Prosperity Fund: call for proposals

Concept bidding round is now open for the year 2012-2013, for projects on economic reform and climate change.

1. Targeted Areas For Funding

Economic issues in these fields will be prioritised:

• promoting public private partnerships;
• combating corruption and bribery;
• improving education policy and outcomes;
• developing stable legal and regulatory frameworks for investment;
• encouraging open and equitable multilateral trade and investment policies.

Climate change and low carbon issues in these fields will be prioritised:

• improving the business environment for low-carbon investments;
• assisting policymakers design low-carbon policy frameworks;
• demonstrating practical measures that can reduce GHG emissions.

SE Asia-wide projects are preferred.

Previously successful project bids have ranged in size from £13,000 to £100,000, and our preference is for projects towards, or beyond the upper end of this range.

If there is any doubt, potential bidders can consult Cheong.SzuWei@fco.gov.uk to check the strategic relevance of the project purpose, before submitting concept bids.

2. Eligibility

• Projects must count as Development Aid – as defined by the OECD DAC criteria.

• Projects with a pan regional impact will be preferred, but single-country projects for Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines will also be entertained. (Indonesia has a separate fund, further details will be available at www.ukinindonesia.fco.gov.uk). Project proposals must be submitted on the Concept Bid form.

• We are looking for practical interventions that will lead to a real and timely difference to decision-making and policies. Proposals focusing purely on research, analysis, seminars or workshops will not be supported unless they lead to specific and measurable action and outcomes.

• Proposals should outline impact. We want to know what changes the project will make.  Further details of the funds aims are given in the Fund Strategy Document.

• Proposals should demonstrate that host governments have been consulted and are supportive. If they have not been consulted, the project proposal should explain how the project has sufficient buy-in from the necessary stakeholders to deliver expected outcomes.

• Proposals should demonstrate that the project will produce sustainable outcomes.

• Project proposals should demonstrate that they will gain leverage out of proportion to the funding spent on the project. Experience has shown that an effective way to do this is to work towards high level policy change, on local policy development, supporting implementation of regulatory frameworks, building capacity in a sustainable way, translating evidence or analysis into action plans, and working in partnership with host government.

• We welcome project bids that have already secured a degree of funding from other sources. However 100% funding will be considered where no other funding is available. All project related payments are made in arrears on a quarterly basis and not in advance, unless prior agreement is reached in exceptional circumstances. Project administrative costs should be less than 10% of the overall budget.

• Projects may be multi-year, although each project will be subject to review after the end of each financial year ( 31 March ) before further funding is confirmed. Projects should therefore aim to identify  deliverables within each financial year, so that if further funding is not available the project will still be able to demonstrate the successes achieved during its lifespan.

• The FCO places a strong emphasis on programme and project-level evaluation. Project implementing organisations must submit quarterly progress reports for the duration of the project, and submit a project completion form within three months of the project conclusion. In addition, depending on the scale of the project, a full and independent evaluation may be required. Evaluation costs should be factored into the project budget from the outset.

3. Bidding Process

• The bidding process is executed in two stages: the Concept Bid and Full Bid.
• Only bids approved through the Concept Bid stage will be considered for Full bids.
• Deadline to submit concept bids to the Programme Team: 29 February 2012 .

4. Bidding Timetable

5. Contacts

Concept Bid form [209KB, Word, opens in new window]

Fund Strategy Document [90KB, Word, opens in new window]