If you are following the news out of West Africa, the situation is not at all good. Your help is needed. The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) along with RPCV member groups is sponsoring a relief fund to support efforts to respond to the ongoing Ebola crisis. Here is a story from NPCA:
In collaboration with Returned Peace Corps Volunteer member groups representing three of the main affected countries — Friends of Guinea, Friends of Liberia and Friends of Sierra Leone — and in response to community interest to assist in the region, the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is launching an Ebola Relief Fund. Contributions, which are tax deductible, will be accepted and acknowledged via the NPCA website and designated 100% towards Ebola-related relief efforts.
Ebola virus disease
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness to humans, and the major outbreak that has occurred in West Africa requires substantial resources to try to bring it under control.
- The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
- The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
- The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in west Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas.
Local community engagement is key. The Peace Corps community is uniquely positioned to help identify and support efforts in local communities in the affected countries where resources can have a significant impact. [Read our guest blogs, When Ebola Came Calling, background on earlier RPCV member group Ebola response; and Sierra Leone Group One Stands in Solidarity.]
EBOLA RELIEF FUND
The funds will be distributed to vetted organizations working in West Africa as determined by a fund steering committee. This committee will be comprised initially of up to two representatives of each of the above NPCA member groups, chaired by Russell Morgan, Dr.P.H. (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Kenya 1966-1969) and with staff support from NPCA Vice President Anne Baker.
The charge for the committee is as follows:
- To set criteria for funding requests and distribution
- To evaluate funding requests and recommend funds for distribution
- To report on the use of the funds for posting to the NPCA website
Groups may be asked to cover wire transfer or related fees, so that all contributed funds may go directly to Ebola relief efforts.
If you prefer to mail your tax-deductible donation, please send a check to the National Peace Corps Association (and payable to NPCA) at our address below. Be sure to note “Ebola Relief Fund” in the memo line.
National Peace Corps Association
1900 L Street, NW
Suite 610
Washington, DC 20036
TO APPLY FOR FUNDING – PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA
Criteria for selecting organizations to receive grants through the NPCA Ebola Relief Fund:
- Grants will be dedicated for community-based Ebola-related issues.
- Grants will support non-governmental organizations that:
a. work in Liberia, Guinea and/or Sierra Leone;
b. are well-known and respected locally for integrity and accountability;
c. have a demonstrated, effective track record in handling donations and achieving desired results, including reliable delivery systems; and
d. have on-going, sustainable operations. - If possible, the organization and at least some of its leaders should be known to the Peace Corps community.
- Grants will focus on addressing needs that are not being met by larger organizations.
Applications for funding to transport materials to West Africa will not be considered. Grants will be awarded for cash use in country only.
Applications for funding are accepted on an on-going basis, but to be considered for the first round of donations, the completed application must be received by October 15. Applications received subsequent to that date will be considered bi-monthly on an on-going basis.
Grants of up to $3,000 will be awarded starting the first week of November 2014.
Application procedures:
The application (no more than three typed pages) will include information about the applicant organization, the funding request and impact assessment.
An application must be received by NPCA electronically at ebolafund@peacecorpsconnect.org
Organizations applying for funding agree to submit a post project report.
Download the APPLICATION FORM [PDF] [Word .docx]
Download the FINAL REPORT [PDF] [Word .docx]