CALL FOR PROPOSALS Procedure for acceptance of project proposals for grants from the Republic of Bulgaria
11 May 2021 News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria through the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Belarus announces a procedure for the acceptance and selection of proposals for projects to be implemented with a grant through the Official Development Assistance of the Republic of Bulgaria, with an initial implementation period in 2022.
Priority Areas for Project Implementation on the territory of Republic of Belarus:
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: Peace and justice, Quality education, Good health, Secure work and economic growth,
MULTISECTORAL TOPICS: Gender equality, Combating climate change
PRIORITY DIRECTIONS
- Protection of fundamental human rights with special attention to the rights of children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable social groups;
- Support to address the health, economic and social consequences of the pandemic caused by COVID-19. (incl. through Team Europe).
1. Objectives and Scope of the Projects:
Project Objectives:
- Establishing Bulgaria on the international scene as a consistent reliable and predictable partner and to protect national interests;
- Promoting the principle of multilateralism in international relations, respect for international law, the values of democracy and human rights;
- Strengthen the rule of law, reform the public sector, build capacity at the local level, protect and guarantee human rights with special attention to women, children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups;
- Improving the quality of education, incl. by improving the educational infrastructure;
- Sustainable economic development and support for sustainable employment, support for business in the implementation of EU standards, overcoming the negative socio-economic consequences of COVID-19.
Scope of the Projects / Sectors:
- Good governance and civil society;
- Quality education;
- Healthcare;
- Gender equality;
- Combating climate change.
2. Target Groups:
The target groups that fall within the set priorities and goals of the projects are children, youth, women, the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable group
3. Outputs/Results:
- Establishing the good name and international prestige of Bulgaria.
- Improving socio-economic development and building good governance leading to sustainable and inclusive economic development.
- Improving the quality of education, incl. by improving the educational infrastructure;
- Sustainable economic development and support for sustainable employment, support for business in the implementation of EU standards, overcoming the negative socio-economic consequences of COVID-19;
- Improving the situation of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups;
- Overcoming the negative socio-economic consequences of COVID-19;
4. Eligible Project Budget:
4.1. Minimal amount of the project is 5 000 BGN.
4.2. The recommended maximum value of a project is:
- for projects with a duration of up to 12 months - up to BGN 20,000;
- for projects with a longer duration - up to BGN 30,000.
4.3. Co-financing of project activities provided by the applicant will be considered an advantage in the evaluation, selection and approval of the projects.
5. Implementation Deadlines and Duration of the Projects:
5.1. Project proposals must contain an indicative start date for the implementation of the project after March 1, 2022 and no later than November 30, 2022.
5.2. Projects must be completed no later than December 31, 2024.
6. Eligible Candidates:
- Primary and secondary budget spenders - legal entities of ………………………………;
- International and local non-governmental organizations;
- Municipalities and their associations;
- Educational, health and social institutions;
- International humanitarian organisations;
- Others (depending on country specificity).
No natural or legal person can apply for whom there are circumstances under Art. 23, para. 3-8 of Decree No. 234 of the Council of Ministers of 01.08.2011 on the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria on participation in international development cooperation.
See Annex 1
7. Eligible Activities and Project Costs:
7.1. The costs of project implementation must meet all of the conditions below:
- be lawful and comply with the principles of responsibility, economy, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency;
- be executed only against the necessary supporting documents - invoices or other documents of equivalent probative value, testifying the expenditures incurred;
- be within the budget limits of the project;
- not be funded by another project, program or any other financial scheme, related to or originating from the national budget, the EU budget or any other donor.
7.2. Compulsory Activities to be provided in the Project:
- provision of an audit report issued by an independent financial auditor;
- activities to ensure publicity and visibility of the financial assistance provided, in accordance with the Publicity and Visibility Guidelines of the Bulgarian Development Aid, worth 3 to 5% of the total project value, but not exceeding 5 000 BGN.
