Project teams that submit a sound evaluation plan following participation in the Evaluation Clinic will be eligible to receive a small grant to cover part of the costs associated with designing and conducting their evaluation. Conducting impact evaluations can be expensive depending on the availability of evaluation expertise, the sample size and type and amount of data collection needed. The Fund's contribution to the evaluation will range from US$5,000 to US$80,000, which means projects will have to bring in co-funding or fundraise to cover the evaluation full costs. While not strictly limited to it, seed funding received from YEN should contribute to the data collection efforts and in some particular cases the funds will support evaluation design or other implementation costs.
Eligibility
The following will be eligible to apply and participate in the selection process:
Project Teams
Members of organizations responsible for the implementation of the project described in the application will be eligible to apply and participate in the selection process.
Theme
Organizations implementing interventions in the youth entrepreneurship field whose objectives involve creating self-employment opportunities, developing entrepreneurial skills and competences, and increasing access to finance. Evaluations focusing on young women and rural youth are encouraged.
Potential for Knowledge Generation
Successful applicants will be those proposing solutions to the youth entrepreneurship challenge that can be evaluated and generate knowledge of what works or doesn't work in the field of youth entrepreneurship. In order for a project's impact to be evaluated and have potential to generate rigorous evidence it must be based on a clear implementation "model" and the implementing organization must have an established way of operating plus enough capacity and institutional buy-in to implement an evaluation plan. Therefore applicants must demonstrate clear project implementation approach and at least 2 years of experience in project implementation. Organizations must also have an annual total operating budget of at least USD$250,000.
Eligible Countries
Proposed projects to undergo the evaluation must be based in the following countries: Sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawai, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Working Language
The working language will be English.
Institutions
Applications will be accepted from the following types of organizations, as long as they are an implementing organization:
- NGOs / CSOs / CBOs
- Training organizations
- Bilateral or multilateral agencies
- Public-private partnerships
- Social enterprises or social entrepreneurs
Exclusion
The Fund will not support the following types of organizations or interventions:
- Programs promoting religious or ideological doctrine
- Land, site acquisition or facilities construction projects
- Programs grant making to other organizations or individuals
- Individuals, either through scholarships or other forms of financial support
- Political campaigns
