1. What sorts of projects does the competition cover?
We are looking for well thought out project ideas that are conceived at the community level and that have direct positive benefits for young people in their communities. Every project proposal must address the theme: Youth and Community Working Together. You can interpret this theme in many ways. For example, you may have an idea for establishing a small enterprise that generates income while also developing skills for young people or you may want to establish a youth theatre group that raises awareness about issues such as HIV/AIDS. You must be able to show that your project idea has the support of your community, that it will have direct benefits for young people, and that it has clear steps that will help you reach the project’s objectives. It is also important that you form a partnership with an organization that can help you implement the project. This could be a church, a non-government organization or a local business.
2. What is the prize money? What size budget will the competition accept?
The prize for the winners is to get their projects funded for a period of 12 months from July 1 2006. You must provide a budget in your proposal that gives realistic costs to run the project for 12 months. Some projects might cost K5000, others might cost up to K30,000 – it all depends on what your project is setting out to achieve. The winning projects will be funded to the amount that is in the project budget. No prize winner will receive cash payments. Strict financial management systems will be put in place. Payments will be made according to the milestones reached in the project.
3. Can individuals apply?
No. Individuals cannot apply. Submissions must come from a locally recognized group which has established a partnering arrangement with another organization (such as a church, NGO or private sector agency). The partnering organization must agree to assist you with your project and act as a contact point for the competition organizers.
Entries submitted by individuals will be rejected.
4. Are ongoing projects eligible?
As long as your project fits the eligibility criteria – innovativeness; sustainability; cost effectiveness; and has a direct impact on the community – it is eligible. You must still comply with the competition requirements – ie you must have a partnering organization, you must answer all six questions on the application form including providing a budget and an outline of the steps your project will take. If you already have a funding partner, you should provide information about that in your application.
5. If we don’t have a partnering organization, can you help us?
If you do not have a partnering organization, you can contact the World Bank office in Port Moresby for assistance. A database of potential partners has been established for this purpose.
6. Can we write our submissions by hand? In Tok Pisin? In Tok Ples?
Submissions can be hand-written as long as they are easy to read. If you are hand-writing your submission, please write in ink. Submissions can be written in English or Tok Pisin but not in Tok Ples. If you are having trouble writing in English or Tok Pisin, you should ask for help from your partnering organization.
7. What do you mean by ‘innovative’ and ‘sustainable’?
By ‘innovative’, we mean thinking in a different way. It means coming up with new ideas by thinking creatively. ‘Sustainable’ means ensuring the project can continue – even after the competition award funding is finished. Your application will have to show the ways that you will keep the project going after the first 12 months.
8. If our project is short-listed, how will we make sure our proposals meet the standard required for the final judging process?
After our assessors look at all the submissions in February 2006, they will select a group of finalists. The finalist groups will each send a representative to Madang to attend a workshop at Divine Word University. The workshop will help the finalist groups to develop their final proposals so that all the proposals are at a similar standard. Then, the finalists will come to Port Moresby in April 2006 to present their final proposals for judging by the jury panel.
9. What is the selection process? How will winners be decided?
After the submissions close on 3 February, 2006 – a group of assessors will look carefully at every proposal. These assessors are people with strong knowledge of PNG and development who will be able to decide which projects have the best chances of success. The assessors will short-list the best entries according to the eligibility criteria and in late February, the finalists will be announced. These finalists will then attend a workshop in Madang at Divine Word University (see question 8) to help them produce a more detailed budget and proposal. All finalists will then be flown to Por Moresby in late April, 2006 where they will display presentations about their proposals that can be viewed by the public and by the jury panel at a major ‘knowledge forum’. The jury panel is made up of eminent Papua New Guineans and other experts who know a lot about PNG and development. At the knowledge forum, the winners will be announced.
10. If we win, how will we access the award funds?
If your group wins, you will be asked to sign an agreement that the project will be delivered according to the budget and the steps in your proposal. All winners will need to have a bank account that a recognized financial institution will pay project funds into. Funds will not be transferred in one payment – they will only be paid on the agreement of the World Bank according to the stages of the project.
11. How do you plan to monitor all the winners? A number of partner organizations have offered to assist the World Bank to monitor all winning projects. This means regular visits to the project sites throughout the life of the 12-month project. We also hope to film some of the projects as they progress and present the stories as a documentary. |
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