There is a clear separation between CISU's two main tasks: assessing applications for the pools of funds on one hand; and providing advice, courses, and grant management on the other. This separation is to ensure that CISU's role as an advisor does not conflict with its role as a granting authority.
The Grant Assessment System includes an Assessment Committee and a group of Assessment Consultants on each pool of funds. The Assessment Consultants assess the applications both professionally and administratively, and then write a recommendation to the Assessment Committee, which makes the final decision.
Assessment consultants are part-time employees at CISU, while the Granting Committees are appointed by the board, which constitutes CISU's political leadership. Thus, there is a complete separation between the Grant Assessment Systems' decision-making and CISU's advisory and administrative functions.
Granting Committees
The Granting Committees are responsible for making decisions on applications for CISU pools of funds (see below). The committees also contribute to professional discussions to ensure consistency between CISU's granting practices and the funds' guidelines. The committees also contribute to the continued development of granting practices and guidelines for the different pools of funds.
The Granting Committees make decisions based on a recommendation from the Assessment Consultants. Applicants receive responses directly from the Granting Committee.
Members of the Granting Committee
The members of the granting committee are appointed by CISU's board based on open calls. The committees are appointed for two years at a time and can be reappointed once. The Chairperson of the committees are appointed by the board.
Assessment Consultants
CISU has employed part-time Assessment Consultants who are tasked with making a professional and administrative assessment of applications. The Sssessment Consultants then write up a recommendation to the Granting Committee, which makes the decision.
Assessment Consultants are responsible for the entire administrative processing of applications. If Assessment Consultants need additional information to process the application, they will contact the applicant directly.