Call for Proposals: Fondation Botnar Fit4Future Phase II Programme (CHF 200,000 Minimum Funding)

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Applications are open for Fondation Botnar Fit4Future Phase II. Are you ready to make a difference for and with young people? Fondation Botnar is launching the second phase of its Fit4Future programme, and they are looking for bold, innovative projects that harness digital technologies and AI to:

Create inclusive cities by engaging young people in shaping sustainable, liveable urban spaces. Projects should involve diverse youth voices in designing their environments and connecting with local and global decision-makers.
Advance inclusive education by addressing barriers to learning, particularly for marginalised groups, youth with disabilities, and those out of school.

Fondation Botnar is a philanthropic organization based in Basel, Switzerland. Founded in 2003, it was established to carry forward the legacy of Marcela and Octav Botnar. The foundation focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of young people in urban settings around the world. It advocates for the inclusion of youth voices and a human rights-based approach to artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. Fondation Botnar invests in innovative programs and research, fostering collaborations across sectors to create impactful partnerships.

Fit4Future Programme Overview

Launched in 2020, the Fit4Future programme leverages data and cutting-edge technologies to address the needs of young people in low- and middle-income countries. Its focus lies in promoting youth wellbeing at the intersection of AI, education, and urban development. Phase I of the programme (2020-2023) funded several impactful projects, with details available on the Fit4Future website.

Building on the success of Phase I, Fondation Botnar is now initiating Fit4Future Phase II. This new phase calls for proposals that continue to prioritize youth voices, especially those from marginalized communities. The goal is to empower young people to influence their educational and urban environments, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups.

Purpose of the Fit4Future Call

The Fit4Future Phase II call seeks innovative projects that leverage digital technologies and AI to:

Promote young people’s human rights, wellbeing, and inclusion.
Empower youth to drive social change within education and city governance systems.
Prioritize solutions that engage marginalized communities, including youth with disabilities and those without economic opportunities.

Key areas of interest include:

Inclusive Cities: Engaging youth in the design of sustainable, livable cities that cater to all young people.
Inclusive Education: Addressing challenges and creating accessible, inclusive learning environments within public education systems, especially for marginalized youth.

Approach to Inclusive Digital Futures

We are looking for innovative projects and organisations that leverage digital technology and AI to create more inclusive cities and education systems, addressing the needs of young people who are left behind.
Convinced that involving beneficiaries in programme design enhances impact and better meets their needs, Fondation Botnar seeks projects that actively engage with marginalised youth.
In addition, they prioritise projects that co-produce and use evidence to create meaningful social impact.
Youth-led organisations and those involving young people at governance level will be given special consideration.
The call is not intended to fund the development of entirely new digital technology but rather initiatives that strengthen existing digital efforts, or deploy and adapt proven technologies to new contexts.
We also favour initiatives that broaden current participatory processes, making them more inclusive of and responsive to young people’s needs.

Design Elements for Inspiration

Proposals should align with the following elements to maximize impact:

Systems Thinking: Tackling complex challenges by examining interrelationships within systems.
Platform Thinking: Creating scalable, collaborative digital platforms that connect various stakeholders.
Design Thinking: Focusing on human-centered problem-solving that involves young people directly in the design process.
Scalability & Human Agency: Projects should enhance youth agency and connectivity, ensuring rights are respected and needs addressed.
Evidence Co-Production: Engaging stakeholders, especially youth, in collecting and using evidence throughout the project cycle.
Adaptive Management: Continuously reviewing and refining strategies to ensure projects remain effective and relevant.

Eligibility Criteria for Fit4Future Phase II Programme

They are looking for bold, innovative projects using digital tech and AI to create inclusive cities and advance education.

Must be a non-profit or social enterprise
Strong partnerships with local public/private stakeholders
Engage young people and focus on inclusivity
They encourage applications from organisations that employ people with disabilities and individuals from marginalised groups. Youth-led organisations that meet the eligibility criteria are also strongly encouraged to apply.
They support project activities focusing on the following countries: Romania, Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Indonesia, Vietnam, Colombia and Ecuador.
Proposals should focus on services, digital solutions, capacity building, community engagement, policy development, and other activities that do not require building or maintaining physical facilities or structures. They therefore do not support physical infrastructure projects.

Key Considerations

Project proposals should be in line with the Fit4Future vision and strategic goals.

Therefore, submissions should reflect the following elements to be considered for funding:

Consortium Approach: Collaborations across sectors are encouraged. Strong partnership management skills and sufficient resources are essential.
Local Co-Funding: Projects with secured local co-funding (cash or in-kind) will be prioritized.
Funding: The minimum funding for a project is CHF 200,000, with a total available fund of CHF 3.19 million for this call. They expect 5-6 projects to be selected through the funding call with a total funding of CHF 3.19 million available for this call.
Target Age Group: Projects should focus on youth aged 10-24 years.
Project Type: Proposals should focus on services, digital solutions, capacity building, community engagement, policy development, and other non-infrastructure activities.

How To Apply for Fit4Future Phase II Programme

Stage 1: Submission of Short Proposals
- Applications should be submitted via the Fondation Botnar Grant and Application Management System. Deadline: February 10, 2025, 15:00 CET
Stage 2: Submission of Full Proposals
Shortlisted applicants will be notified in March 2025 and asked to submit full proposals by July 2025.

A virtual information session will be held in January 2025 to address questions and facilitate engagement with programme staff.

Click Here to Apply and for more details

Application Deadline: February 10, 2025