The pandemic situation in Southeast Asia has been difficult, with sharp increases in infection cases and deaths in the first half of last year and only starting to decline last September. Untimely decisions and vaccination delays have compounded the spread of the Delta variant, with the pandemic and related containment measures resulting in disproportionate impacts on people, particularly on marginalized groups. The new highly transmissible Omicron variant and the re-introduction of just relented measures has exacerbated the situation, deepening inequalities and posing multifaceted challenges.
Social protection efforts have been insufficient to meet rising needs, assisting rather than protecting the most vulnerable, with civil society and community groups scrambling with limited resources to fill the void. Irrespective of the capacity of governments to tackle the pandemics, all over the region civil society groups, communities and committed individuals have shown great resilience and solidarity. All kind of small-scale initiatives have been started to battle the pandemic and cope with its local impacts from providing relief goods and personal protective equipment (PPE) to launching education campaigns and financial schemes.
Recognizing the importance of these diverse initiatives and the fact that they are often undertaken with minimal resources, SEA Junction is launching the “Staying Resilient Amid the Pandemic in Southeast Asia small-grant program. The 3-year program, with support of the China Medical Board Foundation, provides funds to efforts working to build social capital, strengthen community resilience, improve the living and health conditions of local communities (geographical as well as functional) and enhance their capacity to cope with the current situation of COVID-19 and its longer-term socio-economic and health impacts.
In the last two years, we have selected and provided grants to 36 activities in different locations of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Thailand, The Philippines and Vietnam. The activities cover a wide range of issues and subjects related to the COVID-19 crisis, including but not limited to the environmental dimensions of the pandemic, online education and digital literacy; the role of arts and culture in COVID-19 response; addressing increased gender-based violence; and targeted responses for disadvantaged communities such as LGBTQ+, people living with HIV/AIDS, migrant workers and informal workers, and women in prisons. While some activities are still on-going, several initiatives have been completed and have yielded positive and long-term results. Some grantees also carry on with the activities they began with our support.
In this third call, we will award small grants for an average of USD 2,000 to selected groups and individuals. Funds can be used to complement existing resources as well as seeds or matching funds. Besides providing financing, the program will also share relevant COVID-19 and health equity relevant information and knowledge, foster cross-fertilization of ideas and interventions, help build networks and conduct joint advocacy activities.
Eligibility and Priority
- This call is open to individuals and groups (both formal and informal)
- Focus is on socio-economic and health dimensions of COVID-19
- Activities are to be located in Southeast Asia
- Priority is given to community-led and inclusive initiatives
- Emphasis on equity and resilience
How to Apply:
- Download and fill the proposal form provided here: Proposal Template
- Use English or any Southeast Asian languages
- Submit your brief proposal by email to southeastasiajunction@gmail.com
- Application deadline: 15 March 2022
Organizer
SEA Junction
SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions- from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 408 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information see www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on twitter and Instagram @seajunction
With support of:
China Medical Board Foundation
The Rockefeller-endowed China Medical Board (CMB), an independent American foundation started in 1914, aims to advance health in China and neighbouring Asian countries through strengthening medical, nursing and public health research and education. See further chinamedicalboard.org
