Dear IFSA World,

The IFSA Development Fund is an internal fund gathered during Regional Meetings and other IFSA led events through fundraising activities. The fund is raised by members for other members within the IFSA Family.

For this open call, we are offering partial (with the possibility of total reimbursement however depending on the quality of the application) financial support to transportation and accommodation costs for an individual to participate in an IFSA event or (approved) necessary expenses for the organization of an event by an LC or a group of LCs.

Both Individuals and Local Committees (LCs) are invited to apply. The IFSA Development Fund serves to support students by funding:

  • IFSA LC led projects and events
  • Attending international events (for example IFSA partner event)
  • Attending IFSA led events (Such as Regional Meetings or the International Forestry Student Symposium)
  • Attending other forestry-related activities or events that are relevant to IFSA’s overall goals.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply you must meet the following criteria.

Individuals:

  • Individuals from all classification of income countries (low, middle or high-income) are eligible to apply.
  • Must be attending any of the following: an IFSA partner event, an IFSA led event or, another international forestry-related activity or event.
  • Submit all necessary documentation including a letter of invitation to the event to be attended in PDF format as one single application (see list below)
  • Will have to pay all costs upfront (IFSA works on a reimbursement ONLY basis)
  • Application must be written in English.

Local Committees:

  • Local committees from all classification of income countries (low, middle or high-income) are eligible to apply.
  • Must be creating and leading a project or event open to all IFSA LC’s to join.
  • Project or event must align with IFSA’s goals and objectives.
  • Submit all necessary documentation, see instruction below.
  • Will have to pay all costs upfront (IFSA works on a reimbursement ONLY basis)
  • Application must be written in English.

How to Apply:

If you think you are, or your project is eligible, please send your application to council@ifsa.net before 1st of February 2020 23:59 CET.

An application will not be reviewed until all requested documents have been received.

The recipients will be chosen by the IFSA Council and informed no later than one week after this date.

For further information or enquiries about the fund or for an application, please contact the Council at council@ifsa.net.

Application Guideline:

Your application will be assessed upon its contribution to IFSA’s overall purpose and strategy and your motivation.

Please use this template to fill in your application: https://ifsa.net/ifsa-development-fund-application-form/

Application checklist, your application should include:

  1. Application form
  2. Reference letter
  3. Event invitation letter (applies to event attendee)
  4. Budget proposal
  5. Supporting materials (if applicable – conference brochure/flyers/posters)

Application Conditions:

  1. In exchange, recipients must create and submit a report of the project/activity and produce a piece (article, blog, and interactive presentation), and, a social media report proving your active engagement with the wider IFSA members
  2. If the application was accepted, you will be actively working with IFSA communication commission for the promotion of your event and also as part of your process to submitting a social media report and event report to the communication commission.
  3. Reimbursement application and report submission must be made within a month after the official ending or the last day of the event attended or organised.

Reimbursement conditions: 

  1. Reimbursement only applies to the major cost to attend an event such as transportation and accommodation costs, it does not cover daily expenses on food, souvenirs or unnecessary items.
  2. If an a-day event was to be organised for LC members which do not require funding support for transportation or accommodation can get development fund support for other unavoidable expenses. However, preliminary approval must be sought by applicants through the presentation of tentative expenses in your budget proposal.
  3. The budget proposal will be screened by the council to ensure options for transportation and accommodation are cost-effective and reasonable to the event attendees (e.g. economic flights and within 24 hours of layovers)
  4. Students are encouraged to seek external funding to cover miscellaneous expenses that are not covered by the development fund. Therefore, any external funds sought must state in the budget proposal. If external fundings are sought after the acceptance of your development fund application, the council and treasurer should be advised with this new update through your reimbursement application.

Further Information:

For further information or enquiries, please contact the IFSA Council at council@ifsa.net . Please also feel free to engage your Regional Representatives for a preliminary review of your project where need be.

Sincerely yours,

IFSA Councillors

(Chew Jia Yi, Daniel Guerra, Maximilian Schubert)