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Introduction

Table 1.  PNG Institutions eligible to seek direct funding from AIGF

Agricultural Institutions

1.            Cocoa and Coconut Institute of PNG (CCI)

2.            Coffee Industry Corporation Ltd. (CIC)

3.            Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA)

4.            National Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA)

5.            National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)

6.            National Research Institute (NRI)

7.            PNG Oil Palm Research Association (OPRA)

8.            PNG Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC)

Universities

1.            Pacific Adventist University (PAU)

2.            University of Goroka (UOG)

3.            University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)

4.            University of Technology (UOT)

5.            University of Vudal (UOV)

6.            Divine Word University, Madang (DWU)

Development Organisations

There is a two-stage process to apply for funding. Firstly, staff at the target institutions should fill out the two page Expression of Interest (EOI) form. This should be done electronically. Completed forms should be sent to the AIGF Administrator, who will circulate them to members of the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP), whose members will be independent of the institutions submitting the proposals for funding (see below). This panel will screen EOIs against the requirements of the Guidelines. Applicants who are successful at this stage will be asked to develop a full proposal for further evaluation. Applications that are not successful will be returned with comments and may be revised for later funding rounds.

“Sweet potato is PNG’s most important staple food crop and is the primary source of dietary energy for x% of the population.  The project will test and demonstrate practical methods for control of the green striped sweet potato bug which reduces yields by up to x%.  Even if adoption of these methods is relatively slow, the impact on food availability is likely to be substantial leading to lower prices for consumers and higher incomes for farmers.”

“There are well proven methods which improve smallholder coffee yields and quality which involve changes in agronomic and processing practices but do not incur significant cost increases.  However, smallholder farmers need to be trained in such methods, and marketing systems need to be developed to reward them for improved quality.  This will greatly improved cash incomes for thousands of highland coffee growers.

After receiving notification of success of the EOI, applicants will be required to provide a Project Proposal (a proforma and guide has been developed to assist in completing this form). ACNARS advisors are happy to facilitate development of proposals, for example activity and output milestones and budgets, and help in staging meetings/workshops involving potential players.

After being accepted for inclusion in the AIGF program, successful applicants will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the ACNARS Project. This document will define the activities and outputs associated with the project together with means of verification and payment schedule. The ACNARS project will draw up this document in consultation with the implementing agency and their partners.  Note that a spread sheet is supplied with the project proposal form, which assists applicants to prepare their activity and cost schedule.  This is needed to prepare the grant agreement. 

Funds will be disbursed in country by the ACNARS Project. An initial payment will be made to allow project activities to commence and fund activities scheduled up until the next identified payment or milestone achievement. A second tranche of funds will be released after verification that the agreed outputs have been achieved. The means of verification will depend on the output. Examples are: photographs of a field day together with a farmer survey; write up of a trial; report on testing of a particular extension bulletin with farmers; publication and distribution of a technical bulletin, modification to an office to establish an information centre; receipts and delivery docket for purchase of a large item of equipment or consumables - such as tissue culture media; progress reports; site inspections; impact assessments; and final project completion document. Reporting will be done using a standard proforma outline provided by AIGF. Complete financial records must be kept and made available on request.

Note that the grant agreement will also specify roles and responsibilities of partner organisations/groups. In general, the implementing agency will take responsibility for disbursement and acquittal of funds to partner groups. Reporting responsibilities will primary rest with the implementing agency but site inspections, review of extension brochures or client consultations etc. will allow assessment of partner organisations.

Staff and AIGF Committee members are expected to adhere to certain practices and principles of behaviour throughout all AIGF operations; to ensure AIGF receives and maintains a reputation of the highest order for integrity, fairness, confidentiality and transparency in decision making.  A copy of the code can be downloaded here. 

Any attempt to lobby TAP members or Advisory Committee members in favour of a particular application or applicant may result in the exclusion of that application or applicant from funding under the AIGF.

HIV/AIDS

Eligible Institutions are required to develop a HIV/AIDS workplace policy, that ensures staff and members of the public are not made more vulnerable to HIV infection through project activities.  Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS[1] (together with gender and environment) are required of all AIGF projects.

Minimum funding granted will be not less than K10,000. In the first instance, a maximum amount of K150,000 per application has been set, this limit may be exceeded for a particular project provided there is sufficient justification.

As a guide, the proportion of the total budget spent on capital works, should not normally exceed 25%, unless there is good justification to do so. 

There is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted in any given period by institutions. However, TAP will consider the ability of an organisation to implement additional projects when assessing new EOIs and project proposals.

Because this is a pilot phase, activities that can convince the selection panel of a high likelihood of rapid impact on food security or income generation for rural small-holders will receive highest priority. It is recognised that this may not be possible for some activities, eg. those involving some activities with tree crops or where there is a requirement to establish long-term field demonstration sites for use with villagers. Such activities will need clear identification of expected benefits to small-holders, but are less likely to receive funding when there are competing with proposals that offer the potential of rapid, high impact results.