Doelstellingen
The global objective of this Call for Proposals is to improve the living conditions of the social groups which continue to suffer most from the deterioration of the national socio-economic conditions. It aims to contribute to overcoming persistent technical and organisational deficiencies and deficits which cause unstable availability, distribution and use of food by these target groups.
The specific objectives of this Call for Proposals are:
• Lot 1 - Community-based projects:
Contributing to stabilising food production and availability, and to improving access to food and nutrition.
• Lot 2 - Partnership projects:
Building the capacity of Korean technical staff and institutions (ministries, academies, research institutes, specific public services in the sub-sectors concerned such as plant protection offices, etc.) to enable them to initiate, or build on, contacts and past collaboration experiences with non-Korean institutions, and update their technical knowledge in order to strengthen their capacity to address the various structural food security problems; as much as possible, by their own national means (such project foresee little supply of equipment – see Point 1.3 below).
Such partnership projects also aim at further empowering and involving Korean technical counterparts in discussing and defining, together with donors (not only EU), what food security actions would be most appropriate to the DPRK context and how they could better address them.
Note on the implementation context of EC-funded grant contracts in the DPRK:
- In 2006, a new coordination body within the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) was created to coordinate and centralise all EU-funded aid: the Korean-European Co-operation Coordination Agency (KECCA). The National Coordination Committee (NCC) is a similar set-up but for UN agencies.
In parallel, the EU NGOs who have an office in the DPRK have gathered under a set-up called the "European Union Project Support" (EUPS). EU NGOs are "EUPS Units" therein, and are, in no circumstances, referred to by their organisation's legal name but by their EUPS Unit number. Officially, there is no EU NGO in the DPRK.
- It is currently very difficult for organisations other than the ones gathered under the EUPS to either join the EUPS and/or get a resident permit. Applicants who will submit applications under this call, but who do not have a resident status in the DPRK and will therefore very likely be "visiting organisations", will therefore have to demonstrate, in their project proposal, that this will not prevent an effective and efficient implementation of their project activities and that their Korean implementing partners are qualified and capable to efficiently implement the action work independently whenever applicants are not in country.
- (Bi-)Monthly EUPS Coordination Board meetings are the main forum for direct contacts and discussions between the NGOs/EUPS Units and the KECCA. When in the DPRK, experts/representatives of EC-funded "visiting organisations" are invited to attend these meetings.
- Additionally to having to work under the EUPS or from abroad, access to, and communication with, the KECCA and local partners is tightly controlled; as are access to beneficiary groups and in-country travel. The KECCA/MFA assigns to each organisation (whether resident or not) a Liaison Officer and other local staff. The number of expatriate staff is limited and is generally proportional to the budget of the Action, and any regional project administration office to be set-up for project implementation purposes must be authorised by the KECCA.
- Grant beneficiaries sign employment contracts with their above-mentioned local staff. Salary and allowances are to be paid directly to the local employees.
- Korean project partners and associates (when they are any) should consult the KECCA in order to efficiently organise project preparation and drafting (applicants' visits to the DPRK for project finding missions etc.), as well as to plan for an efficient implementation should the project application be selected for funding.
Exceptionally, if applicants do not foreseen to work with a partner and/or an associate, and if they do not have access to the KECCA, they may ask EuropeAid's Food Security Office (FSO) in Pyongyang to facilitate these discussions. The FSO however will not, in any way (see below) get involved in project proposal preparatory work or, later, implementation.
In view of this, and while it is not compulsory under either lot, it is suggested applicants consider working with Korean partners or associates.
- The KECCA is a coordinating/facilitating body. In that, it does not implement projects, nor does it take part in the project proposals selection process. Project proposals must clearly describe the respective roles of each project partners and associates.
- As mentioned above, the FSO is available to assist potential applicants in establishing contacts with potential local partners and with local authorities [Email: AiDCOPYY@kcckp.net]
The FSO shall not assist applicants in their drafting of their concept note(s) or project proposal(s).
Budget
The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 6 500 000. The Contracting Authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.
Lot 1 - Community-based projects: Indicative allocation of EUR 5 000 000
Lot 2 - Partnership projects: Indicative allocation of EUR 1 500 000
In the case where the minimum percentage foreseen for a specific lot cannot be used due to insufficient quality or number of proposals received, the Contracting Authority reserves the right to reallocate the remaining funds to another lot.
