward the implementing organization’s cost-share contributions. In this context, “beneficiaries” means the individuals or organizations that directly benefit from the project, such as local ministries, municipalities or civil society organizations whose capacities are being enhanced. These types of contributions can be counted as third-party contributions to the project.

  In-kind contributions must be identifiable, verifiable and auditable throughout the project life cycle.

• Can project staff percentage time allocation (salaries and fringe benefits) be included as direct project costs and as cost share?  (April 23, 2018)

  In-kind contribution from the applicant’s staff are not eligible. Remuneration for the time contributed to the project by an applicant’s staff is an eligible direct project cost, and would be considered a cash contribution once payed and supported by evidence such as timesheets and payroll.

• Is “private sector” restricted to companies/corporations, or does it also include funding from foundations, individuals, and other non-government sources of funding? (April 23, 2018)

  For the purposes of this call for preliminary proposals, ‘private sector’ is defined as a for-profit organization.

• Can a PSMNCH funded organization that is a non-signatory partner to a project provide cost share contributions to the project? (April 23, 2018)

  Yes, a PSMNCH funded organization may be a source of funding or contribution to cover direct eligible costs of the proposed project under the lead implementing organization.

• In the “Total Global Affairs Canada funding requested” box in the Initiative Summary of the preliminary application form, does Global Affairs Canada expect an approximate figure or the exact figure the applicant will program if invited to submit the full proposal? (April 23, 2018)

  The amount entered in the “Total Global Affairs Canada funding requested” box in the Initiative Summary should only include the full amount of funding being requested from Global Affairs Canada and be greater than $2 million but less than $20 million.

• Given that there is a Canadian Public engagement component that can be up to 10% of direct program costs, is there a maximum percentage of overall program direct costs that can be spent in Canada versus overseas? (April 23, 2018)

  There is no maximum percentage of the 10% direct program costs for public engagement that can be spent in Canada versus overseas.

• How does Global Affairs Canada define “third party”, which may not be part of the fundraising contributors for the lead organisation, and does this include contributions of local partners and/or subcontractors?  (April 23, 2018)

  Contractually, a third party is a party that is not a signatory to the Contribution Agreement.

  The cost-share contribution can come directly from the primary implementing organization and from other sources of funding specifically allocated to the project. These records must be verifiable and auditable throughout the project life cycle.