Prosperity Fund Mexico 2015/2016: Call for bids
The call for bids for the Prosperity Fund in Mexico is now open.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Prosperity Fund promotes the creation of conditions for global growth by supporting Mexico’s transition to a sustainable, rules-based developed economy through effective policy and increased UK-Mexico commercial collaboration, in particular through:
Openness
Work that helps to consolidate an open, fair and competitive Mexican economic, financial and business environment which is attractive to UK companies – including through appropriate support for Mexico’s reform agenda. By ensuring a strong partnership between Mexico and the UK in support of a rules-based, free-trading international economic system which drives global prosperity.
Reputation
Work that promotes the UK as a creative and trustworthy partner; a world-class destination for business, tourism and study. By using the GREAT campaign and its private sector partnerships to build international awareness of UK strengths and values, and increasing the impact of British companies abroad.
Sustainability
Work that supports the transition to a low carbon economy and resilient energy markets and which promotes science and innovation as solutions to global challenges By enhancing energy security; consolidating a strengthened bilateral dialogue on energy issues and promoting UK commercial and policy interests following energy reforms Support for the development of a sustainable low carbon economy enabling Mexico to meet its emissions targets and to contribute substantively to international consensus on a legally binding climate change deal.
Opportunity
Work that helps British companies win new business and that promotes education and innovation as drivers of growth By promoting an education partnership that brings prosperity benefits to both countries and strengthens our long term engagement By developing a stronger Mexico-UK innovation, research and evidence partnership that has commercial, academic and societal impact.
The British Embassy Mexico City Programme Team announces the request for submission of Project Proposals in its first phase of Concept Bids. Interested organisations are strongly advised to schedule a meeting with the Programme Team at ukinmexico.ccep@fco.gov.uk in order to present their ideas. The Prosperity Fund in Mexico supports projects that aim to have an impact on public policy on openness, reputation, sustainability and opportunity. Priorities are outlined below:
Openness
- Development of open market regulations, competitiveness and regulatory frameworks, including capacity building and best practice for new regulatory bodies and related enforcement or judicial actors (tourism, health, financial services, infrastructure and energy)
- Establishment of transparent public procurement and tendering processes
- Improve efficiency in the public infrastructure sector through PPPs
- Customs and Border Control capacity building and best practices on regulation, bureaucracy and efficiency
- Fostering and supporting Open Government Partnerships (OGP) practices
- Best Practice sharing of the UK Anti Bribery Act
- Pacific Alliance Goals: build capacity on competition judges, courts and IFT; introduction of best practices in regulation
- Capacity building on quality and efficiency in the Health System (based on UK NHS Model)
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Strengthening of Intellectual Property Rights framework in Mexico
- Contribute to Mexico’s economic competitiveness through the development of human capital in alignment with private and public sector needs and the standardisation and certification of qualifications, competencies and skills
- Enhance the potential of Mexico’s educational reform agenda by creating stronger frameworks that foster quality in education, evaluation, curricula development, teacher performance, and planning
- Bilateral cooperation with the National Institute for the Evaluation of Education (INEE)
- Development of improved policy frameworks that strongly link industry and academia through R&D and that enable efficient planning and spending of Science and Innovation funds in Mexico
- Support a National Coordination of Innovation Policies
Sustainability
- Support for the successful implementation of the General Law on Climate Change
- Resource Security: water, food, energy
- Waste Management and Recycling
- Establishment of Sustainable Supply Chains and Tendering
- Policy Development for Green Infrastructure strategies in Transport (ie. PROTRAM), Building and Urban Planning, including issues of accessibility, vulnerability and security in public spaces.
- Planning and implementation on climate security issues including disaster relief, disaster risk reduction, resilience building, water stress and government capacity
- Green Funds: Channelling of private and/or public funding for implementation of low carbon policies
- Development of Green Banks
- Renewable Finances
- Implementation of Clean Energy Certificate Scheme
- Up scaling of renewable energies to accomplish 2024 national renewable goal
- Support for Mexico’s participation in international fora
- SME & Renewable Energies Policy, Regulation and Promotion of Market Opportunities
- Enhancement of Energy Sector Regulation including upstream, downstream (including renewables) and HSE
- Support for sustainable urban development including via the use of building certifications
- Strengthening of education, technical skills and capacity building for the energy sector
- CEMIES
- Climate Science Cooperation
Opportunity
- Insurance Sector participation in Climate Finance
- Best practice and support on Social Impact and Green Bonds
- Share UK capabilities and training in the Energy Infrastructure, Tourism, Creative Industries and Retail sectors
- Introduce best practices on cyber security
- Promote Low Carbon Innovation in partnership with SMEs and start-ups
- Best Practice Sharing on Health Reform – Universal Health Care System.