7.3. Examples of Activities Eligible for Funding:
- Activities contributing to the strengthening of public institutions in the partner country, responsible for the development and implementation of national policy in the priority areas and aimed at helping to strengthen their transparency, accountability and efficiency and contributing to strengthening the development of civil society and increasing the contribution on social justice, democracy and sustainable development, for example:
- Development of new / modernization of existing training modules;
- Organizing and conducting trainings for the employees of the administration of the partner country;
- Conducting trainings on specific topics in Bulgarian institutions for exchange of good practices and raising the qualification of the employees of the administration of the partner country;
- Organizing and conducting seminars, forums, conferences (subject to the measures related to the pandemic of COVID -19);
- Development of research and strategies;
- Activities to raise awareness of citizens' rights;
- Activities to promote multicultural dialogue and to reduce racism, xenophobia, hate speech, discrimination and intolerance in society;
- Activities to improve the dialogue between NGOs and local, regional and national authorities.
- Activities related to improving the quality of infrastructure in the respective area and increasing the potential of the sites through supply of equipment and materials, construction works, restoration, renovation, rehabilitation, measures for preservation and improvement of adjacent buildings and infrastructure, public buildings and other ancillary sites ,,
for example:
- Delivery of equipment and materials intended for state or municipal property - schools, hospitals, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, etc.
- Construction works for improvement of state or municipal property sites - schools, hospitals, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, etc.
8. Required Documents for Application:
An Application Form is available on the following website in Bulgarian and English: https://www.mfa.bg/bg/3866
All parts of the application form should be duly completed in Bulgarian and / or English. In case of any deficiencies that hinder the evaluation of the project proposal, the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Republic of Belarus may require additional information within a short period of time. Failure to provide such information within the deadline shall be considered a ground for rejection of the proposal.
9. Method and Deadlines for Projects Applications:
The projects are accepted by e-mail of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Minsk: [email protected]
Each project proposal must be scanned in a separate pdf file, as well as in word format.
The deadline for submitting proposals is June 30, 2021.
10. Additional Information:
Applicants shall be informed of the results of the procedure for evaluation, selection and approval of the project proposals within 14 working days of the completion of the individual stages of the procedure. The Embassy /Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Republic of Belarus has no obligation to inform applicants about the grounds for approval or rejection of the submitted project proposals.
Annex 1
Decree No 234 of the Council of Ministers of 01.08.2011 on the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria regarding its participation in international development cooperation (excerpts)
Article 23(3) A legal person seeking to apply for the provision of development aid must not:
- be declared bankrupt;
- be in liquidation proceedings or in a similar procedure under the national laws and regulations;
- be in open insolvency proceedings or must not have entered into an out-of-court settlement with its creditors within the meaning of Article 740 of the Commerce Act, and if the applicant is a non-resident – it must not be in a similar procedure under the national laws and regulations, including if its activities are under the court's control or it has ceased its activities;
- be disqualified from practicing a particular profession or activity under the law of the State in which the offense was committed;
- have any monetary debts owed to the State or a municipality within the meaning of Article 162, paragraph 2 of the Tax and Social Insurance Procedure Code established by an act of a competent authority which has entered into force, unless rescheduling or deferral of the debts has been allowed, or monetary debts relating to the payment of social insurance contributions or taxes under the legal provisions of the State in which it is established;
- have any outstanding private debts owed to the State listed in Article 3, paragraph 7 of the National Revenue Agency Act.
(4) A legal person seeking to apply for the provision of development aid must not have a member of the management body that:
- has been convicted by a final sentence for indictable offense;
- has not fulfilled his/her/its obligations relating to the payment of social insurance contributions or taxes in accordance with the applicable law;
- has provided deliberately false documents when providing information requested as a condition for financing development aid activities or has not provided such information;
- has been disqualified from practicing a particular profession or activity under the law of the State in which the offense was committed;
- is a legal person for which any of the circumstances under paragraph 3 exist;
- has any outstanding private debts owed to the State listed in Article 3, paragraph 7 of the National Revenue Agency Act.
(6) Where the members of the management bodies are legal persons, the requirements of paragraph 5 shall apply to their representatives in the relevant management bodies.
(7) Persons seeking to apply for the provision of development aid must not:
- have a member of a management or supervisory body, as well as such person ad interim, including a procurator or a commercial agent who has “close links”, within the meaning of § 1, item 1 of the Supplementary Provision of the Conflict of Interest Prevention and Ascertainment Act, with the agency administering the relevant project or with senior employees in his/her organisation;
- have entered into a contract with a person under Article 21 or 22 of the Conflict of Interest Prevention and Ascertainment Act.
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