All projects funded by RAF must be scheduled to end by May 31,  2013.

Yes, but it can receive only one grant per round. 

Yes, but it can receive only one grant per round.

Yes, RAF will accept proposals submitted by a consortium of three or more organisations. 

An organisation in receipt of grant funds individually or as part of a consortium is eligible to apply and recieve grant in the subsequent rounds but it may only receive one grant per round.

Yes, but only if the funding is for different rounds, as each organization can receive only one grant per round.

RAF takes the responsibility for ethical clearance of all selected research proposals from the National Bioethics Committee. However, applicants must ensure that they submit a ethically sound proposal. 

Proposals must be made in PAK rupees. These will be converted into pounds sterling at the exchange rate prevalent at the time of the submission of the proposal to assess whether it qualifies for a large or small grant. Disbursements will also be made in PAK rupees.

How funds will be disbursed will be discussed with each organisation in receipt of a grant. Not for profit organisations and government institutions may receive advance payment which will need to be accounted for before a next installment is received. All other organisations will be reimbursed expenditure on a quarterly basis subject to receipt of a valid invoice and the achievement of agreed milestones.

RAF will not support projects with heavy capital expenditure but will fund some capital items where a case for these is properly made in light of project activities.

This depends on the TOR of the consultancy. If the consultancy contributes directly to a programme activity e.g. workshop, it is a programme cost. If it is contributing to the management of the project e.g. developing a MIS, it is a management cost.

Yes, RAF will support small-scale pilot projects with a potential for scaling up if they are likely to produce research-based evidence that can contribute to policy or practice reform relevant to maternal and newborn health.

RAF will ensure complete confidentiality and no proposal will be shared with anyone except those involved in the appraisal and approval process. Appraisers are required to sign an undertaking for maintaining confidentiality.

RAF will assist applicants for full proposal development once their concept notes have been approved. However, support for preparing concept papers will not be provided.

RAF will also offer some support and guidance through its monitoring activities.

RAF encourages potential applicants, including government organisations that lack relevant expertise to partner with national and/or international organisations in joint bids.

No.

Yes. This applies for both national and international applicants.

Yes, but s/he or the organisation concerned must demonstrate its has the skills and expertise to implement the proposal and that the proposal has the potential to influence policy and/or practice relevant to maternal and newborn health.

Yes, but the proposal must demonstrate the availability of the required level of research expertise to carry out the research. This could be achieved by partnering with an organisation that has the expertise or by contracting in the required expertise e.g. from a named consultant.

RAF will maintain a database of the research it has funded which will be accessible to the public through its website. In its contract with a grantee the British council retains the copyright (including future copyright and any rental and lending rights) rights to RAF-funded products and materials.

Advocacy in RAF's context refers to activities undertaken to catalyse transformational change in maternal and newborn health for the poor and marginalised women and their communities through a change in related policies and practices through research based evidence.  

Advocacy is the most critical component of RAF’s mandate. RAF encorages applicants and grantees to build upon and use existing evidence on MNH in Pakistan and elsewhere in the region, as well as evidence generated from RAF’s portfolio, to push for policy and practice changes to improve MNH outcomes especially for the poor and the marginalised. 

Please refer to RAF's Approach to Advoacay - Guidance for Applicants and Grantees for more details. 

• International Organisations with presence and valid permission to work in Pakistan from a competent authority of Pakistan.
• Local presence in the country
• Relevant experience/expertise in research and/or advocacy.
• Authorised to open bank account in Pakistan and receive funds in Pak Rupees.
• Evidence of audit in last two years.

RAF is opposed to and does not tolerate Plagiarism. It is therefore the responsibility of applicants and grantees to submit original ideas and work, duly citing the owners of any work that they build upon.