Deadline: 5 April 2020
Following the launch of the Mekong – Republic of Korea (ROK) partnership in 2011, the Mekong – ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF) was established in 2013 to support the implementation of cooperation activities initiated by the Mekong countries and the ROK under the Mekong – ROK cooperation framework.
The MKCF encourages cooperation in seven priority sectors outlined in the “Mekong – Han River Declaration for Establishing Partnership for People, Prosperity and Peace” adopted by Mekong-ROK Leaders during the 1st Mekong – ROK Summit in 2019.
The Fund provides grant for projects that are of regional in nature (Benefits more than one country in the Mekong region – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Viet Nam and Thailand). Such project is aligned on the priorities of the country to address national issues that facilitate regional integration process. It can be implemented in a single country. However, benefits should be shared among the countries in the Mekong region and the ROK.
Priority Areas
The Fund provides grants to support catalytic and innovative activities in the seven priority sectors:
- Culture and Tourism;
- Human Resources Development;
- Agriculture and Rural Development;
- Infrastructure;
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT);
- Environment;
- Non-traditional Security Challenges.
Funding Information
- The contribution of the Fund per project proposal is minimum of 200,000 USD and maximum of 300,000 USD.
- The fund encourages projects promoting 3-way (triangular) or 4-way (quadripartite) collaboration with other donors, including the Mekong River Commission (MRC), Japan, United States (US) etc. Extra budgetary funds should be leveraged, when needed, to facilitate such projects.
- The fund provides grants for joint activities with a regional or international entity, formalized through a cooperation agreement and is considered as regional.
- Activities which are not eligible for funding include construction of buildings and payment of rent or utilities.
- The time frame of a project should be more than 6 months and less than 3 years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Government agencies/Autonomous Organization from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Thailand (CLMVT) and organizations from the ROK can submit requests for funding.
- Non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and training institutes from CLMVT and the ROK can submit requests for funding.
- Experience in implementing development projects for at least 5 years.
- Assistance to individuals will not be provided.
- UN Agencies and other International Non-Governmental Organizations/International
- Development banks are not eligible as direct recipient of the fund. However, such organizations may associate with Mekong countries based organizations to provide technical support/guidance to conduct collaborative work with Mekong based organization as the lead proponent.
For more information, visit https://www.mekonginstitute.org/news-activities/detail/2020/03/11/mi-opens-call-for-pr/