Call for bids: 2019-2020 projects
The British Embassy Moscow and Consulate General Ekaterinburg now invite proposals for project initiatives in Russia in 2019/2020 financial year.
The Programme provides funding for projects that support activities directly connected with the UK’s Foreign Policy priorities and the objectives of the British Embassy and Consulate in Russia. The UK places value on building and maintaining connections between the British and Russian people in a range of common areas.
The UK seeks to champion democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to address global challenges, through policy dialogue and exchange of expertise. There is also emphasis on improving opportunities for doing business better.
The Programme allocates funding through a competitive bidding process.
Bidding round
We expect project initiatives to contribute to the following objectives:
Human Rights and Civil Society
We seek project bids on a range of subjects, including (but not in any priority order below):
- democracy
- civil society and rule of law
- environment
- freedom of expression and association
- freedom of religion or belief
- equality and non-discrimination
- human rights
- media freedom
- modern slavery and human trafficking
Building connections between the UK and Russia in areas of common interest
Bids could focus on fostering connections and exchange of expertise, or they could promote policy dialogue and debate, on a wide range of subjects, including (but not limited to, or in priority order):
Science
- science and innovation projects that enhance UK scientists’ collaboration with Russia’s leading scientists and share scientific excellence and research infrastructure
- researcher links in areas of UK and Russian excellence
- joint programmes including Arctic research, life sciences (including biology, medicine, veterinary, agriculture), global health, chemistry, and clean energy innovation and technology
- building the capacity of Russian science to internationalise
Climate
- UK-Russia partnerships on sustainable development and climate change, involving leading climate scientists and experts
- specialist education in sustainable development
- professional leadership on sustainability and networking of climatologists
- strategic dialogue on a wide range of subjects, including delivering the international climate agenda, carbon regulation, energy efficiency, renewables, sustainable development, strategic climate science and waste
Tourism and sport
- promoting engagement on tourism and sport
Trade
We seek projects bids which focus on (not in any specific order below):
- the ease of doing business and economic diversification in Russia
- trade barriers
- entrepreneurship
Submission procedure
We invite concepts for projects of up to ten months duration (May 2019 to mid March 2020), or projects which can cover two years (May 2019 – March 2021), however two year projects would be contracted one year at a time, the second year being dependent on available funding and the performance of year 1. Concepts would need to identify a clear and complete set of objectives and relevant activities, with budget, for each year.
Project concepts must have a clear purpose supported by achievable and measurable outputs (e.g. events and reports) and outcomes (what the project aims to help address through its activity). Please keep concepts as concise as possible and present the purpose of the project as the benefit which you expect to result from the project activities. The project costs must give the equivalent value in Pounds sterling.
Project bids can be between £10,000 and £500,000.
Applicants are requested to fill in the in English and to send them electronically to the British Embassy in Moscow at: Projects.Russia@fco.gov.uk indicating ‘Concept bid and name of your organisation’ in the subject field.
The closing date for concept bids is 9.00 am (MSK) 7 February 2019. Late submissions will NOT be accepted.
Selected bidders will then be invited to develop their concept into a full project proposal. You will be notified by 20 February 2018 if you are invited to do so. Please note that an invitation to submit a full project proposal does not represent a commitment to fund; it merely indicates that we are interested in your idea and would like to know more.
If you are invited to submit a full project proposal, you will also be invited to an information session at the British Embassy in Moscow for 28 February.
We will aim to make final decisions on project grants in April 2019.
Please note that bidding is competitive and only selected projects will receive funding. The Embassy reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids without incurring any obligation to inform the affected applicant/s of the grounds of such acceptance or rejection. Due to the volume of bids expected we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful bids.