Group Cash Grants for Women Refugee-Led Associations

Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation (CECI Uganda), in partnership with Oxfam in Uganda, with generous support from DANIDA, is rolling out Group Cash Transfers (GCTs) for refugee women groups to empower them to respond to their needs and priorities. These groups are at the forefront of driving positive change within their communities, fostering self-reliance, and promoting social integration. Under this inspiring initiative, these groups will receive the necessary support to carry out impactful activities under the theme: “Support Women’s Empowerment and Leadership.”

What’s in Store?

CECI Uganda will provide financial support to five Women Refugee-Led Associations (WRLAs) in Bidibidi refugee settlement. Each association will receive grants ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 euros to fuel their community-driven projects. The WRLAs will take charge of project implementation and financial accountability, with CECI offering valuable project management and technical support, mentorship, and guidance. 

Group Cash Transfer (GCTs)

But what exactly is a Group Cash Transfer? It’s a response modality that empowers crisis-affected populations and community groups by directly transferring cash, allowing them to address their unique needs and priorities. GCTs are flexible, promote local leadership and accountability, and ultimately foster sustainability.

Flexible Cash Assistance	For Informal Community Groups	Facilitates Local Leadership and Accountability	Sustainability
Unrestricted financial assistance Shift away from top-down sectoral silos and support both cross-cutting agendas and multi-sectoral objectives Design contextually relevant programmes – tailored solutions to local challenges Conditional on proposal submission	Not for formally established CSOs/NGOs or individuals/families Empowers vulnerable groups by providing them with financial resources and capacity development opportunities	Shift power and control from traditional humanitarian actors to community groups and leaders, such as local women’s and youth groups, as first responders to the crises they face Allows for Survivor and community-led crisis response	Creates opportunities to strengthen community-based groups Promotes community-led resilience and self-reliance Promotes community engagement and ownership through bottom-up approaches Prioritizes conflict sensitivity to maintain peace and stability

Why GCTs for Refugee Women’s Groups?

These grants are especially vital for refugee women’s groups:

• • They face gender inequalities and disempowerment

• • Gender-based violence is a persistent threat

• • Accessing funds for community projects is challenging

• • They best understand and can address gender-specific challenges

• • They serve as catalysts for change, amplifying their voices and leadership

• • Challenge negative gender stereotypes and stigma

• • Strengthen women’s empowerment, leadership, and project management skills

• • Align with the feminist localization agenda

Application/Selection Process

• • Women Refugee-Led Associations (WRLAs) will be required to submit a brief narrative and financial proposal outlining the overall needs and priorities identified and plans for how to respond to them through community-led interventions through open competitive call for proposal process.

• • Each proposal submission will be evaluated by a Proposal Review Committee (CECI Uganda, Oxfam Uganda, YETA) through a transparent and fair process.

• • Applications must be submitted physically or electronically to Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation (CECI Uganda) –  ceciuganda@gmail.com  for Bidibidi Refugee Settlement  and Youth Empowerment to Act – yetacbo2018@gmail.com for Imvepi Refugee Settlement with the subject line specifying “Group Cash Transfer” and the name of the organization.

CECI Uganda_GCT Call for Concepts 2023 – Danida SP II

CECI Uganda_Proposal Template for Group Cash Grants

 

Evaluation Criteria

• • Relevance of the proposed interventions and targeted beneficiaries

• • Women and girls  focused community projects

• • Benefit more than only group itself

• • Experience/connections with the target group and area

• • Prospects for strengthening community cohesion and ensuring conflict-sensitive and do no harm approaches
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  • Proposed activities take place between 1^st November and 31^st December 2023

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  • Proposed budgets range from 2000 to 3000 euros

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  • Proposed activities take place in Bidibidi or Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe and Terego Districts

CECI Uganda: Your Partner in Community Empowerment

CECI Uganda will:

• •  Manages approx. 15,000 EURO and approx. 5 grants including the selection process and group cash transfers

• • Organise capacity-building sessions on topics identified based on capacity assessment (e.g. accountability to affected populations, project management, financial management, monitoring and evaluation, leadership and advocacy)

• • Provide ongoing technical support, mentoring, and monitoring to ensure the successful implementation of selected projects, including, post-distribution monitoring exercises to assess satisfaction or issues with cash transfer

• • Facilitate regular knowledge-sharing sessions and networking opportunities to foster collaboration, exchange best practices, and amplify the impact of the projects. This includes debriefings and final learning workshop.

• • Establish simple compliance and monitoring measures jointly with recipient community groups, to assess impact/change and document lessons learned including through the use of photos, videos and brief impact story telling techniques.

• • Ensuring transparency through final narrative and financial reports

Timeline for Group Cash Transfer Grants

• • Launch Call for Proposal: September 22, 2023, to October 2, 2023

• • Selection Process: October 3, 2023, to October 17, 2023

• • Capacity Building on Financial Management: October 23, 2023, to October 27, 2023

• • Group Cash Grants Transfer: November 1, 2023, to November 7, 2023

• • Capacity Assessment and Development: November 6, 2023, to November 20, 2023

• • Knowledge Sharing Workshop: December 2023

• • Ongoing Monitoring Support

• • Final Narrative and Financial Report: January 2024
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• For any questions or need for support and guidance with your submission, please call +256-785-040609 or +256-392-986444 or come directly to the offices of Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation (CECI Uganda) in Bidibidi and Koboko or the office of Youth Empowerment to Act in Imvepi Refugee Settlement.

We are not just providing funds, we are igniting a spark of change, empowerment, and self-reliance among these remarkable women-led groups. Stay tuned for inspiring stories and updates on the transformative impact we’ll achieve together in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement.