Call for proposals: British Embassy Podgorica Fund
The Embassy has called for a new round of concept submissions for the next financial year (April 2017 to March 2018).
Background
The British Embassy Podgorica Fund implements projects aimed at supporting UK strategic priorities in Montenegro and the Western Balkans region. The Embassy has called for a new round of concept submissions for the next financial year (April 2017 to March 2018). We seek project proposals in line with our objectives and priority areas.
Our objectives:
- improving the rule of law, including through strengthening reform of the justice sector, and tackling organised crime and corruption
- support institutional capacity building to increase prosperity, stability and security in Montenegro and the Western Balkans
Specific project areas:
- supporting reform of the public administration to increase professionalism, accountability, transparency and independence.
- adoption of European rule of law values and increased efficiency, transparency of, and public confidence in the judicial system.
Grants are awarded to public institutions, local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), media, or other organisations that have displayed strong organisational skill and trustworthiness.
Quality criteria
Irrespective of the project priority area, all projects must meet the following quality criteria:
Sustainability of the project’s results
The impacts of a project should last beyond the life of the project itself. It must be clearly stated which of the project outputs/impacts are sustainable beyond the life of the project and how this sustainability is going to be achieved in the course of the project.
Buy-in of the key beneficiaries/stakeholders of the project
An analysis of the project beneficiaries/stakeholders should be carried out during the preparation of a project, including consultations with the key beneficiaries/stakeholders. It should be clearly stated in the project proposal who the key beneficiaries/stakeholders of the future project are and the level of their support and buy-in to the project. We may require documentary evidence of this support.
Strategic impact for Montenegro
All projects should have a strategic impact on the development of a particular area. This fund is aimed at financing projects at national, rather than on local level.
Risk assessment
Project implementers need to clearly asses and how would they mitigate potential risks to project delivery. The aim is not to discourage high risk projects, but to provide assurance that risk is being managed systematically and escalated properly.
Timing
To apply for FCO funding, interested organisations must submit a project proposal and a completed activity based budget to the Embassy’s Project Section. Project bids are required by 23:59 (Central European Time) on 20th of March 2017, sent by email to podgorica.projects@fco.gov.uk in the same file format as on this webpage (MS Word and MS Excel).
All emails will be followed up by an automated system response, confirming your application has been received.
If you do not receive such response, please telephone the Embassy and ask to be put through to the Projects Section to confirm project proposal has been received.
Management
The minimum size of the project proposals that are reviewed is £25,000. Projects spanning up to 2 financial years (1 April -31 March) are permitted. Co-funded projects are welcomed.
We regret that we are unable to fund academic courses or research. If you would like some advice or guidance in advance of submitting the bids, please contact us at podgorica.projects@fco.gov.uk
Project assessment is made in coordination with our Country Business Plan and depends on the funds availability.
Only successful bidders will be contacted. Projects section will aim to contact all successful bidders by 17 April 2017.
Approval, contract and reporting
If the project is approved, the applicant will be given two copies of the contract, outlining the conditions of the grant. One signed copy must be returned to the British Embassy Podgorica.
The Embassy will require quarterly project progress and financial reports from implementers.
The first payment will be made upon the receipt of financial report. When the project has been completed the implementer shall prepare and send a final report to the Embassy within the period specified in the contract.
Contact
If you would like some advice or guidance in advance of submitting the bids, please contact us at podgorica.projects@fco.gov.uk