Global Poverty Action Fund (DFID)

DFID's Global Poverty Action Fund (GPAF) will support projects focused on poverty reduction and the most off-track Millennium Development Goals in poor countries. There are two funding windows under (GPAF), the Innovation Grant and the Impact Grant.

The total fund for the Innovation Grant is £4m/year. It aims to fund poverty reduction initiatives that are ground-breaking and new. This fund is only open to small UK-based not-for-profit organisations and the grant size will be up to £250,000.

The total fund for the Impact Grant is £36m/year. It aims to fund poverty reduction initiatives which are directly linked to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and those projects which are focused on off-track MDGs. This fund is open to medium-sized UK-based not-for- profit organisations and locally registered CSOs in countries where DFID has a country office. Organisations can apply for grants up to £4m.

Crown Agents has formed a joint venture with Triple Line Consulting Ltd to act as fund manager for this project. The fund manager is responsible for:

• Programme management
• Technical appraisal of grants
• Grant/financial management

Crown Agents provides grant management and financial management expertise to support the smooth operation of the fund. Specific responsibilities include:

• Financial management of grant resources
• Risk assessment of grant allocations
• Negotiating and agreeing budgets for all approved grants
• Producing and issuing grant agreements
• Checking, verifying and authorising all claims ensuring grants are claimed in accordance with agreed budgets
• Disbursement of grants on a quarterly basis
• Producing quarterly and annual financial returns for the CSCF to DFID.