Call for bids for funding from FCO’s Programme Fund in Armenia

Source: www.gov.uk

The British Embassy Yerevan announces a call for proposals for project work the following areas:

• - human rights
• - labour migration
• - corporate social responsibility
• - environmental protection
•  

All project work under this Fund should commence on 1 July 2018 and finish by 31 March 2019. The deadline for submitting proposals is 5pm (Yerevan time) on 6 June 2018.

 

In 2018-19, the programme will focus on the following areas:

 

1. Human Rights and Labour Migration

Outcome: Promoting human rights and decent work through good governance, protection and empowerment of migrant workers to ensure the effective implementation of the Armenia Labour Migration Policy. This could include the development of labour market strategies, guidebooks and provision of in-depth pre departure orientation for migrants to tackle human rights issues, entitlements, and responsibilities. The holistic approach will help to ensure that standardised and consistent training is provided throughout the local centres of State Employment Agency of the Government.

 

2. Corporate Social Responsibility

Outcome: Increase the local Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of Armenia’s private sector and promote Public Private Partnership Policy. Project should propose working with government agencies, selected businesses, to maximize the value of corporate social investment, provide networking opportunities for businesses in Armenia with UK practitioners abroad; and by advocating for legislative changes that will support businesses’ CSR activities. Project should offer opportunities for in-depth consultations with experts in the field. Project should produce recommendations in improvement of the legislative framework for CSR in Armenia.

 

3. Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection

Outcome: Improved performance and capacity building for newly established Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body of the Ministry of Nature Protection. The project should propose targeted activities aim to enhance environmental monitoring, inspection and enforcement as well as support with better supervision of environmental protection activities.

 

General requirements

Successful projects should have sustainable outcomes and should clearly identify the change that will be brought about. They may also build on projects by other organisations, complementing their efforts.

 

The maximum funding for projects under this Programme is up to 11,000.000 Armenian Drams. This may be in addition to co-funding and self-funding contributions, which will be considered a merit. Our funding is for the UK financial year 2018/19 only (projects must be implemented and all payments made by 31 March 2019).

 

The project should give a proportionate statement on how it will contribute to reducing gender inequality. The UK Government has committed to putting women and girls at the centre of all its efforts to prevent and resolve conflict, to promote peace and stabilit and to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.

 

Administrative costs (office rent, project management and book-keeper rates, utilities, communications, stationery, bank charges etc) must not exceed 8% of the total project budget.

 

Please note that we are unable to fund academic courses or research, English language courses, the purchase of IT or other equipment under this Fund.

 

Bidding process

Bidders should fill in the standard Project Proposal Form and include a breakdown of project costs in the Activity Based Budget. All costs should be budgeted in Armenian Drams.

 

We will not consider proposals submitted in other formats. Please refer to further guidance.

Project Proposal Guidance (MS Word Document, 29.7KB)

 

Successful bids must demonstrate strong strategic relevance to the areas of programme focus and have a clear focus on delivering change and sustainability.

Successful implementers should be able to receive project funding in Armenian Drams. 85% of project funds should be spent before the end of December 2018.

Proposals should be sent to the British Embassy Yerevan at [email protected] by 5pm (Yerevan time) on 6 June 2018. Please indicate the area you are bidding for and the name of the bidder in the subject line. We aim to evaluate proposals by the end of May. Approved projects will commence in June.

 

Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• fit to programme objectives – the extent to which the proposal addresses the issues
• quality of project – how well-defined and relevant the outcome is and how outputs will deliver this change
• value for money – the value of the expected project outcomes, the level of funding requested and institutional contribution
• previous experience of the project team – evidence of the project team’s understanding the issue and of its regional activities, ability to manage and deliver a successful project, through work done to date in the area or in related fields
• bids that contribute to the Embassy’s public diplomacy efforts are especially welcome

 

Notes

The British Embassy Yerevan reserves the right to carry out due diligence of potential grantees, including seeking references, as part of the selection process.

Bidding is competitive and only selected projects will receive funding.

 

The Embassy reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids without incurring any obligation to inform the affected applicant(s) of the grounds of such decisions.

Project Proposal Form (MS Word Document, 218KB)

Guidance on Budgeting and Achieving Value for Money (MS Word Document, 28.7KB)

Example of an Activity Based Budget (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 55.5KB)