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Call for bids: Peru project funding opportunity now open

British Embassy Lima seeks innovative project ideas to support gender equality, clean growth and media freedom.

British Embassy Lima seeks innovative project ideas to support gender equality, clean growth and media freedom.

British Embassy Lima seeks innovative project ideas to support gender equality, clean growth and media freedom.

Local and international organisations are invited to submit proposals for projects on British Embassy priorities in Peru. Deadline: midnight on Sunday 19 May 2019.

Overview

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s programme funds seek to create real, measurable outcomes in support of the FCO’s policy goals.

We are inviting proposals for projects in the following thematic areas. Organisations can submit more than one proposal; bids for projects that include activity outside of Lima are particularly welcome.

1. Women Rights and Gender Equality

The promotion of women’s rights and gender equality in Peru is a top priority for both the UK and Peruvian governments. There are many challenges. The prevalence of gender-based violence is in part underpinned by a culture in which gender stereotypes are normalised. Women face significant barriers in the workplace and only a small percentage of top businesses are led by women. The LGBTIQ+ population is also particularly vulnerable.

Political sensitivity around the term “gender” delayed the implementation of a gender equality perspective in the national education syllabus and, although the Peruvian government is committed to changing the status quo, insufficient funding to address gender-based violence and promote gender equality pose an additional challenge for the optimal articulation of public policies and services.

The British Embassy would like to work in close partnership with public and private sector stakeholders in Peru to pursue and secure equal rights and opportunities for women, girls and the LGBTIQ+ population in Peru, making their voices heard and protecting them from violence.

To this end, the British Embassy in Lima invites project proposals of up to £65.000 (S/.288,000) in value that aim to:

  1. Advance micro-cultural changes and challenge harmful stereotypes. Projects involving men in the advancement towards gender equality or targeting stereotypes affecting the LGBTIQ+ populations are particularly desirable.

  2. Enhance victim protection by supporting the Peruvian government in the implementation of effective tools to mitigate re-offence.

  3. Promote women’s participation in politics and/or business.

2. Modern Slavery

The fight against modern slavery is a top priority of the British Government. In 2018, Peru endorsed the UK’s Call to Action to End Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, an international policy paper that outlines the practical actions towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, which calls for effective measures to end all forms of modern slavery.

The 2018 Modern Slavery Index indicated that, in Peru, over 80 000 people live in conditions of slavery. Furthermore, Peru ranks 118th of 167 countries on the ‘prevalence of slavery conditions’, which signals that the impact of the strategies and policies to tackle modern slavery is limited.

The UK would like to assist the Peruvian Government in its efforts to reduce all forms of modern slavery. The British Embassy in Lima welcomes project proposals of up to £80.000 (S/. 354,500) that aim to:

  1. Support the Peruvian Judiciary and Public Prosecutor’s Office to eliminate barriers to the effective prosecution of offenders, drawing on British expertise on law interpretation and alternative disposal methods.

  2. Support the implementation of strategies or mechanisms to prevent modern slavery drawing on relevant international conventions, protocols and frameworks.

3. Business and Human Rights (B&HR)

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) state that governments have a duty to protect against human rights abuses committed by business, and that all businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights. Both governments and businesses are expected to have sufficient remedies where violations occur.

In 2013, the UK was the first country to produce a National Action Plan to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles that sets out the steps to follow to put the Principles into practice. The UK model has been replicated in several other countries.

The Peruvian Government, with the Ministry of Justice as leader on this approach, is in the process of developing the first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. They are working in close coordination with businesses, civil society and local communities.

The UK Government wants to work with Peru in the development of this plan, with the aim of improving the relationship between local communities and extractive companies, protecting human rights defenders and enhancing the Peruvian business environment.

The British Embassy in Lima invites project proposals for up to £50.000 (S/.221,570) that aim to:

  1. Identify the degree of compliance with the UNGPs recommendations within targeted Peruvian public institutions, businesses and civil society prioritising the main drivers of the Peruvian Economy and;

  2. Provide technical assistance and training on how to effectively apply the UNGPs in their work environment, through an on-site and virtual capacity- building platform (web and app).

