Calling for bids in China: Magna Carta Fund 2018/19
The British Embassy in Beijing is pleased to open a call for concept bids to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy (MCFHRD) for the UK Financial Year 2018/19.
British Embassy Beijing
The MCFHRD encourages promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law across the globe by supporting high-impact projects which promote institution-building, universal issues and that help alleviate the underlying causes of human rights problems.
For the 2018/19 financial year the British Embassy in Beijing is looking for innovative project ideas to be implemented in China in the following key areas:
- supporting a more effective criminal justice system and improving access to justice
- strengthening UK-China Cooperation on: modern slavery; social equity; CSR (corporate social responsibility); the rights of women and children
- effective operation of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in China
- enhancing the media environment and public information transparency
Selection criteria
Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:
- project impact – delivering sustainable, meaningful change in the four relevant target areas
- project viability – including the capacity of implementing organisation to (a) engage with key stakeholders to deliver key outcomes and (b) deliver 85% of programmed expenditure by December 2018
- project design – there must be clear links between the proposed intervention and the project outcomes
- risk management – robust analysis of key risks, and a plan of action to manage and mitigate those risks
- value for money – the number of direct beneficiaries engaged and the scale of achievable outcomes should be competitive; and the ability to draw in co-funding from other partners will also be considered
- why the UK is the most appropriate donor
The reach and range of partners engaged, dissemination strategy and potential to replicate your project will also be considered. We encourage bids that demonstrate aspects of the following:
- collaboration with other partners or groups (multi-stakeholder)
- work in areas where programme funding is less available (e.g. outside tier-one cities)
- are cross-regional in approach
We would draw your attention to a few key points:
- we anticipate accepting bids in the region of £30,000-£75,000
- there is no guarantee of funding for a second year of activity, but implementers may wish to consider how projects could be scaled up if funding were to be agreed;
- we do not fund service-delivery projects; all funding must be activity-based (not for general staff costs, office rental etc.)
How to Apply
The Project Concept Note (PCN) form is attached and the deadline for submitting project concept notes is 23:59 (Beijing time) on Sunday 6th May 2018. Concept bids must be submitted in English. Please use the MCF email account – VLR-Enquiry@fco.gov.uk.
Implementers of successful concept bids will be notified by Monday 14th May 2018, and will be invited to develop full project proposals by 23:59 (Beijing time) on Wednesday 30th May 2018.
Contact information
Please feel free to share this information with any of your partners and contacts who might be interested in bidding.
Magna Carta Programme Team
British Embassy Beijing
Wednesday 18th April 2018