SayPro Review, vet, and shortlist grant applications received through the SayPro website.

SayPro Application Review and Shortlisting Process

SayPro Monthly Economic Grants – March SCDR-2 Edition
Managed by: SayPro Development Strategic Partnerships Office
Under the Guidance of: SayPro Development Royalty

Background

The SayPro Monthly Economic Grants aim to empower local communities through targeted financial support for projects that contribute to local economic development. The March SCDR-2 edition attracted a high volume of applications from individuals, cooperatives, and community organizations across diverse economic sectors.

All applications were submitted through the official SayPro website, ensuring accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in the intake process.

Key Steps in Application Review and Shortlisting

1. Initial Application Screening

• Upon submission through the SayPro website, applications were automatically logged into a secure centralized grant management system.
• The first stage involved checking for:
  • Eligibility compliance (e.g., geographic location, type of applicant, sector focus).
  • Completeness of submission, including required documentation such as budgets, project proposals, and registration status (if applicable).
• Applications failing to meet the basic criteria were filtered out and flagged for notification.

2. Vetting and Due Diligence

• A cross-functional internal vetting team from the SayPro Development Strategic Partnerships Office conducted an in-depth review of qualifying applications.
• The vetting process involved:
  • Verifying legal status (if applicable) and community involvement of the applicants.
  • Assessing the feasibility and sustainability of proposed projects.
  • Evaluating the alignment with SayPro’s economic development priorities, such as job creation, innovation, and local value chain development.
  • Reference checks, where applicable, were conducted to validate past performance of previous grantees or known entities.

3. Scoring and Evaluation Framework

Each application was scored based on a weighted matrix that included the following criteria:

• Applications were scored individually by at least three evaluators to ensure fairness.
• Final scores were compiled, normalized, and ranked.

4. Shortlisting

• Based on the scores and available funding for the March SCDR-2 call, a shortlist of high-potential projects was compiled.
• Priority was given to:
  • Marginalized or underserved communities.
  • Projects demonstrating clear economic multiplier effects.
  • Proposals from women- and youth-led enterprises.
• Shortlisted applicants were moved to the next stage for interviews or pitch presentations, if required, depending on the funding size and complexity of the project.

5. Communication and Next Steps

• All shortlisted applicants were notified via email and SMS, with clear instructions on next steps, including submission of additional documents or attendance at review meetings.
• Non-selected applicants received constructive feedback, where possible, and were encouraged to reapply in future grant rounds.

Conclusion

The SayPro application review, vetting, and shortlisting process for the March SCDR-2 Edition of the Monthly Economic Grants was conducted with a strong commitment to transparency, equity, and impact. Under the leadership of the SayPro Development Royalty and the execution of the Strategic Partnerships Office, this rigorous process ensures that the grants reach the most promising and impactful local economic development initiatives.