Objectives of the Call for Proposals
There are two specific objectives of this Call for Proposals, which are described below, each objective to be addressed by a component of the Call for Proposals:
Objective of Component 1 To increase access to modern, affordable and sustainable energy services for rural and peri-urban poor by focusing on renewable energy solutions as well as on energy efficiency measures
Objective of Component 2 To improve governance and framework conditions in the energy sector at regional, national and local levels, in particular those aimed at promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency
Priorities of the Call for Proposals
Priority will be given to renewable energy and decentralised solutions consistent with partner countries' development goals. The use of fossil fuels is however not excluded when sustainability considerations so warrant, for example for cleaner cooking fuels or for the development of hybrid solutions. All projects must be sustainable and meet relevant criteria in terms of economic, social and environmental impact.
Energy efficiency is also a priority which could be tackled from the angle of sustainable use of local resources (efficient use of biomass as a cooking fuel, improved stoves, etc.), but also in the perspective of improved management of energy systems.
Considering the limited amount of funds available under this facility in comparison with the required investment needs, two other aspects should also be given priority. First, private sector and bank's investments and participation in the energy sector will be sought, notably by supporting the reduction of barriers for private sector involvement. Furthermore, innovative schemes from a technical, management and financial point of view will be encouraged, and in particular schemes that lend themselves to scaling-up in national and regional programmes.
Under component 2, priority will be given to the initiatives which will help to put in place adequate frameworks for increasing access to energy services in a perspective of poverty reduction and for the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Acties/Activiteiten
2.1.3 Eligible actions: actions for which an application may be made
a. Duration and Location
The planned duration of an action may not exceed 48 months.
Actions must take place in one or more of the ACP countries and be to the benefit of the populations of the ACP Countries having ratified the revised Cotonou Agreement. In the case of taking place in more than one ACP country, the applicant must indicate in which country will the headquarters of the operation be based and/or which country will have the leading role.
b. Types of action
For a proposed action (=project) to be eligible for financing under this Call for Proposals, it must first of all fall under the general objective of the Energy Facility given in 1.1, and under one of the specific objectives given in 1.2 for Component 1 and Component 2 respectively.
An eligible action must also adhere to the priorities given in 1.2. These priorities include the social and economic impact at the local level, thereby contributing to reducing poverty, and the use of local renewable energy sources and decentralised solutions.
Furthermore, for an action to be eligible, it must be respecting the policy recommendations given in 1.2, in particular be consistent with the recipient country's energy sector framework.
Actions must have clearly quantified impacts (e.g. affordability, people reached, quality improvements) and demonstrate sustainability (e.g. operation and maintenance, environmental benefits including protection of ecosystems, reduction of energy pollution related diseases, as well as economic, social and environmental sustainability). They should demonstrate a multiplier effect can be achieved.
Begunstigden:
2.1.1 Eligibility of applicants: who may apply?
(1) The applicant will be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action, not acting as an intermediary . The applicant will act as the lead organisation and, if selected, as the contracting party (the “Beneficiary”). The applicant or the partner(s) must have a real presence in the concerned country/ies.
(2) In order to be eligible for a grant, applicants must:
Belong to one of the following categories:
• ACP State actors. Proposals may be submitted by ACP States having ratified the revised Cotonou Agreement (excluding the Republic of South Africa and Cuba), the applicant being a State agency, department or Ministry entrusted with responsibilities related to the implementation of activities relevant to the call. In case of ACP decentralised authorities (at local level) which, under the current national law, have no distinct juridical personality from the State nor the capacity to be a grant applicant, proposals may be presented at governmental level by the above mentioned State body.
Proposals by ACP State applicants must be presented with the letter of endorsement of the National Authorising Officer (model included in annex to the Application Form).
ACP State Applicants are excluded from participation in calls for proposals or the award of grants if they are falling under the application of article 96 (suspension of cooperation) of the Cotonou Agreement at the time of the launch of the Call for Proposals.
• ACP national, local and regional public bodies having a distinct juridical personality from the respective ACP State,
• EU national, local and regional public bodies (with or without a distinct juridical personality from one of the EU Member States, signatories to the 10th EDF),
• Non-state actors , including legal persons under private law entrusted with a public function related to Energy (public utilities, parastatal, semi-public or private with a legally valid concession or other agreement etc.) at Municipal or Regional level,
• International organisations. Only Intergovernmental Organisations that are made up primarily of sovereign States or Member States which are part of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) will be eligible as applicants to this Call. Whenever the EF cofinances an operation implemented through an international organisation, participation in procedures of the awarding of grants shall be open to all natural and legal persons who are eligible in the rules mentioned here, and to all natural and legal persons who are eligible according to the rules of the organisation, care being taken to ensure equal treatment of all donors.
And have the legal capacity to enter into financial and legal agreements with the Commission.
