Official Development Assistance Programme 2019-2020: Expressions of Interest
The British Embassy in Caracas invites interested organisations to send in their Expressions of Interest for the 2019-2020 period.
The British Embassy in Caracas invites interested organisations to send in their Expressions of Interest for the 2019-2020 period.
We invite interested organisations to send in their Expression of Interest to become project implementers for our 2019-2020 Official Development Assistance (ODA) bilateral programme, as per our expected outcomes.
Deadline: Sunday 10 March 2019, midnight.
What is the ODA bilateral programme?
The ODA Bilateral Programme is the main channel through which the British Embassy finances projects in Venezuela. These should contribute towards achieving results within strategic objectives and expected outcomes identified by the Embassy, which benefit Venezuela.
During the 2018-2019 financial year (FY), the Embassy supported various projects on areas such as human rights and democracy, economic reform, sustainable development and energy.
What are the Embassy´s expected cooperation objectives for FY 2019-2020?
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Increased capacity for local journalists, media outlets and press workers – with a particular focus on regional media – to operate in a complex and economically constrained environment, including by improving their digital safety protocols, their access to international protection mechanisms and their ability to develop more self-sustainable business models.
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Girls and young women from low-income communities are empowered about their sexual and reproductive rights, as a way to prevent teenage pregnancy, and to increase their ability to complete their education and fulfil their potential.
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Capacities of civil society organisations, especially human rights defenders, strengthened to interact with regional and international human rights systems.
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Strengthened capacities of community-based organisations to carry out independent and impartial data collection and information management on sectors such as food, health, protection and education, while promoting an effective coordination with relevant stakeholders.
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Improved capacity to strengthen management of economic institutions.
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Strengthened capacity of economic actors (including the private sector) to contribute to economic stability.
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Evidence-based policy proposals to develop key economic sectors other than oil and gas produced.
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Community-driven solutions to improve access to energy and water, and climate resilience.
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Targeted and sustainable solutions to strengthen agricultural production.
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Strategies to better communicate economic policies developed, especially on subsidy reform.
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Improved capacity to strengthen management of oil, gas and electricity industries.
Gender Equality Manifesto
The British Government is committed to achieving gender equality at home and worldwide, which is why we pushed for a standalone Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on gender.
We are committed to a foreign policy, which consciously and consistently delivers for women and girls. This is not only the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do. Women make up over 50% of the population and deserve to have their voices heard and their rights protected. We believe girls and women everywhere should be treated equally, be empowered, and be safe.
As such, we expect that all projects funded by the Embassy are gender mainstreamed by:
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paying careful consideration to the level of female participation in the delivery of project activities, which applies both for implementers and beneficiaries
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understanding and responding to the different needs of women and girls taking part/benefited by the project, which should be considered at the project design stage, during its implementation, and as part of the evaluation of the project impact
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considering and preparing for the differentiated impact the activities may have on women and girls taking part in the project
Who may send in their Expression of Interest?
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state institutions – at all levels
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non-governmental organisations (NGOs), legally registered
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universities
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think tanks
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private sector and commerce and industry chambers
Before applying, please be sure you are able to submit the following legal documentation, when required by the Embassy (do not forward these documents when applying):
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digital copy of the Trade Register/Articles of Incorporation (Registro Mercantil o Acta Constitutiva)
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copy of the Fiscal Registration identification number (Registro de Identificación Fiscal (RIF))
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letter-headed document specifying bank account details
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a copy of the Identity Card (Cédula) of the legal representative of the organisation
What is the process timeline?
| 11 February 2019 | Call for potential implementers to send in their Expressions of Interest opens |
| 10 March 2019 | Deadline for potential project implementers to send in their Expressions of Interest |
| 25 March 2019 | Embassy notifies shortlisted potential project implementers of their semi-finalist status, and asks them to develop a full project bid, accompanied by its Activity Based Budget (ABB), aimed at achieving one of the specified outcomes |
| 8 April 2019 | Deadline for implementers to submit full project bid and ABB |
| 25 April 2019 | Embassy project board meets and approves projects |
| 26 April 2019 | Embassy notifies decisions of the project board |
| 15 May 2019 | Grant agreements/contracts/MOUs signed with approved project implementers and project implementations starts |
How does the selection process work?
If you think your organisation can support the Embassy in the delivery of our cooperation objectives, please complete the format attached in English and forward it to projects.caracas@fco.gov.uk by the indicated deadline, including the name of your organisation in the subject line (e.g. Asociación Venezolana de Investigaciones Sociales).
The form is designed to determine why your organisation is best suited to deliver a project aimed at achieving one of our cooperation outcomes, what type of activities you envisage as part of a project funded by the Embassy, how much it would cost and with whom you would partner up to deliver project activities. Please note we will not considered proposals presented in a different format.
After receiving your Expression of Interest, the Embassy will produce a shortlist according to agreed criteria such as whether the project is Official Development Assistance (as per OECD definition), is sustainable in the long-term, has a multiplying effect, represents value-for-money and is gender mainstreamed.
These criteria are reflected in an appraisal matrix the Embassy uses to mark potential project implementers. Those with higher marks will be shortlisted and required to develop a full project bid. Please note the Embassy may consider asking organisations to join up as partners and work on a full project bid together.
IMPORTANT: Successful implementers will be contacted by e-mail. If you have not been contacted by 31 March, your proposal has not been successful. Unfortunately, the Embassy is not able to provide feedback on unsuccessful proposals.
The Embassy project board will then meet in April 2019 to assess project bids. The Embassy expects to sign grant contracts by mid-May.
Some key points to consider before submitting your Expression of Interest
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projects are funded for no more than ten (10) months. Activities should be carried out within the UK financial year (1 April 2019-31 March 2020). Please plan to start activities as of mid-May
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payments are made in arrears (reimbursements). This means that the Embassy is not allowed to pay up-front for project activities which have not taken place
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overhead/administration costs should not exceed 10% of the overall project budget
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85% of the funds must be implemented by mid-December 2019
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make sure the proposed project purpose (in the format) is well defined and specific, and is aimed at achieving at least one of the listed cooperation outcomes
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co-financing from other institutions is welcomed. Please include this as part of your bid if appropriate
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there is particular interest in proposals that involve working with State institutions or those incorporating participation by diverse political groups
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each organisation may only present one (1) Expression of Interest per cooperation outcome
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purchase of capital goods, including infrastructure, properties, furniture and/or IT equipment, is not authorised
What comprises the monitoring process for projects?
Once approved, and in accordance with the grant agreement/contract/MoU, the implementing organisation must submit quarterly reports, and a final evaluation report.
Please note that Embassy staff will keep in touch with your organisation throughout the project implementation and may call for monitoring meetings or participate in project activities.
A few examples of projects financed by the Embassy:
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creation of a network of organisations aimed at tackling violence against women and girls in Venezuela
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diploma course on a culture of peace and human rights for civil servants in Merida municipalities
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raising awareness on LGBTI rights with police officers
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training on PRECIS Climate Modelling System for government officials
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enabling reduction of subsidies of Liquefied Petroleum Gas
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implementation of an on-line participatory budget and procurement system in eight Venezuelan mayoralties.