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Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are invited to take part in the ninth round of applications for the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged (PFD) starting tomorrow (December 16). The Fund aims at promoting cross-sectoral co-operation to help the disadvantaged and benefit people in need.
A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said that in the ninth round of applications, priority will be given to the following projects:
(a) projects that seek to enhance quality of life, employment/skills development, empowerment and exclusion prevention;
(b) projects with outcome evaluation;
(c) projects with promising sustainability and strategic partnerships with business corporations;
(d) projects covering elements of early intervention with preventive measures targeting a social problem. Proposals with strategic plans to reach and provide support and services for the disadvantaged, such as hidden elders, people with ill health, poor and isolated families, deprived children living in disadvantaged circumstances, non-engaged young people and the unemployed able-bodied, will carry more weight in the selection process; and
(e) those projects that can demonstrate the NGOs' initiatives in rendering appropriate services and expanding their working partnership with business corporations to meet the changing needs of their target groups.
Bona-fide charitable welfare NGOs with tax-exempted status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) can apply for the matching grant of the Fund. Donations from registered business corporations operating their business in Hong Kong or charitable trusts/foundations which are established and managed by such business corporations will be considered by the Fund. Allocation of the Fund for each approved proposal will be capped at $2 million, while each welfare NGO applicant is allowed to submit a maximum of 10 applications in this round.
To assist NGOs in compiling their applications for a grant of $100,000 or below, the SWD has prepared a Simplified Application Form on its homepage for applicants to download: www.swd.gov.hk/doc/partnership/appround9a.doc .
The spokesman added that the SWD would inform NGOs, chambers of commerce and business partners about their ninth round application through emails. The department will further promote the Fund through online platforms, agency visits and district promotional activities. A briefing session will also be organised for NGOs to elaborate the application details.
The Government set up the $200 million PFD in 2005. With the provision of matching grants, the Fund encourages business corporations to make a donation and take part in NGO-run social welfare projects which seek to help the disadvantaged and create a caring society. Many business corporations have engaged in these projects and provided voluntary services to disadvantaged people. In view of the achievements made, in 2010 the Government injected another $200 million into the Fund to support its further development.
Since its inception, the PFD has approved an allocation of about $269 million in the previous eight rounds of application submitted by 146 welfare NGOs together with 978 business partners. More than one million disadvantaged persons have benefitted from a total of 626 welfare projects.
The beneficiaries (by the size of matching grants) have comprised disadvantaged families (20 per cent), children (19 per cent), elderly people (16 per cent), people with disabilities (13 per cent), disadvantaged young people (12 per cent), unemployed people (4 per cent), women (3 per cent), new arrivals (3 per cent) as well as ethnic minorities and others (including street sleepers, ex-offenders, chronically ill people and drug abusers) (10 per cent).
The ninth round of applications will open tomorrow with a deadline for the first phase on February 28, 2014 and the second phase on August 29, 2014. For enquiries, please contact the PFD Secretariat (Tel: 2892 5104 / 2892 5304, email: pmpfd@swd.gov.hk) or visit the SWD homepage (www.swd.gov.hk).
Ends/Sunday, December 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:00
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