Play for Equity Tuvalu

AUSTRALIA'S PARTNERSHIP WITH TUVALU

Australia has elevated its partnership with Tuvalu through the historic Falepili Union . On 28 August 2024, Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Teo exchanged diplomatic notes to mark entry into force of the Falepili Union Treaty. The Falepili Union comprises a treaty and commitments articulated in a joint statement and responded to a request from Tuvalu to safeguard Tuvalu’s future in the face of climate change. 

Australia and Tuvalu have agreed to an enhanced development partnership that will support Tuvaluans to stay and thrive in their homeland. Australia’s development cooperation program in Tuvalu addresses the Government of Tuvalu’s priorities, including but not limited to climate adaptation, education, health, telecommunications, connectivity, and economic resilience. As part of this, the Australia will continue support to promote Tuvalu’s sporting ambitions at both the community and elite levels. 

Through PacificAus Sports, the development pathway for Tuvaluan teams and athletes to compete in elite competition and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally will continue to be fostered. Australia will continue to expand opportunities to support community sport and focus on social inclusion. This includes unrestricted small grants to groups and individuals through the Play for Equity Tuvalu, which is funded completely by the Australian Government. 

WHAT IS THE PLAY FOR EQUITY TUVALU?

The mission of the Tuvalu focused Play for Equity fund is to resource innovative and intersectional community initiatives advancing gender and/or disability justice in and through sport and play in Tuvalu. This fund will provide core funding to groups and individuals with new and radical solutions derived from community-based activism. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

During this funding call, the Play for Equity Tuvalu is targeting groups and individuals based only in Tuvalu.

The fund will support both registered or unregistered non-profit community-based organisations, sporting bodies, collectives, groups, and cooperatives, as well as individuals.

For individual applicants, people above the age of 18 who self-identify as women, nonbinary, transgender or identify as belonging to marginalised or vulnerable populations such as people with disabilities, can apply.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Applicants are asked to produce a 3–5-minute video pitch which will be submitted via an application form on Google Form. The Google Form application will also require applicants to provide contact information and brief written responses on the work your organisation or you do, and the communities you work with.

As a general guideline, your 3–5-minute video application should include:

• 30-60 seconds explanation of the barrier/issue you are trying to address
• 90-120 seconds explanation of how you would plan to use the funding
• 60-120 seconds explanation of how this work would advance gender and/or disability justice in and through sports and play or the change you expect to see

As you prepare your video application, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Keep videos under five minutes in length
• Ensure that you have the informed consent of all people visible and present in the video
• Please review your video to ensure that the audio is clear and comprehensible
• For organisations: Have multiple (at least two) people from your organisation speak in the video

The video is intended to provide you with a creative and simple way to apply for funding, and no video editing is expected (it can be filmed in one take). The applications may be recorded in any language, including sign language. You may submit an audio-only application if you prefer.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ON GOOGLE FORM 

If you anticipate challenges with data, technology, or internet connectivity to upload your video, please get in touch with Team Up’s Roshika Deo at roshika.deo@ghd.com and we will do our best to support you in your application process.

The Play for Equity Tuvalu is accepting applications until midnight (Tuvalu Time) on 15 December 2024. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How can we use the funding from the Play for Equity Tuvalu?

The Play for Equity Tuvalu will provide unrestricted/core funding to organisations, groups, and individuals working to support advancing gender and/or disability justice in and through sports and play. Grantees are free to decide how to best use the funds, in line with the mission of the Play for Equity Tuvalu Fund.

We are an emerging group and do not have an annual income – can we still apply?

Yes, you can still apply. In the application form, you will be asked to provide the name and contact details of two organisations or groups that you have previously worked with, whether formally or informally, which will allow us to confirm and verify your group.

I am an individual – can I still apply?

Yes, if you are above the age of 18 and self-identify as a woman, non-binary, transwoman, transmen, or identify as belonging to a marginalised or vulnerable population such as people with disabilities, you can apply.

Our organisation/group is NOT legally registered - can we still apply?

Yes, you can still apply. Your organisation/group does not need to be legally registered to apply for the Play for Equity Tuvalu. We are accepting applications from both registered and unregistered organisations, sporting bodies, collectives and groups.

We use yoga, dancing and other forms of physical movement within our work - can we still apply?

Yes, you can still apply. The Play for Equity Tuvalu will support applications using all forms of physical and play-based activity aimed at promoting well-being, including traditional sports. 

What is the maximum amount of funding we can request?

Groups may apply for up to $10,000 AUD from the Play for Equity Tuvalu.

Individuals applying will be able to apply for funding up to $5,000 AUD.

We advise all applicants to be intentional about their funding request. It is highly recommended to apply for no more than 50 per cent of your annual organisational income. For example, if you have $10,000 AUD in organisational income, to apply for no more than $5,000 AUD.

Do we need to have a bank account to be able to receive funds?

Yes, it is preferable that you have access to a bank account, either an organisational account or the personal account of one of the leaders of your organisation/group, to receive international transfers. If this is not possible, we can discuss this with you and explore alternative options.

What is the Play for Equity Tuvalu selection process?

All eligible applications received from Tuvalu will go through a selection process which is made up of two phases:

(1) All eligible applications will be reviewed by the Advisory Committee members who are made up of experts in women’s rights, feminist activism, and sport from the Pacific, to create a shortlist.

(2) The shortlist applications will then be assessed and scored by a Tuvaluan representative together with an Advisory Committee member. A final decision on which groups and individuals will receive funding will be made based on the scores given.

What information will be collected from applicants, and who has access to this information?

Within the application form, we ask for the contact details (name, email address and telephone number) of someone from your organisation or group, as well as those of two references. Only the Tuvaluan Government representative, Play for Equity fund Advisory Committee, Team Up and Women Win will have access to this information. 

Please note that if you are shortlisted, we will require a letter of support via your referees. We advise that you please let them know and confirm whether they will be able to provide this upon request.

If we are successful, when will we hear, and when can we expect to receive funding?

Selected grantees will be notified in February 2025. Funding will be distributed by March 2025 with the expectation that the funding will be spent in 2025.

What are the reporting requirements?

Guiding questions will be provided to the grantees to respond to and submit, including five photos of the activity carried out by the grant. In addition to this, some impact stories on the grant activity will be collected. This information will be collected by Team Up at the end of the funding term, or in between separate grant disbursements if multiple disbursements will be made.

What is the difference between the third round of Play for Equity and Play for Equity Tuvalu?

Following the historic Falepili Union between Australia and Tuvalu, the Australian Government has launched a Tuvalu-focused Play for Equity fund, exclusively open to applicants from Tuvalu which has a different funding amount that can be applied for by groups and individuals, and is separate from the broader Pacific-wide call for submissions under Play for Equity 3.0.