Omidyar Network India
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Omidyar Network India has announced a call for proposals for rapid response funding to tackle the challenges posed by the Covid-19 situation and the consequent socio-economic impact.

The Covid-19 pandemic and its wider socio-economic impact are an unprecedented development. This is one of the biggest human challenges of our times. World over governments, donors, investors, and communities at large are coming together to face this crisis. Omidyar Network India recognises that the slowdown will most impact the vulnerable sections of population and large swathes of India’s “next half billion” (NHB), whom, they seek to serve – the vendors, daily wage earners, the gig-economy workers, and small businesses. Omidyar Network has announced a rapid response window to fund proposals that support the lower 60% of India’s income distribution in managing and mitigating the challenges that come with Covid-19. Omidyar Network modest effort aims to support innovative community level initiatives.

Funding Information

• 7.5 crore ($1 million) in aggregate under this initiative.
• Proposals in the range of Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 2 crore.

Types of Initiatives

Omidyar Network India invites proposals that strengthen containment, detection and treatment, support crisis management capabilities, and enhance resilience and recovery in the wake of Covid-19. Below is an indicative list of the types of initiatives that will be considered:

• Data, apps and other technological solutions (for example, real-time information apps, ‘symptom checkers’, vernacular ‘helpline’ chat bots, contact tracing applications, case reporting systems, etc.)
• Community outreach and mobilisation campaigns that may be particularly relevant to the current situation (for example, innovative approaches to mass messaging and feedback loops).
• Proposals that seek to improve economic resilience of NHB workers and small businesses whose livelihoods are impacted due to Covid-19.
• Actionable research that enhances the ability of the government and public in dealing with the crisis (for example, enabling ‘social distancing’ in the Indian context).
• Collaborative efforts by foundations, philanthropies, impact investing and venture capital firms in the above areas.

Eligibility Criteria

• NGOs, research organisations, social entrepreneurs, and for-profit businesses seeking to do this on a no-profit basis.
• Omidyar Network’s existing partner organisations are encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria

Priority will be given to the following types of proposals:

• Scalable solutions that leverage technology
• Time-bound interventions that can be implemented quickly and benefit a large number of Indians, especially the lower 60% of India’s income distribution
• Solutions that have initial traction (this could be evidenced through, for example, government/community commitment to adopt the solution, completed pilots, available co-funding, etc.),

About Omidyar Network India

They support entrepreneurs in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, with bold solutions to address the most chronic, vital, and the hardest problems in India. In doing sothey closely engage with businesses, government, regulators, research institutions and civil society. Their investments are at three levels — supporting market innovators, building institutional and market infrastructure, and working with governments and others on policy reform to promote inclusion, entrepreneurship, competition, and ensure necessary safeguards and protections.

They deploy their flexible capital model – comprising equity investments and grants – to accelerate enduring change equal to the scale and depth of challenges in India.

They leverage the transformative power of people, markets, ideas, and technology.

They invest in bold entrepreneurs who help create

a meaningful life for every Indian.

Post Date - 25-Mar-2020