Portuguese Institute for Development Support (IPAD)

Instituto Português de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento

 

 

Background

Project Duration

Grant Size

Deadline

Own Contribution

Application Forms

Funding Priorities

Application & Procedures

Grantmaking Criteria

Languages

Guidelines

Tips


Background

The Portuguese Institute for Development Support (IPAD), created in 2003, is the result of a merger between the Portuguese Cooperation Institute and the Portuguese Agency for Development Assistance. It assumes the role of the central agency for development cooperation. IPAD is responsible for coordinating Portugal’s highly decentralised aid programme spread over fifteen different Ministries plus universities, other public institutions and 308 municipal governments. It combines coordinating and programming functions with financial planning, monitoring and evaluation. It promotes projects proposed by other public institutions and ensures relations with NGO, as well as co-financing.

IPAD aims at improving the effectiveness of Portuguese intervention, guaranteeing a greater visibility of cooperation policy and the accomplishment of the international commitments made by the Portuguese State. This programme provides co-financing of development projects/programmes of Portuguese NGDOs in cooperation with local civil society organisations.


Grant Size

Not specified.


Own Contribution

IPAD can provide up to 75% of the total project or programme costs.


Funding Priorities

All projects should be targeted at the overall goal of poverty reduction and should have positive effects on the living conditions of the local populations. With its NGO cooperation, IPAD aims to enhance the capacities of local civil society in order to foster an environment supportive of poor people’s own efforts to improve their quality of life.

According to the document “A Strategic Vision for Portuguese Development Cooperation”, the guiding principles of Portuguese cooperation are:

  • Commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
  • Reinforcement of Human Security
  • Promoting the Portuguese language
  • Promoting Sustainable Economic Development
  • Contributing to Active International Development Discussions


According to the same document, the priorities are:

  • Geographic – Portuguese-speaking countries
  • Good Governance, Participation and Democracy
  • Sustainable Development and the Fight Against Poverty (education, heath, rural development, environment and sustainable management of natural resources, economic growth)
  • Development Education


It is important to highlight that a new Strategic Document is currently being prepared; while these priorities are valid for the present they may vary in the near future.


Grantmaking Criteria

The guidelines specify that Portuguese NGDOs must fulfill the following criteria to be eligible for funding from IPAD:

  • the legal status of an NGO, according to Law 66/1998;
  • non-profit-making objectives;
  • a registered address in Portugal;
  • aims of co-operation for development, development education and/or humanitarian aid and relief; and
  • three years of experience as an NGO.

There are also some criteria related to the formal aspects of the proposal. In addition, the proposed project must be relevant, sustainable, cost-effective and display a good methodology, and the NGDO and local partners must have the necessary operational and financial capacity.

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Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to all Portuguese NGDOs applying for grants for development projects from IPAD and can be obtained from IPAD:


Project Duration

Two to three years, depending on the grants.

All new country specific projects are included in the ‘opportunities’ section of the official website: http://www.ipad.mne.gov.pt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=311&Itemid=329


Deadline

In 2006, NGDOs had to apply for grants from IPAD by 31 May.


Application Forms

NGDOs must follow the IPAD guidelines for presentation of the project/programme co-operation proposals.


Application and Procedures

NGDOs submit project proposals in response to calls for proposals organised by IPAD, normally on an annual basis. These calls for proposals are published on the website and communicated by an official letter to each NGDO. Once the call for proposals is closed, IPAD checks that the proposals satisfy the eligibility criteria laid down in the call for proposals, organises meetings with some applicants to clarify the proposal’s terms and proceeds to analyse the documents received. After this analysis, the final results are communicated to each NGDO. For further information on this process, please contact the IPAD Civil Society Division by email at concurso.ongd@ipad.mne.gov.pt.


Languages

Portuguese


Tips

The Portuguese Platform of NGDOs serves as an umbrella organisation for around 50 Portuguese NGDOs. Therefore, for support, applicants also can contact the Portuguese Platform in Lisbon.1

The IPAD has published a series of sample documents that provide some examples and guidance on the project proposals and other materials and documents to be presented in a proposal: http://www.ipad.mne.gov.pt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=344&Itemid=295 (Ápresentacao de documentos aprovados)


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1 Contact information can be found in the NGO Platform Contact Information section of this Guide.