Frequent requests of information
Differences between grants and awards
| Modalities | Grants | Awards |
| Objective | Provide non-refundable financial and technical support to projects, initiatives or solutions that support LACNIC’s Internet vision. | Distinguish and highlight with financial recognition, projects, initiatives or solutions that present concrete evidence of impact, whether they are ongoing or already completed, that support LACNIC’s Internet vision. |
| Project development status | In progress, started or completely new. | In progress or completed but with concrete evidence of impact/results. |
| Granted benefits | Financial support up to USD 20.000, monitoring, technical support, dissemination opportunities of the results and knowledge generated. | Financial support of USD 5.000, opportunities for dissemination, cooperation and contact with other actors in the technical and/or research community. |
| Execution time | 12 months (projects may be shorter) | Does not apply |
Eligibility
Possess the general application requirements and belong to one or more categories of beneficiaries. It is recommended to carefully consider the information contained in the terms and conditions, the categories and thematic axes, as well as the first and second order evaluation and selection criteria.
In both types of the Program (Grants or Awards), applicants must be based and develop their activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, specifically in territories of LACNIC’s coverage area. Likewise, the proposals must focus on these territories.
In all cases, the following institutions or groups may apply for the FRIDA Program:
- Operators, IXPs, NOGs, or other actors in the technical community
- Universities, research centers, or working groups/experts
- Associations, cooperatives, and other civil society organizations
- Public and/or government agencies
- Private entities and/or companies
Interested parties located outside the LACNIC coverage area may also apply, exclusively as associates of a proposing/responsible institution, located in one of the territories of the LACNIC coverage area whose project focuses on one or more of said territories. This does not exclude that the project also covers other contexts.
Applicants must be duly and legally constituted under its jurisdiction and have legal status. Otherwise, and if their project is selected under the FRIDA program, the beneficiary must seek to associate with an institution/organization that meets said condition and that acts as a partner entity, signing the corresponding agreement with LACNIC – FRIDA and assuming the rights and obligations under it, to which the Funds will be channeled under the program. In all cases, the partner entity must be related to the area of activity of the beneficiary and the theme of the selected project.
Application
Prior to the application, the topic and the type of support that corresponds (subsidy, award) must be identified.
Projects must be submitted through the FRIDA application platform on the date/time indicated in the call.
To do this, they must follow the following steps:
- Access and register on the platform https://programafrida.net/en/frida-application-platform
Those who already have a user on the FRIDA application platform must reset their password.
- Start the initial application only at the opening day and time of the call.
- Select the thematic category and axis associated with the project (the subcategory if applicable).
- Identify the type of support that corresponds (grant or award).
- Complete the indicated fields related to the project.
Execution of the Grants
Projects that receive funding through grants must be executed within a maximum period of 12 months from the signing of the contract with LACNIC (estimated in November-December of the year of the call). It is recommended that the project start no earlier than January of the following year.
The selected projects must present some documents requested by the FRIDA team and will proceed to sign the grant agreement. In the case of projects selected under the Awards modality, they must sign a letter of acceptance of terms and conditions and send a brief document of the activities in which they will use the financial support.
Additionally, projects under the Grant modality must present two reports, one intermediate and one final, composed of a technical and a financial section. They will also hold regular meetings during the execution period.
Funding
The FRIDA program is currently funded exclusively by LACNIC.
In prior editions, the program received significant support from the IDRC, the Internet Society, the Swedish International Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Seed Alliance.
In cases of projects awarded with a grant, and under certain conditions of non-compliance and/or non-execution of the project by the beneficiaries, LACNIC – FRIDA could terminate the agreement and request the devolution/return of the funds.
Disbursement of funds
The funds are disbursed in 3 stages:
- First transfer: 40%. Followed by the initial meeting with the FRIDA team and the expert evaluator assigned to the project.
- Second transfer: 40%. Against compliant delivery of the intermediate technical and financial reports, along with the corresponding meeting with the FRIDA team and the expert evaluator assigned to the project.
- Third transfer: 20%. Against compliant delivery of the intermediate technical and financial reports, along with the corresponding meeting with the FRIDA team and the expert evaluator assigned to the project.