The three regional programs applications processes vary although all follow the same principles.
FIRE Africa
- Call for Applications
The FIRE Africa program conducted open calls for applications for Awards in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and open calls for Grants during 2013 and 2014.
- Funding Categories
FIRE Africa required selected projects to be aligned with any of the following categories:
- Innovation on Access Provision
- E-development
- Freedom of Expression
- The Community Choice Award (a project from any of the above categories can win the Community Choice Award based on the number of votes from the community)
FRIDA
- Call for Applications
FRIDA conducted open calls for applications for small Grants and Award nominations during 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Initially, the calls for both Grants and Awards were launched simultaneously, but now the timeline for the Grants and Awards is different, as this eases the application process and any confusion about the funding mechanisms is avoided.
- Funding Categories
FRIDA required selected projects to be aligned with one of the following categories:
- Access
- Freedoms
- Development
- Innovation
Since 2014, a project can only apply in one category, which encouraged applicants to define their proposals more clearly, to identify their contributions and articulate the scope of their work in a more structured way.
In 2014, the FRIDA Jury worked to redefine the categories in response to the feedback provided by the evaluators where the need to provide a more specific framework was highlighted. The final categories were decided upon in March were:
- Devices, Infrastructure and Technologies. Broadening and Accelerating ICT Adoption
- Creating and Developing Skills and Content for Sustainable Human Development
- Mobile Internet for Social Inclusion, Growth, Political Participation, and Active Citizenship
- Internet for Promoting, Guaranteeing and Exercising Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
- The +VOTED +CREATIVE Initiative (this category applies only to the FRIDA Awards)
The funding allocated through the Start-ups modality in 2014 was not linked to specific categories.
“Community Action Networks by Conexión al Desarrollo (El Salvador). 2014 FRIDA Grantees in the category of “Creating and Developing Skills and Content for Sustainable Human Development.”
ISIF Asia
- Call for Applications
ISIF Asia conducted separate and open calls for applications for small Grant and Award nominations during 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The timeline for the Grants and Awards was separated. Calls for Awards opened during the first semester of the year and Grants during the second semester, which eased the selection process for the Selection Committee and helped to clarify confusion among applicants about the funding mechanisms available.
- Funding Categories
ISIF Asia required selected projects to be aligned with one of the following categories:
- Innovation on Access Provision
- Innovation on Learning and Localization
- Code for the Common Good
- Rights
- The Community Choice Award (a project from any of the above categories can win the Community Choice Award based on the number of votes from the community.)
For the next cycle starting with the 2016 grants, the categories have been simplified to:
- Technical innovation
- Community impact.
The Community Choice Award was restructured during 2015 into a ‘top-up’ of AU$ 1,000 given to one of the winners. This winner is selected by the selection committee and responds to the need to value more the quality of the work presented instead of the effectiveness of an organization to actually conduct a successful social media campaign.