Ember Call Out: En Français

Aug 20, 2019

Ember Call Out: En Français

Ember is seeking applications for community mental health projects from low- and middle-income countries. Successful applicants will be integrated into a 12-month program designed to support, strengthen or develop the project, as appropriate.

What is Ember?

Ember is a collaboration between the SHM Foundation and the Mental Health Innovation Network at the heart of the Center for Global Mental Health. Ember supports the development of innovative projects in the field of mental health. We believe that people who work at a local level within communities are particularly well equipped to meet the needs of people living with mental health issues in low-income settings. On the other hand, we also recognize that community projects encounter many challenges, especially during their development phase, such as access to financing, recruiting people with the appropriate skills, or even developing a strong network. Ember was created with the goal of helping innovators overcome these barriers so they become more viable and maximize their impact. We are delighted to work in collaboration with CBM International.

Who are we?

We are big supporters of interdisciplinary ways of working, and our team reflects this by combining expertise in mental health, social services, development, academic research, governance, fundraising and communications. As a result, Ember has an extensive network of partners in these areas and beyond, which we use to connect innovators with the support they need.

What can you get from Ember?

We will work with you to identify, understand and prioritize your strengths, as well as find solutions to overcome the biggest obstacles standing in the way of your project. We do not claim to have a “miracle recipe”, but we have at our disposal a solid team and the tools to help you succeed. For example, we could help you:

· Develop your commercial strategy;

· Be more effective in your fundraising;

· Improve your brand design and communication;

· Evaluate your impact;

· Increase your visibility;

· Access legal support;

· Find collaborators who will support you.

The support Ember provides is tailored to you and your needs, rooted in a philosophy of collaboration, respect and mutual learning. Applicants must be willing to dedicate their time to collaboration. Those who are successful must be able to dedicate 3 hours per week over 12 months to work with the Ember team.

We mainly work by telephone, Skype and other platforms such as WhatsApp. That said, successful applicants can also expect a week-long visit from a member of the Ember team.

Is there financial support?

Our funding allows us to provide a small stipend to each participating project as compensation for the time spent on the process. However, Ember is not a funder and the support we provide is in-kind rather than financial.

That said, we will work with successful candidates to strengthen their financial situation. Among other things, this means that the Ember network could offer opportunities for in-kind support, such as legal or design advice, or training in fundraising techniques, or even contact with potential funders.

What is the application process?

We understand that applications can take a long time, and that this is difficult especially for smaller projects. We have tried to keep the application process as efficient as possible by dividing it into several stages.

Step 1: Submit answers to this short online questionnaire. A member of the team will contact you by email within four weeks, letting you know if you have progressed to the next round.

2nd Step: If successful, we will contact you to arrange a thirty-minute interview by telephone or Skype. You will then receive an email from a member of the team within four weeks letting you know if you have progressed to the next step.

Step 3: If you are successful, we will contact you to arrange a longer interview, to discuss in more detail the work you do and the challenges you face. Following this, you will be included in a pre-selection, which will be submitted to a group of independent advisors. The latter will choose the final list of selected projects. You will receive an email from a team member within four weeks, letting you know if you were successful. Otherwise, you will receive a detailed response, which will highlight your strengths as well as your challenges and tips for overcoming them in the future.

What are the criteria for applying?

In order to be successful in the process, candidates must:

  • Working in the field of mental health. We are particularly interested in organizations that attempt to:
  • Fill a gap in services or support already in place;
  • Raise awareness or deepen understanding of mental health;
  • Develop innovative local solutions to specific mental health problems.
  • Work in a low- or middle-income country.
  • Have direct engagement with communities. We are unlikely to collaborate with rights organizations, political organizations, government departments or think tanks.
  • Do not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race or ability. However, religious organizations can apply.
  • Have a team of more than one person. Volunteers can be included.

All applications must be submitted by September 17, 5 p.m. GMT.

Still have questions ?

Apply for a 12-month partnership with Ember, visit: https://embermentalhealth.org/...