People affected by conflict

Over the past 20 years nearly all countries in Africa have either experienced or been a neighbour to a country that has been severely affected by armed conflict. Armed conflicts not only cause physical devastation but destroy the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Many are forced to flee their homes to escape the violence.

Children and young people are often the most disproportionately affected by conflict. Not only do they lose out on years of education, but they are regularly abducted or forcefully recruited by armed groups.

This strategy puts the needs and rights of the most vulnerable and marginalised children and young people affected by conflict at the heart of the programme. It emphasises the need to take a broader family and community approach to address issues that affect them.

All grants made under the People Affected by Conflict programme will also be expected to demonstrate how the work responds to the effects of conflict; how it helps to support and promote peace;
and how it aims to protect children and young people from
exploitation and abuse.

Aim of the programme

Our goal is to address long-term peace, reconciliation, reintegration and the protection of children and young people who have been severely affected by conflict.

Target group

The overall aim is to support children and young people affected by conflict in Africa. The primary target group will be children and young people most vulnerable to and most severely affected by conflict, such as:

• Children and young people who have missed out on their education
• Young people and vulnerable families in need of livelihood support
• Marginalised and vulnerable children and young people such as children associated with armed groups/forces; girl mothers and survivors of sexual violence and exploitation.

This will also include placing an emphasis on the specific needs of girls and young women and ensuring the inclusion of children and young people with disabilities.

Geographical focus

The People Affected by Conflict programme will focus exclusively on Africa, particularly those which focus on the following priority countries in West, East and Central Africa:

West Africa: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire

East and Central Africa: East Democratic Republic of Congo, Northern Uganda, Sudan (North and South), Rwanda.

However, we will still consider work in Africa outside of these countries/regions if they fit well within the strategy, or are particularly innovative, or represent an opportunity to inform our learning across the grants portfolio.

Outcomes

Your work will need to deliver one or more of the following outcomes:

• Children and young people affected by conflict have improved access to good quality education resulting in skills that increase their life opportunities
• Improved environments that provide greater and safer livelihood opportunities that support children and young people affected by conflict.
• Children and young people affected by conflict are better protected from exploitation and abuse, resulting in greater resilience to mitigate the effects of conflict, and/or the ability to prevent themselves from being drawn into conflict.
• Children and young people affected by conflict have increased opportunities to participate in civil society in order to influence decisions that affect their lives.
• Improved government policies, legislation and practice resulting in the better protection of the needs and rights of children and young people affected by conflict.

Types of grants available

Grants available under the People Affected by Conflict programme are as follows:

Project grants – these may be up to £1 million over five years. Organisations are strongly advised to submit applications that are proportionate to their size and capacity, the size and capacity of their local partners, and their track record to date.

Restrictions: none

Research, Consultation and Planning grants – these may be for up to £25,000 and for up to 12 months’ duration. They will enable partners to carry out action research, a needs analysis, a pilot study, and related work that will help applicant organisations to develop a well thought out proposal.

Restrictions: these grants are only available to organisations with an income of less than £1m per year, or Diaspora-led organisations.

Investment grants – these provide long-term, core funding for local organisations, usually across five years. There is no upper limit but Investment grants must be proportionate to the size and capacity of applicant organisations and their partners.

Restrictions: these grants are only available to selected partners with a long history of Comic Relief funding and a track record of success in programming in a conflict context. Applications are by invitation only after an initial assessment of the UK and partner organisations has been made.

Download the full People Affected by Conflict programme strategy document