IEEE Region 8 & IEEE HTB Community Support Program - Call for Project Proposals

IEEE Region 8 and the IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board are partnering to conduct a collaborative call for proposals to support SIGHT Groups (and prospective SIGHT Groups) in Region 8 who would like to address local community challenges.

IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee takes a futurist approach aiding the development of innovative methods to support underserved communities within the region in addressing needs to improve livelihood. The core aim of this call for proposals is to support SIGHT Groups in the region with great initiatives and creative technological solutions for local communities. Proposed solutions must have a sustainability plan in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and take into account cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, trust-enhancement, relevance to users and community, community buy-in, and accessibility. 

The main objectives of the Region 8 Community Support Program are to:

• Advance development in the community;
• Improve livelihood in an underserved community;
• Promote responsible innovation;
• Impact the general livelihood of the community;
• Keep the R8 SIGHT Group volunteers active.

This call for proposals targets projects that apply existing proven technologies within IEEE designated fields to challenges faced by a localized community. This can include customization of the technologies but would not include the development of new medical-type prototypes or research projects. Applicants for these proposals must demonstrate collaboration with the beneficiaries in the identification of the need and the proposed solution. It is important to note that IEEE is not a disaster response organization and is not set up to address the immediate needs of humanitarian challenges. All projects related to disaster recovery should focus on addressing medium- and long-term needs.

Any local community challenge that can map back to the UN Sustainable Development Goals can be considered. Awards from US$1,000 to US$6,000 will be made to projects that present a convincing plan to a) understand the real needs of a local community or stakeholder organization and b) complete in no more than six months’ time a project that improves the livelihood of an underserved community through the use of technology to address a local community challenge.

Important Items to Note Before Applying:

• Projects must have a good connection to the local Region 8 SIGHT Group and engage a significant* number of IEEE members. If there is a team of IEEE Members from a Region 8 Section or Student Branch without a SIGHT Group, they may submit a proposal if they commit to forming one by November 2023.
• Proposals from applicants with an ongoing or incomplete IEEE HTB funded project will not be considered.
• Each SIGHT Group (or future SIGHT Group) may submit one proposal.
• Projects MUST comply with all national/federal, state, and local laws, guidelines, safety codes, and restrictions.
• All projects that involve children must follow IEEE Guidelines for Working with Children. Any project funding will be contingent on policy compliance.

Read the call for proposals for all details.

[*] “Significant” will depend on the scope of the project. Project teams should make a concerted effort to involve as many IEEE members as appropriate for the project. 

Region 8 (R8) and HTB will make awards of between US$1,000 and US$6,000 per project. Project teams that have been awarded HTB funding previously may re-apply if they have successfully completed their project and fulfilled all reporting requirements.      

Term of funding: Up to six months following the project start date.

Please note that this funding program is highly competitive. Not all worthy projects may be funded due to budget limitations, or may be offered lower funding than requested.

Applications may be submitted starting 31 July 2023 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage applicants to submit their proposals as soon as they can. 

Final deadline to submit: 31 August 2023 at 11:59 pm UTC.

• Please submit via the IEEE HTB/SIGHT Online Funding Opportunities Portal
• We recommend downloading the required template files prior to beginning your online application:
  • HTB Project Assessment Matrix Template
  • IEEE R8 & HTB Project Budget Template

Applicants may prepare by taking advantage of the HTB/SIGHT educational resources on submitting strong proposals.

• Proposals must clearly articulate the impact of the project and how it will be measured, using the Project Assessment Matrix. Instructions on how to complete the Matrix and an example are available here.
• Applicants may take the free HTB/SIGHT online training course Project Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation on the IEEE Learning Network prior to developing your submission.
• A Q&A session on addressing common pitfalls in completing the HTB Project Assessment Matrix Template is available. The recording is available here.

See the following presentation on characteristics of a great proposal, tips on completing the project assessment matrix, common proposal pitfalls, and how to submit an application.

Applicants should pay attention to the following items:

• Quality of the proposal;
• Level of community engagement;
• How the proposed project directly addresses the objectives of the CFP;
• External collaborations and partnerships;
• Cost-effectiveness of the proposed solution;
• Risk and mitigation plans;
• Promoting IEEE SIGHT values;
• Activity status of the SIGHT Group or willingness to form a SIGHT Group;
• Up to date report on vTools on SIGHT activities.

HTB/SIGHT have developed and continually improved the project management process over the years to reduce risk and increase impact

Humanitarian technology and sustainable development projects, due to their real-world nature, may involve a certain amount of risk. It is imperative that potential risks are acknowledged and mitigated wherever possible. IEEE has taken steps to mitigate several of these risks. While not a comprehensive list of risks or mitigation strategies, please review the following carefully:

• Projects MUST comply with all national/federal, state, and local laws, guidelines, safety codes, and restrictions. 
• IEEE is subject to the full range of U.S. economic sanctions and export control laws, and as such, IEEE may not be able to provide certain services to certain designated countries or entities or individuals from those countries or entities. A more detailed description of OFAC, economic sanctions, and embargoes applicable to IEEE can be found at https://legal.ieee.org/compliance/ofac. 
• All projects that involve children must follow IEEE Guidelines for Working with Children. Any project funding will be contingent on policy compliance.
• In the event the project collects, uses, processes, or otherwise involves the personal data of any individual, the grantee agrees that they shall, to the maximum extent possible, respect the privacy of those individuals. Grantee will comply with all applicable data privacy laws or regulations. 
• Region 8 & HTB funds may not be used for a) tests of medical equipment on people/animals or b) mass production and/or deployment of devices that require but have not yet undergone the appropriate regulation, such as government approvals. Medical device manufacturing and deployment are highly regulated fields and may require partnership with and approval by relevant national/federal, state, and/or local authorities. 
• All projects considered for funding will be shared with the IEEE Office of Risk and Insurance Management Services (ORIMS) and, in some cases, the IEEE Legal & Compliance Department, for their review prior to final decision. 
• Projects must avoid any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. Project teams must abide by the IEEE Principles of Business Conduct. For more information on what should be disclosed and how to avoid conflicts of interest, see the HTB website. 
• Projects selected must agree to the HTB Intellectual Property Policy as a condition of funding. 
• Legal agreements between IEEE and external entities must be vetted by IEEE Legal prior to signing. 
• Funds will not be disbursed to individuals or external organizations. All funds must flow through a local IEEE OU – generally the local IEEE Section. Any funds that are not used according to the approved budget will be returned to Region 8 & HTB.
• Please note that, depending on the nature of a project, additional review may be required at any stage of the project.

Email us at humanitarian@ieeer8.org and htb-projects@ieee.org with questions about the Call for Proposals or the application process.