Square Pegs, Round Holes: Barriers to Access in Small Grant Schemes as a Path to Human Security

Abstract

Small grant schemes aim to provide local development actors with access to funding for human security and development projects that applicants deem locally valuable but may otherwise go unfunded. These grant schemes aim to be a flexible source of funding for local actors to achieve their goals. However, there are barriers to access which restrict their accessibility for many local or smaller actors competing for funds. This paper explores how barriers to accessing small grant schemes manifest by comparing and contrasting a number of such programmes through qualitative analysis. It identifies and presents a typology of barriers that limit access, thereby hampering the potential of such schemes as a truly reflexive and accessible development tool.

Keywords:

• capabilities approach
• grant aid
• human security
• field theory
• securitization

Notes on contributor

Nikolai Holm is a PhD Candidate with the Faculty of Social Science at Nord University in Norway. He holds a BA in International Studies and Political Science from the University of Northern British Columbia, and an MPhil in Peace and Conflict Transformation from the University of Tromsø. His research focuses on the use of securitization theory to explore local and non-local actor relations regarding issues of human security.

ORCID

Nikolai George Lewis Holm http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3835-3269

Notes

1 Early interviews indicated that participating in research would put the other responsibilities of potential informants at risk. Informants approached were sceptical of the potential for reasonable anonymization.

2 Norwegian Embassy in Serbia, ‘Strengthening the civil society in Serbia and Montenegro’, 2015.

3 Japanese Embassy in Sudan, ‘Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Projects (GGP)’, 2017. <Available at: http://www.sdn.embjapan.go.jp/itpr_en/ggp.html>

4 Cn4hs, ‘Small Grants for Human Security’ Application form. <Available at: http://cn4hs.org/call-for-application-small-grants-on-human-security-for-organizations-and-individuals/>

5 For example, a 2016 audit of the CFLI program repeatedly indicates the main goals of the grant program as relating to creating access and promoting the needs of Canada. See: DFATD Canada, ‘Evaluation of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Final Report’ May 2016, <Available at: http://international.gc.ca/gacamc/publications/evaluation/2016/eval_cflieval_fcil.aspx?lang=eng >

6 Global Affairs Canada, ‘CFLI Contribution Agreement 2017-2018’, obtained through email request.

7 Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, ‘Guidelines for Application: Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects,’ <Available at: www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp/ … /GRA/Guideline%20for%20Application%20.doc>