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British Embassy - Call for project proposals 2015-2016

The British Embassy in San Jose announces its call for projects for its Bilateral Programme Budget for the period 2015-2016.

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Call for projects

The British Embassy in San Jose announces its call for projects for its Bilateral Programme Budget for the period 2015-2016. The Embassy will receive the first round of project proposals for consideration up to 20 March 2015. At that time, all projects submitted will be subject to a rigorous selection process and the selected implementers will be contacted. This does not prevent the Embassy from considering projects submitted later in the year.

What is the Bilateral Programme Budget (BPB)?

The Bilateral Programme Budget is the one of the channels through which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom finances projects in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. During the 2014-2015 financial year, our BPB helped finance 4 projects in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

A few examples of past projects financed by the Embassy are:

  1. The empowerment of women through their unpaid work;
  2. Raising awareness of human trafficking in Nicaragua;
  3. Preventing sexual violence on the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica and Nicaragua;
  4. Provision of English Language Training to Tourist Police.

Who can apply for financing of projects through the BPB?

  • Government institutions
  • Legally constituted Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
  • Civil Society organisations
  • Community-based organisations
  • Universities and research centres

Our priority areas of interest

Proposals put forward should be able to establish a clear and identifiable link between the activities planned and the expected results, in the following strategic areas:

  • Human Rights: rights of minority and disadvantaged groups; prevention of adolescent pregnancy; prevention of sexual violence; modern-day slavery and child labour; people trafficking; support to human rights defenders.

  • Women’s equality: gender equality; women’s empowerment, including entrepreneurship.

  • Justice and security: legal and judicial development, including prison reform; public sector capacity building.

How to submit a bid for the development of a project

This process will be carried out in two stages: the first is the Concept Bid stage and the second is the Full Bid stage. Only approved Concept Bids will be expected to be presented a second time, as a Full Bid.

Proposals must be presented in the attached format Project Concept Form (MS Word Document, 56 KB) and should be sent as a digital file to the following e-mail address: uk.projectscrnic@fco.gov.uk to the attention of the BPB Officer by 20 March 2015.

In the subject line of the email, please indicate “Call for project bids 2015-2016.”

Some key points to help plan projects:

  • The project proposal must be submitted in English.
  • The financing and execution of projects have an end date of 28 February 2016.
  • The Embassy is interested in proposals up to a maximum of GBP £8,000 (pounds sterling) = approximately US$12,000.
  • The objective of the proposal should be specific and well defined.
  • The proposed budget should be precise and demonstrate in detail how the funds will be used during the execution of the project.
  • We are particularly interested in projects covering both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. If covering both countries, funding up to a maximum of GBP £16,000 (pounds sterling) will be considered.
  • Each organisation may present more than one proposal.
  • The Bilateral Programme Budget fund does not authorise the purchase of capital goods.

How are projects monitored?

Once approved, and in accordance with what is set out in the Grant Contract, the implementing organisation must submit a quarterly report and a final evaluation of the project.

Importance should be given by implementers to media coverage during the project’s activities, which will be carried out in coordination with the Embassy’s Communications Section.

The British Embassy reiterates its invitation to all interested parties to submit their proposals for the 2015-2016 period.

Published 2 December 2014
Last updated 16 December 2014 + show all updates
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