REQUEST FOR CONCEPT NOTES Innovation Challenge Grant - GRIT

Confidential

Colombo, Sri Lanka Hybrid permanent

Posted: April 20, 2026

Job Description

GRIT Innovation Challenge Grant

Call for Concept Notes

About the Grant

The Growth, Resilience, Investment and Training (GRIT) Project is inviting organisations in Sri Lanka to submit innovative concept notes to support women entrepreneurs in the Northern Province.

This grant aims to fund new and creative approaches that improve access to mentorship, business development services, markets, and ecosystem support, with a strong focus on gender equality.

Funding Details

Total Fund: LKR 25 – 30 million

Grant per Project: LKR 8 – 15 million

Duration: 12 – 24 months

Implementation Period: Sept 2026 – Aug 2028

Location: Northern Province, Sri Lanka

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

NGOs & Civil Society Organisations

Private sector & Social Enterprises

Universities & Research Institutions

Industry Associations & Chambers

Government bodies (eligible to manage grants)

Consortia (with a lead organisation)

Note: Organisations must be registered in Sri Lanka with at least 3 years of experience and must not have previously received GRIT funding.

What We Are Looking For

Proposals should address real challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, such as:

Tailored mentorship and advisory support

Market access, branding, and distribution

Sector-specific expertise (e.g., tourism, food, tech, textiles)

Ecosystem building and partnerships

Reaching underserved women (e.g., Mannar, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya)

Innovative approaches to ideation and business diversification

Gender Equality – A Core Requirement

All proposals must:

Address barriers faced by women entrepreneurs

Be designed using gender-responsive principles

Ensure inclusive participation and safe engagement

Collect gender-disaggregated data

Reflect gender equality in organisational practices

Application Process

This is a two-stage process:

Concept Note Submission (Stage 1)

Full Proposal (by invitation only)

Access the Full RFP Package

To access the complete Request for Proposal (RFP) documentation including the application guidelines can be accessed here

Key Dates

Information Session: 4 May 2026 (Online) - Register before 30th April 2026 by the google form

Deadline for Concept Notes: 20 May 2026 at 5:00 PM

Project Start: September 2026

How to Apply

Submit your Concept Note (max. 6 pages) with required annexes

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