Deadline: 21-Apr-2022
The British Embassy in Doha is inviting project proposals for Qatar Gulf Strategy Fund Programme to support implementation of FCDO priorities for Qatar identified in the Middle East and North Africa Directorate (MENAD) strategy.
It supports Qatar’s ambitious ‘National Vision 2030’ agenda for modernisation, economic diversification and climate action, while enhancing mutual prosperity by promoting inward investment and creating opportunities for UK companies, especially in the education, climate, culture, tourism, sport and finance sectors.
This call for proposals runs in parallel with the Qatar Country Business Plan development process, and projects will be expected to align with strategic direction.
GSF funding is not intended to support isolated activities, such as a single visit or trade mission. Projects must makes a clear contribution to strategic objectives and have a clear outcome, such as unlocking wider progress and moving the UK-Qatar partnership forward in a substantive way. All projects must demonstrate value for money.
Funding Information
- To improve efficiency the preference is for larger projects in the range of £20,000 – £250,000 per year.
Parameters
- In awarding and overseeing programme funds BED is obliged to comply with all Cabinet Office and FCDO rules and guidance, including but not limited to those set out in the FCDO Programme Operating Framework (PrOF). Partners should especially take note of the following requirements:
- all project proposals must have a single lead implementer, which holds full accountability for the full project budget. A lead Implementer may in some cases sub-contract project activity to a third party
- FCDO can only pay for costs that are incurred after signature and between the start and end date stated in a funding arrangement or contract. Project start-dates must post-date signature on the relevant MoU, Grant Agreement (GA), or Contract, and no costs may be incurred by projects before signing by both parties
- no payment can be made in advance of need. BED will not consider any request from an implementing partner for advance payments
- all-new programmes and projects must align with the Paris Agreement and assess climate and environmental impact and risks, taking steps to ensure that no environmental harm is done
- all programmes must consider and demonstrate how their interventions will impact gender equality, disability inclusion, and those with protected characteristics
- all projects involving paid-for communications activity must receive clearance from the Professional Communications Assurance (PCA) team before signing a GA / MoU / Contract
- all approved projects will be expected to comply with FCDO mandated reporting requirements using templates provided, including:
- Monthly ABB forecasts;
- Quarterly Monitoring Reports and
- Project closure report
- all projects activities must be completed within the financial year for which the funding is approved. Projects should plan to complete activities by February or very early March to allow for financial processing to be concluded before the end of each financial year
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-embassy-doha-invites-proposal-submissions-for-the-gulf-strategy-fund-2022-to-2025