Questions and Answers on the Community Partnership Fund
Please note these questions and answers applied to the 2005 / 2006 Community Partnership Fund EOI stage only
Unlocking the potential of communities....
These questions & answers are intended to provide applicants with supporting information that can be used in developing an Expression of Interest. For partnerships that are accountable to wider interest groups this information may be helpful in generating support.
æ What is the Digital Strategy?
Community Partnership Fund Q&A
æ Why do community groups need information technology?
æ What is the Community Partnership Fund?
æ How do we apply?
æ What sorts of projects will be considered?
General Q&A
æ What are ‘partnerships’ in this context?
æ What exactly does ‘community’ mean?
æ How much funding is available?
æ What are the levels of funding?
æ What if the project is ongoing?
æ Can the project eventually be for profit making?
æ Is there any assistance available apart from funding?
æ Who decides what communities need?
æ Can the project be limited to a local group?
æ What is involved in the application process?
æ Is funding available for ICT infrastructure?
æ Can training be funded?
æ Will all projects that meet the criteria receive funding?
æ Why is the fund figure now quoted as $17.4 million and not the $20.7 million originally announced?
What is the Digital Strategy?
The Government launched the Digital Strategy in May 2005. We want all New Zealanders to be able to enjoy the benefits that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can bring. These benefits include instant access to our national knowledge resources; government services; and the economic benefits that flow from higher productivity. The richer the information that is available digitally, and the more extensive the networks that connect people, the greater the benefits that will accrue.
The Digital Strategy is a practical and achievable action plan for ensuring all New Zealanders benefit from Information and Communications Technology (ICT). It is about making sure all New Zealanders have the confidence and capability to use technology and are connected so they can make the most of the digital opportunities open to them – creating a future where New Zealand is a world leader in using ICT to reach our social, environmental, cultural and economic goals.
Community Partnership Fund Q&A
Why do community groups need information technology?
Use of ICT by community and voluntary organisations improves the opportunities and end results for their communities and their clients, especially those in disadvantaged groups. The aim is to ‘unlock the potential of communities’ - but support is needed in ICT planning, project management, resourcing, support and training. The community focused aspect of the Digital Strategy is in place to assist with these issues
What is the Community Partnership Fund?
The Community Partnership Fund (the CPF) is a fund to assist communities with ICT content, connection and confidence.
The CPF is for $20.7 million (incl GST). The CPF has been established to support local, regional and national initiatives, through partnerships, to develop and achieve confidence, relevant content and connection to realise community aspirations by using ICT.
The CPF is for projects that support communities using ICT - not as an end in itself but as a tool for achieving their goals and aspirations.
How do we apply?
The first step in the Community Partnership Fund application process is an Expression of Interest. You can order a pack by calling 0800 824 824. Expressions of Interest applications will be called for in mid to late October.
What sorts of projects will be considered?
The CPF will consider applications for projects that show smart ways to:
- digitise and link content and use applications across your community and nation wide.
- use ICT in your community to meet community interests and aspirations
- increase confidence in using computers and other ICT technology
- improve ICT capability and skills
The CPF will not simply fund the uploading of information to a local website. We want to see how your content can be of benefit to the broader community and how your ideas can be applied by other communities.
General Q&A
What are ‘partnerships’ in this context?
A partnership is a process of sharing or taking part in something, with others, on the basis of shared values. Partners can be individuals, community, private and/or public sector organisations including businesses, and could include local or central government or umbrella groups representing particular interests. They can be iwi and/or Maori organisations or other ethnic or cultural organisations.
Partnerships may be formed for the purposes of strategic planning, service coordination, information sharing, and service and/or programme delivery or to assist in capacity building.
What exactly does ‘community’ mean?
‘Community’ means more than geographic communities. The term includes traditional associations such as whanau and hapu, ethnicity or occupation, and communities of interest or practice.
How much funding is available?