- Best Practice Sharing on Mexico’s National Water Law Reform and introduction of PPPs
- Share best practices on Sovereign Wealth Fund management and transparency
- Best practice sharing on future cities and sustainable urban development
- Contribute to successful implementation of projects related to Mass Transit (e.g. PROTRAM) through Best Practice Sharing
For the above criteria, as well as the Reputation one, projects that showcase the UK as an international partner of choice and world class destination for business, tourism and study, helping to thicken bilateral ties ahead of the upcoming “Year of the UK in Mexico” and “Year of Mexico in the UK” in 2015 are particularly encouraged.
- Deadline to submit Concept Bids to the Programme Team is December 4th, 2014. Projects that present a co-funding scheme will be prioritised. Approved concept bids and successful bidders will be asked to submit their Full Bids via email. These will then be subject to a final evaluation of the Prosperity Fund Programme Board. The results will be announced and successful bidders will be informed to begin project implementation by April 2015.
- Eligibility
- Project proposals must contribute directly to the Conditions for Global Growth outlined at the beginning of this document. If there is any doubt, potential bidders can speak with the Programme Team in Mexico to check strategic relevance of the project purpose, before submitting concept bids. To ask for a meeting please write to ukinmexico.ccep@fco.gov.uk
- The primary beneficiary of the project proposal submitted to the Prosperity Fund must be Mexico (included in the OECD DAC list), in line with DAC criteria. Project proposals must be submitted in the Concept Bid Form (document is available for downloading). Project ideas must be accompanied by detailed budget proposals submitted in the Activity Based Budget (document is available for downloading).
- We are looking for practical interventions that will lead to a real and timely difference in decision-making. Proposals focusing purely on research, analysis, seminars or workshops will not be relevant unless they lead to specific and measurable action. Infrastructure projects are not funded by the Prosperity Fund.
- Proposals should outline impact. We want to know what changes the project will achieve in the long term.
- Proposals should demonstrate that the relevant government authorities have been consulted and are supportive or, if they have not, 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 trigger action and 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 governments.
- The Prosperity Fund operates in financial years. The 2015/2016 financial year runs from 1st April 2015 through to 31st March 2016. Proposed project’s duration should run through one fiscal year.
- This bidding round will be conditioned by the FCO Prosperity Fund’s final budget allocation for the British Embassy in Mexico.
For further information on the Eligibility and Bidding Process, please download the Prosperity Fund Guidance for Mexico (document is available for downloading).
- Bidding Process
- The bidding process is executed in two stages: Concept Bid (high level project proposal) and Full Bid (detailed proposal).
- Only bids approved at the Concept Bid stage will be considered for Full Bid development.
- Deadline to submit Concept Bids to the Programme Team is December 4th, 2014.
- Indicative Bidding Timetable
| First Bidding Round Timeline FY 2015-2016 | |
| Dates | Activity |
| 10 November 2014 | Announce request for submission of Concept Bids |
| 4 December | Deadline for Implementers to submit Concept Bids to Programme Team |
| 5-9 December | Programme Team at Post reviews Concept Bids |
| 10 December | Internal Programme Board Meeting |
| 11 December | Programme Team notification to Implementers announcing results of Concept Bids |
| 30 January 2015 | Deadline for Implementers to submit Full Bids to Programme Team |
| 2 – 10 February | Programme Team at Post reviews Full Bids |
| 11 February | Programme Team finalizes full bids review and sends to Mexico Programme Board for Appraisal Preparation |
| 18 February* | Mexico Programme Board at Post meets |
| 23 February* | Programme Team notification to Implementers announcing results of first bidding round |
| March | Contracts and financial arrangements completed |
| 1 April 2015 | Planned Start of Projects |
*Subject to re schedule
- Contacts
The project proposal in the bid form or any questions related to funding opportunities should be submitted to: ukinmexico.ccep@fco.gov.uk We strongly encourage you request a copy of our FAQ by email ukinmexico.ccep@fco.gov.uk to clarify any doubts you might have.
- Documents for Downloading