Size of grants
Any grant awarded under this Call for Proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
Lot 1 - Community-based projects:
• Minimum amount: EUR 500 000
• Maximum amount: EUR 1 700 000
Note:
- It is strongly suggested that projects proposals for grants (i.e. EC contribution) of more than EUR 1 000 000 should last more than 2.5 years.
- The percentage of the total Action cost that will be allocated to equipment (hardware) will be fully justified by the nature of the Action, and accompanied by an appropriate and comprehensive training programme. Any decision on substantial supplies should be accompanied by an assessment of the institutional structures and management regulations, as well as of economic and financial studies prior to the procurement and installation of heavy equipment. Delivery of this hardware will be scheduled over the whole implementation period (including for projects lasting 2 years) and always accompanied by a comprehensive training programme and strategy to ensure project sustainability.
A grant may not be for less than 51% of the total eligible costs of the action.
In addition, no grant may exceed 90% 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.
No proposal will be considered where the request for funding is below the minimum value or where the percentage requested exceeds the maximum.
Lot 2 - Partnership projects:
• Minimum amount: EUR 150 000
• Maximum amount: EUR 450 000
Note:
- Depending on the nature and length of the proposed actions under Lot2 (see section 2.1.3.), the average total cost of partnership projects is expected to be of approximately EUR 100 000 per annum.
- Considering the very nature of this type of actions, it is suggested that approximately 35 % of the total Action cost be allocated to equipment, instruments, tools, etc. in favor of the Korean partner institutions (i.e. direct beneficiaries). Any procurement will have to be preceded by an in-depth analysis of the Korean partner institution's needs and capacity to use and maintain this equipment upon completion of the project (See also note under Lot 1 above).
Equipment would be used to improve the Korean partner institutions' communication and networking facilities, and make the organisational procedures/management more efficient and/or –if possible- adapt its legal status and/or mandate accordingly.
A grant may not be for less than 51% of the total eligible costs of the action.
In addition, no grant may exceed 90% 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.
By way of derogation, according to Article 253 of the Implementing Rules applicable to the General Budget of the European Communities, "financing of an action in full may be authorised in (…) actions for the protection of the health or fundamental rights of peoples". If that is the case, the applicant must justify the financing of the entire costs of the action in section 1.3 of the grant application form.
Wie kan deelnemen
• be legal persons; and
• be non profit making; and
• be specific types of organisations such as: non-governmental organisations, research and/or vocational training institutions, universities and academies, public sector operators, local authorities, international (inter-governmental) organisations as defined by Article 43 of the Implementing Rules to the EC Financial Regulation ; and
• be nationals of a Member State of the European Union and countries listed in Annex I (this obligation does not apply to international organisations); and
• be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with their partners, not acting as an intermediary; and
• have at least 10 years of working experience in the thematic sector concerned.
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.
Applicants and each of their partners must sign and date the Partnership Statement annexed to the Application Form, Part B, Annex A, III, 2.
The following are not partners and do not have to sign the “partnership statement”:
• 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.
• 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 Annex IV to the standard grant contract.
The applicant will act as the lead organisation and, if selected, as the contracting party (the "Beneficiary").
Acties/activiteiten
The sectors or themes covered under this call for proposals are:
Food production:
Crop production; in particular concerning plant nutrition, pest control, tillage and soil fertility, and including managerial issues
Urban agriculture and horticulture
Greenhouse management
Inland fish farming
Livestock development
Organic farming / conservation agriculture
Watershed management
Natural resources management and protection
Forest Management & non-timber products
Organic fertilisers (preferably, however not compulsorily, with a link to Water & Sanitation)
Renewable & sustainable energies for the agricultural sector / food security
Mechanical workshop (linked to servicing & maintenance of latest and upcoming EC-funded equipment).
Access to Food:
Food security of basic health and social institutions
Food use:
Nutrition / balanced diet for most vulnerable groups
Primary (at farm level) and secondary (country level) food processing
All themes apply to both lots.
When appropriate, project proposals can cover themes under different categories.
Please also take into consideration themes to be mainstreamed and listed below.
Location
Lot 1 - Community-based projects: Actions will be implemented in the DPRK ; whether in rural, urban and semi-urban areas; at central or decentralised level (whichever most appropriate); and preferably, however not compulsorily, in areas which have not yet benefitted from international support.
