In this section, we publish answers to questions asked to the Fund by networks. If you have a concern that has not been addressed below, please contact us at spfund@mfc.org.pl.
- Is an MFI with many branches eligible for funding?
- Can an international network working with member MFIs located in different countries apply for funding?
- What kind of experience is required from networks who apply for a grant?
- Is it possible to target non-members of a network?
- Can a network apply for advanced research activities?
- How many local consultants may be involved in a project for one MFI network?
- Where can we find the list of recommended local consultants?
- Is Board Member involvement voluntary or paid from the project budget?
- If a network has professional staff to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to MFIs , do they need to sign an agreement with a TA provider?
- What if in some countries it will be difficult to find local S P consultants?
- Does the project have to have a consultant? Is it possible for the project to have only the network’s staff?
- Can local consultants be on the staff of a member MFI?
- When is the deadline for submitting the application?
- What are the basis of differentiation between the applying networks and therefore making grant decisions?
- Is there a list of TA providers from which networks can choose a TA provider?
- Should a TA provider be an organization or can it be an individual?
- Can a network hire the services of a local consultant to provide TA support? Or is there a need to use only the ones listed in the TA Providers section?
- Is there a collaboration agreement between the Fund and each TA Provider?
- What is expected to be achieved by a candidate network within the Fund supported project?
- Can we provide the required documents: financial statements, letters of support from local stakeholders, other – in a local language (eg. Russian, Arabic) or do they have to be translated into English? If translated, do you request certified translation?
- Our members are located throughout the country and it is a big country. Could we budget for local travel to deliver the project activities in different parts of the country?
- Does the letter of support have to be signed by all interested members or should each interested member issue their own letter?
- How detailed should the annual operating budget be?
- What if we cannot attach a CV of a project team member, because this person has not yet been hired (for example the SPM Coordinator)?
- Who from the board members should sign the commitment letter? All board members or just the Chairperson?
- Does the SP Fund foresee a new MIS system being developed in MFIs?
Answers
- Is an MFI with many branches eligible for funding?
No. The SP Start-up Fund only supports national microfinance networks and associations, which have MFIs as members. MFIs themselves cannot apply for SP Fund support.
- Can an international network working with member MFIs located in different countries apply for funding?
No. Only country-level microfinance associations with members based in one country are invited to apply for a grant from the Fund.
- What kind of experience is required from networks who apply for a grant?
Networks which apply should be able to demonstrate previous experience in managing grants. In particular grants financed by international donor organisations. A network which applies does not have to have previous experience in implementing social performance related activities.
- Is it possible to target non-members of a network?
Yes, however, the key audience for the funded activities should be members of the network. The network may also involve other stakeholders to participate in the project activities.
- Can a network apply for advanced research activities?
No. General research activities are not eligible for funding within the present Call for Proposals.
- How many local consultants may be involved in a project for one MFI network?
At least one consultant. The number depends on the planned activities and number of members, and foremost on the availability of local consultants, who meet the specific project requirements.
- Where can we find the list of recommended local consultants?
The list of recommended local SPM consultants can be found in the Social Performance Task Force database.
- Is Board Member involvement voluntary or paid from the project budget?
It is recommended the Board member oversees project activities on a voluntary basis. However, the final arrangements depend on the network and available budget.
- If a network has professional staff to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to MFIs , do they need to sign an agreement with a TA provider? (For example: within a network team two professionals are trained on Client Protection Principles and 3 more are trained by MIX on SPS reporting)
No. The involvement of TA providers is foreseen only in cases where the capacity does not exist either locally or at the network level to undertake the planned social performance work. If a network has their own staff already trained in a specific area of SP, there is no need to cooperate with a TA provider.
- What if in some countries it will be difficult to find local S P consultants?
If there are no local consultants experienced in SP, the network can collaborate with international TA providers. Those most recognized are listed on the Fund’s website in the section TA providers.
