Guidelines to funding requests

The ISIF Asia secretariat recommends that when planning your application read carefully the specific guidelines and tips for a successful submission of grant proposals or award nominations. If you have questions about your application, feel free to contact the ISIF Asia secretariat at any time. You might find the answer to some of your questions at the FAQ section of this site.

During the calendar year, the ISIF Asia program open separate calls for applications for grants and award nominations.

1. Grants will be provided to new project proposals to be implemented in a period of 3 to 12 months for up to AUD 30,000 that are aligned with the funding categories and eligibility criteria. Project proposals should provide clear and concrete information about the proposed initiative so the evaluation committee can properly assess it.
2. Awards will be provided to projects that are on the last stages of implementation or that have finalized activities already that are aligned with the funding categories and eligibility criteria. Awards will be up to AUD 3,000.

Funding categories

Innovation and a development focus should be an integral part of all project proposals and nominations received during the application process. The funding categories are:

1. Innovation on access provision: Access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a prevalent issue in the Asia Pacific region, especially for services that require broadband connectivity. Innovative solutions offering low cost deployment, low power consumption and low maintenance that expanded fixed and mobile access to the internet through new forms of technical and organizational arrangements as well as improved the quality of access based on issues of accessibility, disability and linguistic diversity.
2. Innovation on learning and localization: Capacity building and localization efforts have been key to develop the skills needed to design, maintain, and manage ICT infrastructure and services in local languages, supporting local talent and creating job opportunities in rural or urban marginalized areas. Innovative, open, inclusive and sustainable approaches to learning and localization are key elements to guarantee the quality of access to knowledge needed to offer reliable services and applications.
3. Code for the common good: High mobile penetration in the AP region has been a catalyst in the development of mobile-based services, applications and software solutions. These solutions have been used to support timely and relevant information dissemination on a large scale using a range of network infrastructures through a variety of devices, even where literacy rates are lower. Mobile technologies have enabled communities to increase participation in political processes, coordinate efforts during emergency situations, receive extreme weather alerts, communicate with remote health services, and receive specialized patient referrals, among many other applications.
4. Rights: Strategic use of Internet tools and services to promote freedom of expression, freedom of association, privacy, security, consumers’ rights, gender equality, new forms of intellectual property in the digital environment, and a wider range of issues related to the Internet and human rights.

Selection process

After the deadline to submit applications, all received submissions are subject to a process of comprehensive analysis, considering not only formal aspects (information presented and pertinence with the fund objectives) but also scientific aspects. This examination includes the analysis of the quality, background and originality of the proposed research project among others. Incomplete or inconsistent submissions will not be considered in the formal evaluation and selection process.

A Steering Committee (SC) composed of one voting representative from each one of the program partners make the final decisions about all aspects of the ISIF Asia program. The SC works online and also has face-to-face meetings during the course of the scheduled activities. Applications will be selected based on their compliance with all ISIF objectives and specific eligibility criteria. The process is as follows:

• The ISIF Asia secretariat screens all applications received for both awards and grants. The ISIF Asia secretariat will only reject proposals if: 1) they are out of ISIF Asia objectives and selection criteria; 2) they are going to be undertaken in countries out of the AP region.
• All approved applications will be then be reviewed online by the Evaluation Committee (EC). The EC will discuss the applications and produce a shortlist of candidates.
• The EC will make their final recommendations to the SC, who will be in charge of the final decision.
• A notification will be issued to all shortlisted applicants. A formal announcement will be made on this website and finalists will be informed by email and/or phone.
• In the awards selection process, in addition to selecting a winner per category, a “Community Choice Award” will be granted to the best social media campaign (the project with the highest number of votes from the community).

When submitting an application, the applicants acknowledge that any grant funding and, indeed, the application and evaluation process, is entirely at the discretion of the funding partners and they may choose to determine the process at any time up to the time of actual payment.

When submitting an application, the applicants are granting permission to the ISIF Secretariat and funding partners to use materials, submitted or developed during the application process, in publications or materials to promote ISIF. These materials can be project descriptions, photographs taken during the application process or at funded events, etc.

General Terms and Conditions

1. All required information must be provided through the relevant online application form. There are separate forms to: a) apply for a grant and b) nominate an initiative for an award. Make sure you are submitting the right form. Be as clear and concrete as possible when filling in the application form. Include only images and/or diagrams to facilitate the evaluation process.
2. Applications received by email will not be processed. No additional information can be filed after the closing date. The ISIF Asia secretariat will contact you if any clarification is needed. Please do not submit complete curriculum vitae/résumé, unless the ISIF Asia secretariat requires it.
3. Once an application has been submitted, the nominated email contacts will receive an automatic confirmation message. If you do not receive a confirmation message please review your spam filters, and contact the secretariat at info@isif.asia before attempting to submit your proposal again.
4. All applications received are reviewed by the ISIF Asia secretariat and then evaluated by the according to a detailed and exhaustive evaluation process.
5. If you have problems accessing the online application form or other information please contact the Secretariat at info@isif.asia. All required information must be included within the application, as no additional information received by any other means will be examined during the selection process.
6. The ISIF Asia secretariat can request applicants to provide more details or modify any part of the proposal (including the requested budget in the case of grant proposals) at any time during the selection process.
7. Availability of co-funding by other agencies or organizations is not a requisite for grant proposals. Any complementary funding must have to be declared in the budget section of the application form.
8. The ISIF Asia secretariat has defined the terms and conditions for the release of grants and awards. Copies of the official grant agreement and documentation license are available for your review and consideration before submitting your proposal.
9. When submitting an application, the applicants acknowledge that any grant funding and, indeed, the application and evaluation process, is entirely at the discretion of the funding partners and they may choose to determine the process at any time up to the time of actual payment.
10. When submitting an application, the applicants are granting permission to the ISIF Secretariat and funding partners to use materials, submitted or developed during the application process, in publications or materials to promote ISIF Asia. These materials can be project descriptions, photographs taken during the application process or at funded events, etc.
11. In the case of the grants, in order to comply with Australian regulations a contract will be issued by APNIC, acting as a ISIF secretariat. The legal representative of each selected proposer will have to sign the agreement. A template of the agreement is available upon request for review.
12. In the case of the grants, the selected organization will have to provide bank details and confirm contact details using a template provided by the secretariat.
13. The Grant Agreement and bank information form have to be signed by the legal representative and the financial officer from the selected organization. A scanned copy of the signed document must be emailed to ISIF Asia secretariat.
14. The Grant Agreement signed by the legal representative of the selected organization will be signed by APNIC director. The contract is not valid without a valid APNIC signature.
15. In the case of the awards, a letter issued by the by the ISIF Asia secretariat will be sent to the selected candidates. The letter will specify the terms and conditions to receive the award, including participation in global or regional events sponsored by the ISIF Asia program and a plan describing how the funds will be used.
16. In the case of the awards, once the selected organization has accepted the terms and conditions, they will have to provide bank details and confirm contact details using a template provided by the secretariat.
17. The bank information form has to be signed by the legal representative and the financial officer from the selected organization. A scanned copy of the signed document must be emailed to ISIF Asia secretariat.