Application Process
The application will involve two stages:
Potential pioneers are initially required to submit their Concept Note through the CSJ website. CNs will first be assessed for eligibility and then merit (see below). Shortlisted applicants will be requested to submit a full proposal.
2. Submission of Full proposal:
Shortlisted entities will be invited to participate in “boot-camps” that will provide opportunity to develop a quality, viable proposal and compelling pitch. Afterwards, the applicants are expected to complete and submit a full online proposal and then defend it during a pitching workshop whereby independent reviewers will evaluate the proposal and make recommendations for further review by the CSJ Board. Finalist(s) will be subjected to due diligence and client approval prior to the grant award.
Interested applicants (potential pioneers) are expected to complete the application through the CSJ website by following these steps:
Go to web browser and type- csj.co.ug
Click on UCIF tab.
Click on apply.
Click the declaration of conflict-of-interest tab, read, and sign off that there is no conflict of interest.
Click continue apply.
Complete the online concept note template.
Click submit after completing.
The potential pioneer must first satisfy the following eligibility criteria for the concept note to be reviewed.
Category | Means of verification |
| Certificate of incorporation or its equivalent |
| National Identification or refugee ID, passport etc. |
3. Innovation must address or seek to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture or the food system (as described above) | Concept Note |
4. Climate Smart Agriculture innovation (any of the below category) - A totally new climate smart agriculture innovation - A new climate smart agriculture innovation within Uganda context. - A significantly improved climate smart agriculture innovation. | Concept Note |
5. Climate Smart Agriculture solution that is at pre-proof-of-concept stage, minimum viable product (MVP) or prototype. | Concept Note |
6. The applicant(s) should be willing to operate in the targeted areas (Lango, Acholi, and West Nile sub regions, including Kiryandongo district). | Concept Note |
Eligible Concept Notes will then be assessed based on the following criteria:
SN | Criteria | Concept Note scoring criteria | Weighted score |
1 | Climate ambition | Climate relevance: Potential to contribute to adaptation, and/or mitigation and/or climate resilience of smallholder farmers. | 40 |
2 | Scalability | Cost-Effectiveness: Potential to be economically viable at scale. | 20 |
3 | Measure of potential success and sharing learning | Clear metrics: There is substantial credible evidence of a positive trend of success of the innovation during the pre-proof-of-concept stage and the suggested areas for improvement have potential to accelerate the innovation. | 20 |
4 | Teams | Capabilities: The potential pioneer has the right skillsets or personnel capacity, experience, and expertise to implement the proposal and deliver the innovation. | 20 |
| Total |
| 100 |
The potential pioneer will be expected to complete an online concept note template following the format below:
Pioneer Details | 1. Pioneer Type | Multiple choice: Individual ☐ Applicable for Individual ☐ Student ☐ Farmer ☐ Academician/researcher ☐ Refugee ☐ Others specify: _______
☐ Applicable for organization ☐For Profit Company ☐Joint venture ☐Social Enterprise ☐Farmer Organization/Associations ☐Business Association ☐Business Accelerator / Incubator ☐Financial Institution ☐Education / Training Organisation ☐Woman or women owned business ☐Refugee owned businesses. ☐Other specify: _________________
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| 2.Pioneer Name() |
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| 3.Current Region/Districts of Operation | ☐ Northern Uganda (use drop downlist of districts) ☐ West Nile Region (use drop downlist of districts) ☐ Western Region (use drop downlist of districts) ☐ Eastern Region (use drop downlist of districts) ☐ Central Region (use drop downlist of districts) ☐ None | ||||||||||||||||
| 4.Address |
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| 5.Contact | Mobile Phone[MR4] | ||||||||||||||||
| 6.Target Geography | £ Lango £ Acholi £ West Nile £ Kiryandongo £ Other (Clarify) | |||||||||||||||
| 7.Category | £ Product Innovation £ New £ Significantly Improved £ Process Innovation £ New £ Significantly Improved £ Marketing Innovation £ New £ Significantly Improved £ Organisational Innovation £ New £ Significantly Improved | |||||||||||||||
| 8.Which of the following areas does your proposed innovation contribute to? (Tick one or more) | ☐ Improving soil health ☐ Water conservation. ☐ Agro forestry ☐ Financial services ☐ Access to climate smart agriculture information ☐ Post harvest handling. ☐ Climate Smart technologies. ☐ Women rights. ☐ Business processes and systems ☐ Distribution and trade. ☐ Other specify: __________________________________ | |||||||||||||||
| 9.Climate Change Focus | £ Adaptation £ Mitigation £ Do not know | |||||||||||||||
| 10.Stage | £ Pre-prototype £ MVP Available £ Testing £ Piloting | |||||||||||||||
| 11.How long have you been developing the innovation? | ☐ less than 6 months ☐ 6 months – 12 months ☐ 13 months – 23 months ☐ Above 24 months | |||||||||||||||
| 12.Budget |
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| 13.How did you get to know about UCIF? | ☐ Innovation Week ☐ CSJ website ☐ News paper ☐ Radio station ☐ Referral by other organization or individuals ☐ Other specify: __________________________________ | |||||||||||||||
| 14.Innovation Description | Summarise[MR11] in no more than 500 words the innovation. You can attach docs (max 3 pages) | |||||||||||||||
| 15.Target Segment | £ Women Smallholder Farmers £ Men Smallholder Farmers £ Refugees Smallholder farmers £ Host Communities smallholder farmers £ Smallholder Farmers - General £ Private Sector Companies – Indicate ….
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| 16.Impact | Please[MR14] summarise in no more than 500 words how the innovation will increase incomes and climate resilience of smallholder farmers. | |||||||||||||||
| 17.Measure of potential success and sharing learning | In order of priority, list the top 5 drivers that might accelerate the innovation’s success.
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| 18.Team | List and explain your skill or personnel capacity, experience, and expertise to implement the concept and deliver the innovation to success.
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| 19Risks | Please[MR15] list the three top/key risks to the success of the innovation and your actions to overcome the risk.
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