CALL FOR BUSINESS PLAN PROPOSALS FOR THE UCC/UCUSAF GRANT FOR ‘ENHANCING ICT ADOPTION THROUGH DIGITAL LITERACY FOR THE ELDERLY

• Introduction

 Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), has launched a call for business plan proposals to establish a collaborative framework with a suitable partner for the implementation of key activities under the general thematic area of addressing the digital divide among the elderly in the central region districts of Mukono, Kayunga, Mpigi, Luwero and Mityana.

The UCUSAF III programme set aside resources to be utilized under a collaborative grant framework between UCC/UCUSAF and a suitable partner, of which some of the funds are available within the operational budget of the Financial Year 2022/2023 to implement activities related to addressing the digital divide among the elderly in the mentioned five districts of Uganda.

• Background

 Uganda’s 1995 Constitution affirmed making “reasonable provision for the welfare and maintenance of the aged”, and issues affecting older people are included in the National Development Plans and Vision 2040. Uganda is a signatory to the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, whose recommendations were on 3 priority areas, namely: 1) Older persons and development; 2) Advancing health and well-being into old age; and 3) Ensuring enabling and supportive environments (Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002).

Older persons constitute 4.3 per cent of Uganda’s total population and will remain a demographic minority in the near future. Nevertheless, there is need to ensure they receive appropriate support to actively age. More than 98 per cent of older persons live outside of Kampala and 54 per cent are women (Situational Analysis Report on the State of Older Persons in Uganda, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, September 2020).

In Uganda, older persons contribute immensely to the creation of wealth, support and care for orphans and other vulnerable children; create cohesion and resolve conflict in their communities and guard traditions and cultural values, which are passed on from generation to generation. Older persons also make valuable contributions towards eradication of poverty through engaging in economic activities.

Age-related discrimination, also known as agism, is one of the most frequent challenges faced by older persons. Conversely, many older persons are unaware of their rights and wrongly accept age-discrimination as part of being old. Older persons are thus highly vulnerable to neglect, isolation, elder abuse and face discrimination in accessing social services, including ICT services that require digital literacy.

ICTs are a catalyst for economic and social growth as well as a bridge to the outside world. Nevertheless, it is essential that content is created according to the needs of older persons. This initiative seeks to deal with the digital divide among the elderly (ITU Report – Ageing in a digital world).

UCC through UCUSAF, therefore, seeks to carry out a digital literacy programme in selected areas to sensitize and build digital literacy capacity for the elderly in the 5 districts of Uganda.

• Project Goal

The main goal of the project is to equip the elderly from these communities with competencies (knowledge, skills and attitudes) in the safe and ethical use of digital technology needed to access services and to promote social interaction so as to contribute to society as active citizens.

• Specific Project Objectives

1. Enable the elderly to acquire digital skills for them to be active citizens and socially included in respect of e-governance, e-participation, and personal development.
2. Enable the elderly to keep in touch with the changes in technology.
3. Increase older peoples’ trust and confidence in doing things online.
4. Improve digital inclusion

• Project Key Output Actions

5. Carry out a baseline survey on the status of digital literacy for the elderly in the 5 districts of Mukono, Kayunga, Mpigi, Luwero and Mityana.
6. Develop customized content for the training of the elderly in the informal sector in basic digital literacy.
7. Conduct digital literacy training to up to 500 selected elderly people, at least 100 from urban centres in each of the 5 districts.

• Target Group

This initiative targets the elderly with no or basic digital literacy skills, especially groups such as associations of the elderly, church groups, Saccos, etc.

• Eligibility of Applicants

  General Criteria

1. The lead applicant is a legally established entity in Uganda. In order to address the diverse needs of the programme, it is likely that the training will be delivered through consortia of providers. The applicant organization (in case of consortia both lead and co-applicant organization) will assume overall responsibility and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with UCC to enforce joint accountability of action.
2. The applicant organization must be in satisfactory financial health and have adequate financial structures and systems.
3. The lead applicant or associate must demonstrate active presence and operations with the elderly in more than 50% of Uganda’s districts.
4. Lead applicant has over 5 years’ experience working with the elderly in Uganda.
5. The applicant has documented experience in mobilizing, coordinating, and delivering similar social development initiatives at national scale, especially working in upcountry areas.
6. Lead applicant has a clear strategic plan incorporating such projects.
7. The applicant has capacity to network and mobilize complimentary resources to sustain the initiative.
8. The applicant and co-applicant must have an established working relationship of minimum 3 months.
9. Co-applicants must demonstrate complimentary competencies to the applicant.

Preference

Preference will be given to applicants whose business plan proposals highlight the following:

1. Clear understanding and experience in dealing with capacity enhancement of the elderly.
2. Qualified human resource in-house or working in an established and proven consortium to implement the proposed project within the proposed timeframe.
3. Greater innovation in addressing digital inclusiveness for the elderly in a sustainable manner and demonstrating logical thorough process of the results framework in line with the national development agenda.
4. Innovation in execution of the project actions in remote and challenging environments (e.g., lack of access to the power grid, among others).
5. Clear financial and material contribution from the applicants over and above the grant amount.
6. Higher value for money.