And have a real presence or work with a partner who has a real presence in the ACP country (ies) in which the project will be implemented.
And be nationals of a Member State of the European Union or of ACP countries having ratified the Cotonou Agreement (not applicable to international organisations).
(3) Potential applicants may not participate in calls for proposals or be awarded grants if they are in any of the situations which are listed in Section 2.3.3 of the Practical Guide to contract procedures for EC external actions (available from the following Internet address:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/procedures/implementation/index_en.htm);
In part A, section III of the grant application form (“Declaration by the applicant”), applicants must declare that they do not fall into any of these situations.
(4) Non-ACP applicants MUST partner with an ACP actor. In other words, at least one ACP stakeholder must be part in any proposal, be it as applicant or partner.
2.1.2 Partnerships and eligibility of partners
Applicants may act individually or with partner organisations.
a. Partners
Applicants’ partners participate in designing and implementing the action, and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as those incurred by the grant beneficiary. They must therefore satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable on the grant beneficiary himself. In addition to the categories referred to in section 2.1.1, International (inter-governmental) organisations (as defined by Article 43 of the Implementing Rules to the EC Financial Regulation) others than those referred to under paragraph 2.1.1 here above are also eligible as partners.
An ACP State or public body without a distinct legal personality from State can never act as partner.
Each and every partner must complete and sign the Partnership Statement contained in the Application Form. Partners that participate in the co-financing will also sign a legally binding Co-donor Statement contained in the Application Form.
b. Associates
Other organisations may be involved in the action. Such associates play a real role in the action but may not receive funding from the grant with the exception of per diem or travel costs. Associates do not have to meet the eligibility criteria referred to in section 2.1.1. The associates have to be mentioned in Part B section IV - “Associates of the Applicant participating in the Action” of the Grant Application Form.
Each and every associate must complete and sign the Association Statement contained in the Application Form.
c. Subcontractors
The grant beneficiaries have the possibility to award contracts to subcontractors. Subcontractors are neither partners nor associates, and are subject to the procurement rules set out in the standard grant contract. Therefore, as a general rule, applicants, partners and associates cannot also be subcontractors.
The applicant will act as the lead organisation and, if selected, as the contracting party (the "Beneficiary").
Subcontractors are not partners and do not have to sign the “Partnership Statement.
d. Co-Donors
Co-donors who are not partners do not have to meet the eligibility criteria. However, all co-donors will commit themselves with a legally binding Co-donor Statement contained in the Application Form.
The person who signs on behalf of an organisation will demonstrate his mandate to do so.
The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 100.000.000. The Contracting Authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. In case the number of selected good quality proposals is such that the EC requested contribution exceeds the above indicative amount, the Contracting Authority may propose their funding to other donors or mobilise extra financial resources from the Energy Facility.
Indicative allocation of funds by component:
Component 1: 80 % max
Component 2: 20 % min
In the case where the minimum percentage foreseen for a specific Component cannot be used due to insufficient quality or number of proposals received, the Contracting Authority reserves the right to reallocate the remaining funds to the other Component.
Size of grants
Any grant awarded under this Call for Proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
Component 1 Component 2
minimum amount: EUR 500.000 200.000
maximum amount: EUR 2.500.000 1.500.000
No grant may exceed 75% of the total eligible costs of the action (see also section 2.1.4). The balance must be financed from the applicant's or partners' own resources, or from sources other than the European Community budget or the European Development Fund.
A number of information sessions on this Call for Proposals will be held, please check the agenda available on the ACP-EU Energy Facility and the Delegations' websites:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/acp/regional-cooperation/energy/index_en.htm
Questions may be only sent by e-mail [or by fax] (no phone calls) no later than 21 days before the deadline for the submission of concept notes to the below address, indicating clearly the reference of the call for proposals:
E-mail address: europeaid-energy-facility-helpdesk@ec.europa.eu
Fax: (+32-2) 299.86.22
The Contracting Authority has no obligation to provide further clarifications after this date.
Replies will be given no later than 11 days before the deadline for the submission of concept notes.
In the interest of equal treatment of applicants, the Contracting Authority cannot give a prior opinion on the eligibility of an applicant, a partner, an action or specific activities.
Questions that may be relevant to other applicants, together with the answers as well as other important notices to applicants during the course of the evaluation procedure will be published on the internet at the ACP-EU Energy Facility website:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/acp/regional-cooperation/energy/index_en.htm,
as the need arises. It is therefore highly recommended to regularly consult the abovementioned website in order to be informed of the questions and answers published.
De richtlijnen van deze Call bevinden zich in bijlage.
Alle relevante documenten en informatie van deze call zijn beschikbaar op: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?ADSSChck=1246626693376&do=publi.welcome - Klik 'Search by Reference', nr. 129364
