British Embassy San Jose: Call for bids 2023/24 Climate Diplomacy
The British Embassy in San Jose is now accepting project proposals in the area of climate and the environment for the 2023-2024 period.
Thematic areas
The British Embassy in San Jose aims to support short-term interventions valued at up to US$8,000 that focus on promoting climate action in Costa Rica.
We welcome proposals from legally constituted non-governmental, non-profit, charity and multilateral organisations. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider project proposals submitted by companies or for-profit organisations.
Proposals may cover any of the following areas of work:
- Sustainable agriculture and land use
- Blue economy
- Marine protection
We are looking for projects that deliver real, measurable results in support of the abovementioned priority areas in Costa Rica. We are particularly interested in proposals aimed at:
- Supporting the implementation of the Glasgow Pact and/or the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
- Supporting delivery of strong sectoral action to accelerate transitions to clean growth
Proposals must demonstrate a strong UK link, e.g. participation of a UK expert in a workshop, or exchange of experiences with UK institutions, companies or organisations.
Funding exceptions
Please be aware that project funding cannot be used to finance the following:
- Cash cards, money transfers or seed capital
- Purchase of groceries and household supplies
- Purchase or maintenance of IT or capital equipment
- Communications-related services, such as communications strategies, campaigns, website creation and/or maintenance, video and audio production
- Paid marketing activity, e.g. advertisements in newspapers, on radio or on social media
Project bid guidance
- Projects will be funded for the period running from 15 August 2023 to 29 February 2024, with no expectation of continued funding beyond this period
- Project bids should demonstrate 50% spend by 1 December 2023 and 100% spend by 29 February 2024
- Proposals must be submitted in United States Dollars (USD) currency
- Minimum project budget limit: $4,000
- Maximum project budget limit: $8,500
Project bids will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Alignment with the above-mentioned thematic priorities and outcomes
- Outcomes are achievable within the funding period (15 August 2023 to 29 February 2024,)
- Project design includes clear monitoring and evaluation procedures, as well as risk and financial accountability procedures
- Evidence of sustainability – demonstrating that project benefits continue after the funding ends
- Alignment with the Paris Agreement, demonstrating that a climate and environmental risk and impact evaluation was done and no environmental harm will be done
- Evidence that gender equality and inclusion of people with disability and protected characteristics have been considered
- Evidence that the organisation’s safeguarding policies ensure protection of beneficiaries
- Overall value for money
- Administration costs should not exceed 10% of the total project budget
Key dates
- 2 July 2023 (midnight, Central America time): Deadline for receipt of project proposals
- 14 July 2023: Implementers informed of bidding round outcome
- 15 August 2023: Project implementation begins
- 1 December 2023: Project implementers to submit quarterly monitoring and spend reports
- 29 February 2024: Project implementers to complete all activities and submit draft project completion report and financial spend documentation
Bidding process
- Proposals must be submitted in English using the relevant Project proposal form and Activity Based Budget templates (provided below)
- All proposals must be received by midnight on 2 July 2023 (Central America time). Late proposals will not be considered
- Proposals must be submitted to Denise.Lewis@fcdo.gov.uk with the subject line “Call for bids (Climate Diplomacy) 2023/2024 – Organisation name – Project Title” and include a point of contact in the body of the email
- Successful bidders will be notified by 14 July 2023
Additional information and documentation
All implementers will be expected to sign a standard FCDO grant agreement or Memorandum of Understanding with the Embassy. The terms of the agreement or MOU are not negotiable.
As all projects are expected to have achieved 50% spend by 1 December 2023, Activity Based Budgets must reflect this requirement.