The CPF is $20.7 million (incl GST) to be allocated over a maximum of four years. The first funding round will begin in mid-late October 2005 and is projected to end in June 2006. The amount allocated in this first year will depend on the number and quality of applications.
What are the levels of funding?
Applicant organisations should apply for funding appropriate to the scale of their project. The criteria relating to three levels of funding applied for will be similar but more strenuous for larger applications. The three funding categories are:
- Up to $5,000
- $5,001 to $100,000
- $100,001 and over
Applications must be supported by matching funding or ‘in-kind’ contributions by partners that either meets or exceeds the amount of funding provided through the CPF.
What if the project is ongoing?
The eligibility criteria does not exclude the possibility that a grant may be made in one funding round to support the development of a project plan seeking further, or greater CPF grants in future funding rounds. Applications will show a project plan that clearly identifies an achievable path toward sustainability after the prescribed funding has come to an end and how their project will integrate into the community. In no circumstances will a commitment be made for long-term or on-going Government funding of projects.
Can the project eventually be for profit making?
Profit making projects are not eligible for funding from the Community Partnerships Fund. However, for-profit entities may be included within the partnership arrangement as a source of support including financial, in-kind or relevant expertise, etc. Projects may generate a surplus where the surplus is applied to the long-term viability of the project.
CPF funded projects may also include the development of local businesses and regional economic development as part of their objectives
Is there any assistance available apart from funding?
As some promising initiatives will require support in the development of applications there will be scope, at both the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage and the Full Application Stage, to provide applicant organisations with technical and other expertise in the development of project plans so as to encourage the best possible applications.
Further details regarding the provisions for applicant support will be made available on the Digital Strategy Website in mid-late October 2005.
Who decides what communities need?
Communities are best placed to determine their own ICT needs in partnership with private sector organisations and local government. The Community Partnership Fund focuses on providing communities with opportunities to enhance their capacity and capability and this will be achieved through projects that focus on accessibility, affordability, skills and knowledge development.
Can the project be limited to a local group?
All applications to the CPF will need to clearly demonstrate how their projects will contribute to any or all of the Digital Strategy enablers of content, connection and confidence.
Successful projects will have long-term benefit. Some ideas may work on a small scale, but real gains will be made when initiatives join up across the country and knowledge and expertise is shared.
What is involved in the application process?
Acknowledging the cost that the technical nature of ICT project proposals can entail, the CPF will have a two-stage application process to allow for expressions of interest to be considered prior to the development of a comprehensive application.
Support and advice regarding the application process will be available to applicants.
Is funding available for ICT infrastructure?
The Community Partnership Fund will not allocate funding to projects whose primary objectives are to create new broadband infrastructure connection services. The Broadband Challenge has been initiated to address such projects and Applicants wishing to pursue Connection-focused projects should apply for Broadband Challenge funding.
To find out more about The Broadband Challenge - please see further information here.
Can training be funded?
There is potential for ICT training initiatives to be funded but only where it is clearly demonstrated that they do not replicate existing programs or services and that the initiatives provide significant additional value to the community.
Another programme within the Digital Strategy is the Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation – a public-private partnership where the Government, in conjunction with the private sector, is providing $0.4 million to deliver a programme to ‘train IT trainers’. There will be five courses, each of which will train up to 25 trainers for community learning centres. The Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation will link with the CPF to ensure that skills are used well.
Will all projects that meet the criteria receive funding?
No. This is a contestable fund with a limited amount of funding available. All applications that meet the criteria will be considered. However final decisions will reflect a balanced allocation of the CPF allowing decision-makers to consider strong initiatives in relation to the CPF and Digital Strategy goals across grant amounts, geographic regions and communities of interest.
Why is the fund figure now quoted as $17.4 million and not the $20.7 million originally announced?
The funding level has not reduced in anyway. The original amount included GST and an allocation for administrative costs for running the fund. The $17.4 million excludes GST and the administrative costs. It is standard government practice to include administrative costs as part of a fund.