Small Grants & Ambassador’s Fund Program Quarterly Performance Report July – September, 2015

These applications comprised 37 under the education sector and 17 under civic participation. The total number of new applications received since November 2014 is 307, of which 300 have been processed and submitted to USAID along with initial review checklists. USAID approved 16 new grants during the reporting quarter, bringing the total number of approved grants to 75. Of these, 47 are completed or closed, while 16 are ongoing, including 3 grants that are near completion. The total amount of fresh grants approved during the quarter is USD 2,703,766, increasing the total funds approved to US$ 16.199 million. Against the approved grant funds, SGAFP disbursed US$ 228,785 during July-September 2015, with a cumulative disbursement of US$ 9.960 million among 58 grantees. SGAFP provided technical assistance to 3 ongoing grants, including support for budget realignment and guidance for extension in project duration. The organization also made 15 monitoring visits to 9 grants to ensure transparency in fund utilization and provide technical support to grantees. An orientation workshop on the Small Grants Program was arranged in Hyderabad, Sindh, on August 27, 2015, attended by 200 representatives of potential applicant organizations and grantees. The workshop aimed to provide detailed orientation on thematic areas under SGP, application requirements of USAID, and techniques of writing good quality proposals. SGAFP plans to conduct quarterly experience-sharing workshops for its staff to create opportunities for candid discussion on ongoing systems and prevalent practices in the field. The organization also plans to organize a mega event in Islamabad to showcase the achievements of grantee organizations and involve notable figures from USAID. Additionally, SGAFP's second quarterly Newsletter (Jul-Sept, 15) will be finalized and circulated at the start of the next quarter. The implementation of approved grants has shown positive results, with a 27% increase in household income among program participants compared to the control group. The program has also demonstrated a strong focus on education and civic participation, with 37 applications received under the education sector and 17 under civic participation during the reporting period.