British Embassy Chisinau announces calls for proposals for this year´s Good Governance Fund - Strategic Support Fund
Submissions for Moldova´s Good Governance Fund – Strategic Support Fund are now welcome.
The UK Government’s Good Governance Fund (GGF) was launched in 2015 to support economic and governance reform initiatives in Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. In 2018, this will expand to also include Armenia and Macedonia.
In Moldova, GGF seeks to support more sustainable economic growth and an enabling business environment, enhanced accountability and transparency of elected leaders and decision takers, reduced vulnerabilities to corruption through citizens and independent media engagement in public policy dialogue.
In line with the priorities of the GGF’s Theory of Change in Moldova, the Fund will support work in the following priority areas in 2018:
Priority area 1: Strengthening independent media and strategic communications
- support to Independent Media and promoting media literacy
- support to Investigative Journalism
- the actions of Government (and other ‘duty bearers’) are subject to independent scrutiny, monitoring and debate (including via high quality and inclusive media platforms (including marginalised groups, ethnic and linguistic minorities both at central and local levels), civil society and wider citizenship to increase accountability, transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption
Priority area 2: Economic growth and enabling business environment
- improving the enabling environment for “doing business” and investment attractiveness
- growth of indigenous business
- regional and local economic development
Priority area 3: Reducing opportunities for corruption and supporting democratic accountability
- better public services delivery, particularly at regional and local levels
- promoting regular, genuine and inclusive public policy dialogue with civil society partners (incl. marginalised groups) at central and local levels
Cross-cutting themes: Anti-corruption, transparency, inclusiveness, gender mainstreaming.
- cross-cutting within the theory of change are anti-corruption and transparency (ie reducing the opportunities and incentives for corruption and fraud and inclusivity (specifically outcomes for women and girls, young people). These themes should be addressed explicitly in all GGF Moldova programming.
This call for proposals specifically seeks applications for projects relating to the Republic of Moldova. Successful applications will be supported through the GGF’s Strategic Support Fund (SSF) which is a highly flexible funding mechanism to support small-scale reform opportunities.
We welcome projects in the value range from £50,000 up to £70,000.
Selection criteria
- projects should demonstrate how they support one or several of the priorities listed above for the GGF, reform priorities identified in-country and where GGF funding can make a real impact
- projects should have clearly defined, SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-limited) outputs and deliverables and demonstrate Value for Money; maximum impact must be demonstrable
Funding may be provided in support of other donors’ activities, provided that these are aligned with GGF strategic priorities:
- SSF project partners may be local or national across Moldova or international organisations
- projects must cover activities which meet Official Development Assistance definitions
- funding may be awarded to consortia of local and/or international organisations; but there will need to be a clear lead organisation that will be accountable for financial and results management and delivery
- funding should usually be awarded to organisations, not individuals. The lead project implementing partner must provide assurance to the British Embassy that they have sufficient capacity and capability to manage the grant to a good standard;
- the fund will not provide core funding to local organisations
- the project should give a proportionate statement on how it will contribute to reducing gender inequality. The UK Government has committed to putting women and girls at the centre of all its efforts to prevent and resolve conflict, to promote peace and stability, and to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls
- the British Embassy’s financial year runs from April to March, funding allocations are for the 2018/19 financial year and must be spent by 31 March 2019
- successful applicants will be required to submit quarterly and final financial and narrative reporting
- as a general rule, grants should not be used to procure goods and equipment but this will be considered on a case-by-case basis; no more than 10% of project funds may be used for equipment. The Fund may not be used for gifting
- payments will be made in MDL at an FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) rate for the respective month
How to apply
Applicants must complete the attached Project Proposal and Project Budget forms (in English). Applicants must be aware that British Embassy Chisinau will accept applications until close of business (6pm) on 26 February 2018 Moldova time. Project proposals submitted after the deadline will not be taken into consideration.
Contact
Applicants must send the completed Project Proposal and Project Budget forms to this email: projects.chisinau@fco.gov.uk