- Does the project have to have a consultant? Is it possible for the project to have only the network’s staff?
Yes. The SP Fund aims to build the capacity of local people who can support the SP work of the network in a longer term. Capacity building can be done either by network staff, local consultants or both. It largely depends on the business model of a network: some networks cooperate with local consultants as it provides them with more flexibility and does not increase fixed costs of a network. Some other networks develop technical teams of internal staff to provide SP services to members. Therefore, a project does not have to have a consultant and a project can have only the network’s staff.
- Can local consultants be on the staff of a member MFI?
This is not recommended. It is possible, however a network needs to pay attention to confidentially issues. Many activities within Social Performance require in-depth analysis of internal systems of MFIs. Not all MFIs will accept sharing their details of internal operations with a person employed by another MFI, a possible competitor.
- When is the deadline for submitting the application?
The deadline for submitting applications is 29 July 2011. Please note however, that if a candidate network wishes to benefit from a courtesy review of its draft project proposal, the deadline for submitting the draft proposals is 8 July 2011.
- What are the basis of differentiation between the applying networks and therefore making grant decisions?
Each application will be assessed by taking into account 5 criteria: demonstrated need for SP, commitment of the network, capacity of the network, contribution to the Fund objectives, feasibility of the proposed project.
- Is there a list of TA providers from which networks can choose a TA provider?
The full list of TA providers recommended by the Fund is available of the Fund website in the TA Providers section.
- Should a TA provider be an organization or can it be an individual?
A TA provider can be either an organisation (for example one of the listed on the Fund’s website) or an individual consultant (for example one listed in the SP Task Force database).
- Can a network hire the services of a local consultant to provide TA support? Or is there a need to use only the ones listed in the TA Providers section?
It is highly recommended that a network uses a local consultant to support its SP activities. A list of recommended local consultants on SPM can be found in the Social Performance Task Force database. If experienced local consultants are not available, the network may choose an international consultant/TA provider to build their own and/or local consultants capacity in certain area of SP. For this purpose it is recommended that the network work together with the recommended TA providers listed on the Fund website.
- Is there a collaboration agreement between the Fund and each TA Provider?
There is no formal agreement between recommended TA providers and the Fund. A collaboration agreement has to be arranged between a network making a grant application and a TA provider. This agreement must be submitted as part of the network’s application.
- What is expected to be achieved by a candidate network within the Fund supported project?
By the end of a one-year project, a Network is expected to have achieved the following results: at least 50% of its MFI members should have started reporting to MIX on SP and 25% of its MFI members should have introduced at least one SPM related improvement.
- Can we provide the required documents: financial statements, letters of support from local stakeholders, other – in a local language (eg. Russian, Arabic) or do they have to be translated into English? If translated, do you request certified translation?
The original documents can be provided in the local language and have to be accompanied by a translation into English. The translation can be a working one not a certified one. You must attach the applicant’s statement certifying that the translation is a true and fair translation.
- Our members are located throughout the country and it is a big country. Could we budget for local travel to deliver the project activities in different parts of the country?
Yes, expenses for travel within the country are eligible for funding.
- Does the letter of support have to be signed by all interested members or should each interested member issue their own letter?
There is no specific requirement – the form of the letter of support depends on the network and its members.
- How detailed should the annual operating budget be?
The operational budget should be submitted in the version approved by your Board of Directors.
- What if we cannot attach a CV of a project team member, because this person has not yet been hired (for example the SPM Coordinator)?
It is preferred that you already who you have in mind to be hired. If this is not yet possible, you may send the application without this CV. However, by doing this, your application may have a lower score.
- Who from the board members should sign the commitment letter? All board members or just the Chairperson?
The Chair of the Board (or one Board Member) signing the letter of commitment is the required minimum. However, if the commitment letter is counter-signed by more than one person, your application will receive a higher score.
- Does the SP Fund foresee a new MIS system being developed in MFIs?
No, the grant cannot cover the development of any MIS software.