• Assessment Criterion

The grant applications will be assessed based on a 3-stage process (Administrative, Technical and Financial):

1. Administrative- focus on assessment of the eligibility
2. Technical –focus on clarity of the motivation, smartness of goals, appropriateness of methodology and project management, feasibility of work plans, innovativeness and potential impact of the project, ability to meet project priorities, addressing of crosscutting issues and project sustainability, capacity to deliver.
3. Financial –focus on value for money, sustainability and ability to mobilize more resources to scale the initiative.

• Risk Assessment

The UCUSAF Assessment team will carry out a risk assessment of the indicated and non-indicated risks. The assessment based on the risks assessed will consider the totality of an applicant’s submission in assessing whether a potential engagement would involve low, medium, high, or extreme risk to UCC/UCUSAF.

• Required Applicant’s Legal Documents

1. Certificate of incorporation or registration for the lead applicant providing a legal name – the name that identifies the applicant for legal, administrative, and other official purposes.
2. Memorandum and Articles of Association for the lead applicant.
3. Applicant address (physical, postal, email, template, and web site).
4. Contact person details –name, position, phone, and email contact for an authorized representative of the applicant and co-applicants (if any).
5. Letters of support from affiliated entities or proposed implementing partners if any (co-applicants).
6. Applicant’s audited financial statements for the last 2 years.
7. Signed Code of Ethical Conduct in Business for Grant Applicants and Providers- Template provided by UCC/UCUSAF.

• Business Plan Requirements

1. Project motivation, objectives, and outcomes
2. Project linkage to UCC/UCUSAF strategy and the national development agenda
3. Experience managing similar projects
4. Project implementation methodology
5. Project management framework
6. Project work plans and associated milestones with clear description of responsibilities for each partner
7. Project implementation budget with clear allocation of resources to implementing partners
8. Sustainability approach
9. Monitoring and evaluation approach
10. Risk management framework

• Application Timeline

The grant application is open effective 6^th – 27^th January 2023.

An online pre–grant application meeting will be held on 18^th January 2023 at 10.00am.

Register in advance for this meeting at:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMtcumvpjsqGdar5x-2l2r0Mj5ow3kQyOrH

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email.

For further clarification or guidance on the grant application process, please contact +256414339162 or email amujuni@ucc.co.ug.

Applications shall be submitted in triplicate hard copies at the Registry Office, UCC House Bugolobi, and addressed as below:

The Executive Director

Uganda Communications Commission

Plot 42-44, Spring Road Bugolobi

P.O.Box 7376, Kampala

Uganda

OR by email registry@ucc.co.ug and/or amujuni@ucc.co.ug

 Disclaimer

 Personal information supplied in an application will be used by UCC in accordance with the Laws of Uganda.

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CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT IN BUSINESS FOR GRANT APPLICANTS

1. Ethical Principles

Applicants shall, at all times:

• Maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgement and conduct.
• Comply with both the letter and the spirit of:

1. The laws of Uganda; and
2. Any contract awarded.

• Avoid associations with businesses and organisations that are in conflict with this code.

2. Standards

Applicants shall:

• Strive to provide works, services and supplies of high quality and accept full responsibility for all works, services or supplies provided.
• Comply with the professional standards of their industry or of any professional body of which they are members.

3. Conflict of Interest

Applicants shall not accept contracts which would constitute a conflict of interest with any prior or current contract with Uganda Communications Commission. Applicants shall disclose to all concerned parties those conflicts of interest that cannot reasonably be avoided or escaped.

4. Confidentiality and Accuracy of Information

(1) Information given by applicants in the course of the grant application process or the performance of contracts shall be true, fair and not designed to mislead.

(2) Providers shall respect the confidentiality of information received in the course of performance of a contract and shall not use such information for personal gain.

5. Gifts and Hospitality

Applicants shall not offer gifts or hospitality directly or indirectly to staff of Uganda Communications Commission that might be viewed by others as having an influence on a grant decision.

6. Inducements

(1) Applicants shall not offer or give anything of value to influence the action of a public official in the grant process or in contract execution.

(2)  Applicants shall not ask a public official to do anything which is inconsistent with the Code of Ethical Conduct in Business.

7. Fraudulent Practices

Applicants shall not:

• Collude with other businesses and organisations with the intention of depriving Uganda Communications Commission of the benefits of free and open competition;
• Enter into business arrangements that might prevent the effective operation of fair competition;
• engage in deceptive financial practices, such as bribery, double billing or other improper financial practices;
• Misrepresent facts in order to influence a grant process or the execution of a contract to the detriment of the Uganda Communications Commission or utter false documents;
• Unlawfully obtain information relating to a grant process in order to influence the process or execution of a contract to the detriment of Uganda Communications Commission;
• Withhold information from the Uganda Communications Commission during contract execution to the detriment of the Uganda Communications Commission.

I   —————————————    agree to comply with the above code of ethical conduct in business.

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AUTHORISED SIGNATORY                                    APPLICANT