CFA: Cultivating the Humanities and Social Sciences Intiative Grants

Hello Molly, I'm a novice here and these are questions that I have:

1.What is the 10% administrative overhead that is being discussed about? Does it mean that the amount (10%) should be clearly specified in our budget as a separate category? 

2. I really didn't get the "SIDA per diem" concept. Can you please explain it in layman's terms? 

3. My proposed project would be done within India, and I don't have to travel outside the country. Do I have anything to do with the "SIDA per diem"? 

4. Kindly mention the bank transfer fee for India. 

5. My budget will be an estimate of the total expenditure. However, during work or after sanction, if the estimation increases, what will happen?

Dear Veenita,

The 10% overhead fee is what your institution can claim from the grant award. Since the grant awards are disbursed through the awardee's university, the institution can claim 10% of the grant to compensate for any administrative cost they bear. The per diem costs are per diems established by SIDA (the funding agency for the CHSS grant program) on what amount is allowed per day for ground travel and meals within a given country. If you are doing research travel or interviews within India you can claim per diem on the days in which you are traveling to pay for meals and ground transportation during the research period. It depends on what exactly your project is if you are to claim per diem or not. Typically, a wire transfer fee from a US bank to an international bank is $35 USD. The grant will be paid out in 2 transactions, the first one 80% and then the last 20%. So, I would budget two (2) $35 USD wire transfer fees, plus whatever your bank may charge you for an incoming payment (if any). Small changes in budgets may be permitted, but it will be up to the discretion of the Grant Financial Coordinator. In general, you should try to estimate the actual cost of your project to the best of your ability, as having an accurate budget will greatly benefit you if you are a CHSS grant award winner. 

Hello Molly, I'm a novice here and these are questions that I have:

1.What is the 10% administrative overhead that is being discussed about? Does it mean that the amount (10%) should be clearly specified in our budget as a separate category? 

2. I really didn't get the "SIDA per diem" concept. Can you please explain it in layman's terms? 

3. My proposed project would be done within India, and I don't have to travel outside the country. Do I have anything to do with the "SIDA per diem"? 

4. Kindly mention the bank transfer fee for India. 

5. My budget will be an estimate of the total expenditure. However, during work or after sanction, if the estimation increases, what will happen?

Thank you for the elaborate and patient reply. It has cleared most of my doubts except per diem rates. I am sharing a basic tentative calculation, please tell me how to add/convert. This is the only place where I'm stuck.

If I am doing a field work for 15 days straight, an approx accomodation cost will be 12 dollars (INR 1000) per day and food will be 3 dollars per day. 

Per diem rates excluding accomodation for India is 359 Krona which is 32.62 dollars. 

Now how do i calculate?

Dear Veenita,

The 10% overhead fee is what your institution can claim from the grant award. Since the grant awards are disbursed through the awardee's university, the institution can claim 10% of the grant to compensate for any administrative cost they bear. The per diem costs are per diems established by SIDA (the funding agency for the CHSS grant program) on what amount is allowed per day for ground travel and meals within a given country. If you are doing research travel or interviews within India you can claim per diem on the days in which you are traveling to pay for meals and ground transportation during the research period. It depends on what exactly your project is if you are to claim per diem or not. Typically, a wire transfer fee from a US bank to an international bank is $35 USD. The grant will be paid out in 2 transactions, the first one 80% and then the last 20%. So, I would budget two (2) $35 USD wire transfer fees, plus whatever your bank may charge you for an incoming payment (if any). Small changes in budgets may be permitted, but it will be up to the discretion of the Grant Financial Coordinator. In general, you should try to estimate the actual cost of your project to the best of your ability, as having an accurate budget will greatly benefit you if you are a CHSS grant award winner. 

Hello Molly, I'm a novice here and these are questions that I have:

1.What is the 10% administrative overhead that is being discussed about? Does it mean that the amount (10%) should be clearly specified in our budget as a separate category? 

2. I really didn't get the "SIDA per diem" concept. Can you please explain it in layman's terms? 

3. My proposed project would be done within India, and I don't have to travel outside the country. Do I have anything to do with the "SIDA per diem"? 

4. Kindly mention the bank transfer fee for India. 

5. My budget will be an estimate of the total expenditure. However, during work or after sanction, if the estimation increases, what will happen?

Dear Veenita,

Per diem covers food and ground transportation (bus, car, train, etc) costs per day, and lodging is separate. You can claim lodging and up to the $32.62 USD for meals and travel daily on your budget. 

Thank you for the elaborate and patient reply. It has cleared most of my doubts except per diem rates. I am sharing a basic tentative calculation, please tell me how to add/convert. This is the only place where I'm stuck.

If I am doing a field work for 15 days straight, an approx accomodation cost will be 12 dollars (INR 1000) per day and food will be 3 dollars per day. 

Per diem rates excluding accomodation for India is 359 Krona which is 32.62 dollars. 

Now how do i calculate?

Dear Veenita,

The 10% overhead fee is what your institution can claim from the grant award. Since the grant awards are disbursed through the awardee's university, the institution can claim 10% of the grant to compensate for any administrative cost they bear. The per diem costs are per diems established by SIDA (the funding agency for the CHSS grant program) on what amount is allowed per day for ground travel and meals within a given country. If you are doing research travel or interviews within India you can claim per diem on the days in which you are traveling to pay for meals and ground transportation during the research period. It depends on what exactly your project is if you are to claim per diem or not. Typically, a wire transfer fee from a US bank to an international bank is $35 USD. The grant will be paid out in 2 transactions, the first one 80% and then the last 20%. So, I would budget two (2) $35 USD wire transfer fees, plus whatever your bank may charge you for an incoming payment (if any). Small changes in budgets may be permitted, but it will be up to the discretion of the Grant Financial Coordinator. In general, you should try to estimate the actual cost of your project to the best of your ability, as having an accurate budget will greatly benefit you if you are a CHSS grant award winner. 

Hello Molly, I'm a novice here and these are questions that I have:

1.What is the 10% administrative overhead that is being discussed about? Does it mean that the amount (10%) should be clearly specified in our budget as a separate category? 

2. I really didn't get the "SIDA per diem" concept. Can you please explain it in layman's terms? 

3. My proposed project would be done within India, and I don't have to travel outside the country. Do I have anything to do with the "SIDA per diem"? 

4. Kindly mention the bank transfer fee for India. 

5. My budget will be an estimate of the total expenditure. However, during work or after sanction, if the estimation increases, what will happen?