For the following areas we are inviting proposals for activities of up to £10,000 (S/.44,300). Organisations can submit more than one proposal; bids for projects outside of Lima are welcomed.

4. Clean growth

We are looking for activities that support clean growth in Peru. Particular areas of interest are green finance, reducing the use of plastics and initiatives that contribute to making the Pan American and Parapan American Games carbon neutral.

5. Business environment

We are looking for activities that contribute to improving the business environment in Peru. Of particular interest are initiatives in the health and oil and gas sectors. We also welcome initiatives that support the development of the fintech sector in Peru and which raise awareness of intellectual property issues.

6. Competitiveness and productivity

We are looking for activities that address issues of competitiveness and productivity in Peru. Activities that raise the profile of innovation as an approach to boost sustainable development are of particular interest.

7. Venezuela crisis

We invite bids that support the domestic and regional response to the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. We particularly welcome sustainable projects that build capacity for migrants and/or local authorities, and strengthen coordination amongst relevant actors

8. Media freedom

The UK’s international campaign on media freedom aims to shine a spotlight on the importance of media freedom, thereby increasing the costs to those who violate it, and improving the safety of journalists and media workers worldwide. In this context, the British Embassy in Lima welcomes proposals that focus on journalists’ legal rights, self-censorship, ethical reporting (including, but not limited to, fact-checking and privacy rights), and skills and tools for investigating and reporting in provinces or remote areas.

9. Pan American Games legacy

We want to support Peru in securing a lasting legacy for the 2019 Pan American and Para Pan American Games. We welcome proposals for activities that support the social, economic, educational, urban and/or sporting legacy of the Games, particularly in those less developed areas where Pan Am Sport venues are located.

How to bid?

The British Embassy looks to fund practical and high-impact projects. Proposals focusing purely on research, analysis, reports, seminars or workshops will not be successful unless they lead to a specific and measurable outcome or behavioural change.

We are looking for projects that can be set up in June 2019 and which will be completed by March 2020. Implementers should spend 50% of their allocation by September 2019.

Proposals must be submitted on the authorised forms and include an activity based budget (ABB) in soles. There is a form for projects between £10,000 (S/.44,300) and £80,000 (S/.354,500) and for the ABB.

Value for money is an important selection criteria and if you do not submit a detailed ABB then your proposal will not be considered.

Proposals must be submitted in English or Spanish to the email address: BEProjectsPeru@fco.gov.uk. Please use a clear title specifying the area you are applying to e.g. Modern Slavery, Business Environment, etc.

The deadline for submission is midnight on Sunday 19 May 2019.

Successful implementers will be contacted by email. If you have not heard from us by 27 May, your proposal has not been successful. We are not able to provide feedback on unsuccessful proposals.

What to include in the bid form?

  • overview of project or activity
  • how it fits with the UK’s approach to the relevant priority; and why the UK should fund the project or activity
  • how the project or activity will create an impact and lead to change
  • rationale– including why the project or activity should take place now
  • where relevant, evidence of support from Peruvian government actors for the project or activity and that it complements their own strategy
  • information about how the impact will be sustained after the project or activity has been completed

Indicative timetable (Update: Dates below have been changed due to the high volume of bids received)

Dates Activities
30 April 2019 Publication of call of proposals
Midnight on Sunday 19 May 2019 Deadline to submit proposals
3 June 2019 British Embassy Lima email notification to implementers with results
10 June 2019 Contracts and financial arrangements begin. This includes due diligence checks on successful implementers, including financial and governance checks.
June 2019 - dependent on completion of administrative process Start of projects and activities.

Documents for downloading

Published 1 May 2019
Last updated 22 May 2019 + show all updates
  1. Timetable has changed due to the high number of bids received.

  2. First published.