Forty Civil Society Organizations(CSO) from across Rwanda are set to receive grants of up to $5,000 through IREX’s Civil Society Strengthening Project (CSSP) [6]. The 40 CSOs represent constituencies across Rwanda, ranging from trade unions, faith-based organizations and those working to empower women and youth, to those promoting health, environment, human rights and rural development. These 40 organizations will receive an initial grant for operational capacity support, as well as training on important topics, including strategic planning, management, and financial and administrative support.
CSSP is a two-year, $4.3 million project funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, and implemented by the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX).
The Request for Application (RFA) was published on July 15, 2010 in newspaper advertisements, on the IREX website, and on the website of IREX’s local implementing partner, CCOAIB. IREX organized a press conference to simultaneously publicize the RFA and hold the signing ceremony through a partnership agreement between IREX and CCOAIB. Journalists attended and the story received coverage on all radio stations operating in Kigali.
By the RFA’s deadline, 93 CSOs submitted their applications. After a preliminary screening, IREX convened a selection committee to review eligible applications. The committee spent three days reviewing and debating applications, and identified 40 finalists for grants, operational training, and ongoing coaching and mentoring. These organizations went through a comprehensive self-assessment process to determine needs and capacity, and are currently beginning the training process.
Following the operational training and capacity building grants, all 40 CSOs will participate in IREX-sponsored trainings and grants focused on reaching out to new and existing members, followed by trainings and grants for organizations to improve their advocacy efforts and interaction with the government. The organizations not included in this round will be invited early next quarter to submit a short essay explaining how their inclusion in the project would improve Rwanda’s overall performance on the MCC Ruling Justly Indicators. IREX may include a select number of these interested organizations in outreach and advocacy trainings.