Reduce and Streamline Research Costs
How Funding Is Acquired
When I started my internship my assumption was that funding came largely from private individual donors. Ex founders of companies retired and looking to engage in a philanthropic retirement. However, as I researched it became apparent that most of the funding for the NGO's, and indeed a very large portion for the government of Sierra Leone itself, comes from foreign government entities such as the various agencies under the EU, the USA, and more. When reviewing the proposal projects to get funding, and the requirements placed upon groups that receive funding, I was surprised how structured the funding system is. Many processes, benchmarks, etc. to receive continued funding - donation - progress payments that often last up to a couple of years. Three key aspects emerged for groups seeking funding to be successful. The first was a knowledge of where to seek it, or knowing people at the agencies to help promote the group's application. The second was extensive data and research supporting the proposal (and later reports as well) for funding. The third was knowing the processes and key words the sought after funder likes in applications for receiving funding. For my recommendation, I focused on the second key: extensive data and research. How can these entities get the research and data they need to support funding, without expending large amounts of their current funding? A more effective way to find data without duplicating the efforts of other disconnected NGO's, that reduced costs, and streamlined impacts? Ultimately the proposition I will present is one more novel and simple than I expected.
On an unrelated note, I pack up today to go to Sierra Leone in person for a couple of weeks. I find myself surprised at how nervous I am! Having traveled quite a bit before for both work and leisure, I have not been anxious traveling in a long time. However, since the last time I really went for an exotic trip to a destination ranked low on safety and high on tropical diseases I have had kids of my own to worry about and miss while gone. Furthermore, I was dramatically skinnier (recently decided it's time to start getting back in shape) and thus more self-confident in my ability to run long and fast if things actually did get messy. Not to mention being cooped up inside my air-conditioned and heated American home with remote work and school for a year and a half. As such, I am nervous - but incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to the field, get back outside, and do my best to help bless the lives of those AdvocAid helps.
Thank you to Prof. Warren and the William and Mary Law School for providing this opportunity and making it a reality. It has been my privilege and honor. Furthermore, some of my research has piqued my research for other ways to help, and I suspect my activities in Sierra Leone will not end with the conclusion of this internship.
Michael Davis