In the first year of its five-year journey to build a global co-operative solidarity fund, the Fund for International Cooperative Development (FICD) is making US$68,000 available for co-operative-led action.
The aim is to respond to urgent need while learning, adapting and growing the Fund for the long term.
To reiterate the global scope of the fund, the distributions were announced today at the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) global conference in Panama.
As a fund created for co-ops, by co-ops, the FICD is asking the global co-operative community to share this opportunity.
As well as providing significant support and solidarity, the first distributions will help FICD to learn what works, strengthen trusted relationships and develop a fund that can respond with greater speed, reach and impact.
The first round of funding is in line with the strategic priority to ground the fund in solidarity and to launch the first distribution cycle by the end of the year.
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The FICD is inviting co-ops, co-op networks and trusted partners to complete a simple expression of interest process. Individual expressions of interest may seek between $7000 and $25,000. Support may be provided as an individual FICD distribution or as part of a co-funded partnership.
Expressions of interest should fit one or more of FICD’s three purposes:
- Crisis response: supporting immediate humanitarian assistance through co-operatives and co-operative infrastructure organisations.
- Post-crisis rebuilding: helping co-operatives and their members recover and strengthen livelihoods.
- Long-term cooperative development: strengthening co-operative economies, co-op-to-co-op trade, networks and partnerships.
“This is an important first step towards a truly global solidarity fund, created by co-operatives for co-operatives,” said project lead Sarah Alldred. “These first distributions are about more than funding. They are an opportunity to listen, learn and build the trusted relationships that will enable FICD to grow its reach and impact over time.
“We believe the strongest responses are shaped with cooperatives, not imposed upon them: rooted in mutual accountability, shared power and the knowledge of people closest to the challenges and opportunities. Our greatest strength is collective action.”
The fund is looking for locally owned, co-operative-led work with a credible delivery partner and practical arrangements for receiving and managing funds. Applicants do not need to be a member of FICD to be considered, and successful applicants will not be required to repay this money.
There will not be a lengthy reporting process as per a traditional grant.
The deadline for expressions of interest is 23:59 BST on Sunday 11 October. Visit fund.coop/apply to find out more.
