Press Releases

CIIF invites fourth batch proposals

The Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) is inviting the fourth batch of proposal submissions from tomorrow (February 1) until April 15.

The setting up of the $300-million CIIF was announced in the Chief Executive's 2001 Policy Address, to encourage mutual concern and aid, promote community participation, and support cross-sectoral programmes.

The Fund was launched for applications in August 2002. Since then, three batches of proposals totalling over 460 applications seeking funding support for over $600 million, had been received and processed.

From the first two batches of applications, a total of 31 projects were selected, involving total funding support of $23.1 million. As for the third batch, the CIIF Committee has also just announced approval in principle with indicative funding of over $11 million earmarked for a further 13 projects.

The combined allocated funding for the three batches will exceed $34 million as a number of the third batch proposals with potentials to align with the Fund objectives have been invited to revise and resubmit their proposals for funding consideration.

"The CIIF is not meant to be simply giving out financial assistance to people in need," a spokesman for the CIIF Secretariat said. "Instead, it encourages different solutions to local issues."

"The Fund seeks to bring about mindset and strategy changes on how best people and communities in need can strengthen their own abilities to help themselves, and establish strong mutual help networks to help each other."

The approved projects are now distributed over all the Districts, with a wide range of welfare NGOs, community NGOs, residents' groups, women's groups and religious organisations of differing sizes involved as project implementers.

The spokesman said each of the projects selected by the CIIF is unique. "Increased connections across various social groups and collaborative efforts across sectors are amongst some of the common features emerging. Over half of the approved projects have enlisted support and contributions from the private sectors and local businesses," he said.

In the Chief Executive's 2004 Policy Address, it was mentioned that the CIIF had contributed some early efforts in helping to sow the seeds for "tri-partite partnerships" between public, private and NGO sectors.

"Such partnerships are essential, and will need to be further developed, to build up our social capital for a strong, resilient, inclusive and vibrant community," the spokesman said.

Seven briefings for intending applicants or interested community and business partners will be held over February and March in various locations covering Sha Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, Kwai Chung, Tseung Kwan O, Yuen Long and Tai Po. The briefings will provide an overview of what the CIIF expects from each project with examples drawn from some successful local projects. Enrolments for the briefings may be directed to the CIIF Secretariat at 2973-8241.

Details of the briefings are:

16 February 2004 (Monday)
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Lecture Rm 2, Shatin Town Hall, 1 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin

23 February 2004 (Monday)
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Function Rm 2, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

24 February 2004 (Tuesday)
[With simultaneous interpretation into English]
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Government Secretariat Conference Hall, 1/F., New Avenue, Main Wing, Central Government Office, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central

26 February 2004 (Thursday)
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Lecture Rm, Kwai Tsing Theatre, 12 Hing Ning Road, Kwai Chung

1 March 2004 (Monday)
10:30 am - 1:00 pm
Hall, King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre, King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O

3 March 2004 (Wednesday)
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Lecture Rm, Yuen Long Theatre, 9 Tai Yuk Road, Yuen Long

12 March 2004 (Friday)
3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre, 12 On Pong Road, Tai Po

Information on the CIIF can be found at http://www.hwfb.gov.hk/ciif/index.htm.
For enquiries about the CIIF or information on individual projects, please contact Mrs Grace Ng from the CIIF Secretariat, on telephone number 2973-8132.

Ends/Saturday, January 31, 2004
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