BIG International Strategic

Overview

BIG will make £30 million available to fund projects that aim to deliver one or more of the following outcomes:

• Improved mother and child health
• Improved primary education, with a specific focus on girls
• Improved measures to prevent HIV/AIDS and mitigate its impact

International Strategic will fund projects in sub-Saharan Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and the following states in India: Assam, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharastra, Madya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Jharkand.

The total funding for this programme is £30 million. Funding will be awarded through two application rounds. Funding priorities may be changed in round two. We expect to award grants of between £1 million and £5 million for portfolios. We may also award development grants of up to £10,000 to applicants who are invited to submit a stage two application.

The programme will fund portfolios of projects that tackle the causes of poverty and deprivation and bring about a long-term difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged people. By adopting a strategic funding approach Big Lottery Fund will be able to focus our funding more effectively.

We will fund portfolios of projects in sub Saharan Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and the following states in India: Assam, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharastra, Madya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Jharkand. We will consider applications for portfolios which will take place mainly in states prioritised by BIG. We will not consider projects that are located entirely outside the priority areas.

Under this programme they will only make grants to organisations in the voluntary and community sector (including social enterprises) and the statutory sector. You must act as a lead organisation working in partnership to offer all aspects of a coherent portfolio and to maximise learning, both in the UK and in the countries where the projects are based.

Lead organisations may involve partner organisations from the voluntary, statutory or private sectors in delivery of their portfolio. They will also consider application from larger organisations that are able to deliver a strategically focused portfolio without making partnership arrangements with other UK organisations. BIG encourage smaller non-government organisations with specialist expertise to work in partnership with larger organisations.

Development funding will contribute towards the cost of developing your portfolio to meet the stage two application requirements. They expect that development funding will be used to support the costs of developing your detailed portfolio plans, including sustainability planning or more community consultation and stakeholder involvement.

BIG do not expect to award development grants for early project planning or needs analysis as these are necessary for a successful stage one application.

Portfolios are made up of a number of individual projects, usually delivered at a number of locations, which together form a cohesive strategy to deliver the programme outcomes.

BIG expect portfolios to be delivered in partnership with a range of partners within the UK and overseas. This may include academic institutions, policy think tanks and non-governmental organisations.

How to Apply

Full guidelines and application forms are available from the Big Lottery Fund website or by contacting the help line.