Lot 2 - Partnership projects: Actions will take place both in and outside of the DPRK.
Types of action
Lot 1 – Community-based projects:
Community-based projects supporting the transition from relief to rehabilitation, to contribute that the country falls back into a food emergency situation. Applicants will therefore tend to achieve Lot 1's objectives via actions which will rehabilitate or enhance the resilience of affected social and physical assets of most vulnerable groups on cooperative farms and/or rural as well as of social & health institutions, urban communities and households.
As much as possible, the direct and/or final beneficiaries of these projects must be the most vulnerable groups.
In synergy with Lot 2, a substantial part of the training module of projects under Lot 1 should include some "partnership" component; this in order to contribute to the projects' sustainability strategy.
Lot 2 – Partnership projects:
These projects aim at building the technical and, as much as possible, the organisational capacity of Korean entities to address their country's food security issues. These projects should therefore support them in finding technical and organisational means to more effectively implement their respective mandates; i.e. strengthening their advocacy and/or policy role, establishing or restoring contacts with Korean counterparts and acquiring new technical or scientific knowledge, developing their operational skills, in particular in project drafting, and introducing them to potential and relevant technical or scientific donors or counterparts.
Projects must be developed on the basis of the Korean partner institutions' current and foreseeable means (for instance: limited institutional budget, general restricted access to foreign currencies & markets for imports, and limited communication means). In other words, projects' aim must be to assist Korean partner institutions to make the most of their human, technical and financial resources; hence a suggested 35% of these Actions' budget to be allocated to the supply of equipment/hardware.
Therefore, projects funded under Lot 2 of this call for proposals will (among others):
Introduce instruments on how to (try and) overcome constraints of controlled communication and exchange of experiences abroad and in-country;
Facilitate professional networking in food security issues: for instance looking into risk assessment, self-sufficiency and linked remedial measures, such as disaster preparedness;
Introduce Koreans to institutional set-ups (their partners in food security-related issues, and their interaction/collaboration with to associates and services), their operative capacities, weaknesses and potentials which could be mobilised to ensure appropriate performances (SWOT analysis, for instance);
Initiate project finding activities that are based on lessons learnt in thematic groups, on study tours and any other training or networking activity;
Train the partner institution’s staff in a mutual way and ensure appropriate mechanisms to disseminate and apply new skills within the partner institution in the DPRK and abroad;
Provide necessary international publications and literature on themes concerned in order to support the design of indicative project proposals or training and networking activities;
Promote the Korean partner institution’s skills and capabilities to organise co-operation between network members;
Organise -for technical or managerial staff- study tours, training and visits abroad, participation to international conferences or seminars, visits of agricultural and food exhibitions etc.
Quite a substantial part of these projects will also be to try and develop in-country knowledge sharing and exchange of information, experience and knowledge exchange between DPRK institutions.
Note:
- Upon return from study tours or training workshops, etc. –whether under Lot 1 or 2– Korean participants will be required to write a short exit report (contact details of all non-Korean counterparts met attached in annex). These reports will contribute to a project's in-country information sharing activities, but will also be copied to the FSO who will distribute or and make them available, to whomever they might be useful to.
- Project short-terms experts' mission reports will be submitted to EuropeAid's Project Manager and the FSO as part of their project monitoring and support activities.
- Since this call for proposals is published under the LRRD component of the FSTP as presented above (Point 1.1), there must be a clear link between the Action envisaged and a potential short- or medium-term improvement of the most vulnerable groups' food situation and/or livelihood.
- Projects under both lots, however more particularly under Lot 2, are likely to deal with very sensitive issues. Grant contract beneficiaries will have to display a high cultural adaptability, and will have to demonstrate their diplomatic skills on a daily-basis. Grant contract beneficiaries will also have to behave in a neutral, a-political, and non-judgmental manner.
Vragen kunnen gesteld worden aan
Questions may be sent by e-mail [or by fax] no later than 21 days before the deadline for the submission of concept notes to the below address(es), indicating clearly the reference of the call for proposals:
E-mail address: europeaid-FS-DPRK2009@ec.europa.eu
Fax: +32 (0)2 292 10 30
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. 129019
De richtlijnen van deze Call bevinden zich in bijlage
