Call for proposals for China's green finance programme
The BEIS ICF has allocated up to £2 million for technical assistance activities in green finance in China through an open, competitive call for proposals.
The BEIS International Climate Finance Technical Assistance programme aims to support and incentivise China’s transition to a more environmentally sustainable growth model through green finance, and contribute towards the goal of developing a commercially-driven and sustainable global market for green finance.
The programme has four pillars:
- Harmonisation: more unified and harmonised green finance guidelines and standards that align with international practices, both domestically and overseas (especially along the Belt & Road countries).
- Transparency: more transparent and responsible investment approaches that take account of climate-related financial risks and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment.
- Innovation: increased innovation in green finance products and practice models.
- Capacity Building: furthering the UK-China green finance partnership, accelerating practical implementation of national green finance policies across the country, and promoting wider stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing at regional/city/local level.
Call for proposals
BEIS ICF has allocated up to £2 million for technical assistance activities in green finance in China through an open, competitive call for proposals. Funds are available for projects of up to one year in length.
Projects funded though this bidding round must:
- relate to one or more of the four pillars of the call for proposals
- require funding of between £150,000 - £500,000 (indicative), for up to one year length of activity from the point of contracting
- be compatible with Official Development Assistance (ODA) criteria
- facilitate the exchange of policy and commercial expertise. Good proposals will demonstrate substantial collaboration and involvement on implementation between Chinese and UK and/or international partners
- demonstrate that host governments have been consulted and are supportive of the project
Further information on our programme work can be found in the attached publication (links below).
Bidding round stages
The Green Finance Technical Assistance Programme in China is coordinated by the British Embassy in Beijing. The bidding process is split between a concept stage and a full proposal stage.
Stage 1: Concept bid development. Implementing organisations develop concept bids in consultation with the Embassy, and submit by the deadline (using the Project Concept Bid form provided).
Stage 2: Approval of concept bids. Concept bids are assessed on strategic fit, potential for transformational impact, value for money, additionality, and deliverability. Implementers successful at this concept stage are invited to develop full bids.
Stage 3: Development and approval of full bids. Successful implementing organisations are invited to submit full bids, which are assessed by a Programme Board. Successful projects will then begin from August 2018.
Proposed timetable
Proposals should be submitted by email to the ICF programme team at ICF.China@beis.gov.uk by 23:59 on Friday, 29 June (UK time).
- Call for proposals: 21 May 2018 to 29 June 2018
- Results announced for concept bids: late July 2018
- Full bids submitted: August 2018
- Results announced for full bids: August 2018
- Projects to start: September 2018
The timetable is subject to change, at the discretion of the programme team.
Attachments to download
- ICF China Green Finance Call for Proposals Strategy and Guidelines (English Version & Chinese Version)
- Technical Assistance Project Concept Bid template (English Version)
- Technical Assistance Project Concept Bid Guidance (English Version)
- Technical Assistance Project Concept Bid Checklist (English Version)
- Frequently Asked Questions (English Version)
- Slides for Implementers Briefing Workshop (English Version)
If proposals are accepted at the concept stage, implementers will be required to submit a more detailed bid form and more detailed activity-based budget (ABB). The ICF programme team will provide the template documents for full proposals to successful implementing organisations in due course.
China Green Finance programme team contact details
For further details on the call for proposals, please contact the programme team by email at ICF.China@beis.gov.uk.
Implementers briefing workshop
The Programme team will host a workshop (to be delivered in English) for potential implementers in Beijing and London, subject to enough expressions of interest received.
The workshop will:
- brief on ICF Technical Assistance Program
- brief on ICF China Green Finance Program strategy
- explain the requirements for the bid form
- provide opportunities for potential implementers to discuss concept ideas with relevant policy leads and project managers
Beijing Workshop:
Time: 14:00-16:00 on Friday 15 June 2018
Venue: British Embassy Beijing (in English)
Registration Deadline: by 17:00 on Sunday 10 June 2018 (China time)
Register form: Here
London Workshop:
Time: 9:30-11:30 on Tuesday 19 June 2018
Venue: BEIS Conference Centre (left hand entrance) 1 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0ET
Registration Deadline: by 9:30 on Monday 18 June 2018 (UK time)
Register form: Here
If you are interested in attending the workshop, please fill in the relevant form above and send to ICF.China@beis.gov.uk before deadline, with either “Beijing workshop” or “London workshop” in the subject field. The programme team will send you a confirmation.