Deadline: 30-May-23
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, through the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Armenia, announces a procedure for the acceptance and selection of proposals for projects that will be implemented with grant-in-aid within the framework of the official development assistance of the Republic of Bulgaria with an initial implementation period in 2024 year.
Goals and scope of the projects
- Confirmation of the good name and international authority of Bulgaria;
- strengthening the administrative and expert capacity of Armenian institutions involved in the protection of human rights, the rule of law, the good management of public funds, etc.;
- strengthening the capacity and sustainability of the health system, including the provision of quality health services for women and girls, in accordance with their specific needs, services for post-conflict recovery, etc.;
- Raising the awareness of Armenian citizens about their rights;
- Ensuring access to modern, quality and inclusive education;
- Promotion of constant, sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work;
- Development of micro, small and medium-sized businesses, introduction of innovations and creation of new jobs;
- Increasing the quality of employment and opportunities for entrepreneurship, access to digital technologies and services, etc;
- Sharing the Bulgarian experience and good practices from the process of democratic and market transition, as well as gaining knowledge on the application of EU standards.
Priority Areas
- The priority areas and directions for the implementation of projects on the territory of Armenia:
- Strengthening the rule of law, good governance and administrative capacity, including the protection and guarantee of human rights.
- Promotion of sustainable economic development and entrepreneurship, by improving the capacity of institutions and/or organizations supporting the development of small and medium-sized businesses.
- Ensuring inclusive and quality education, including by improving educational infrastructure.
- Support for ensuring universal health coverage and access to quality health services.
- Development of quality and sustainable local infrastructure, including supporting the development of cultural tourism as a sector generating economic growth and sustainable development.
- Support for labor and social reforms.
- Protecting and guaranteeing the rights of children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Funding Information
- The minimum allowable value of a project is BGN 10,000
- The recommended maximum value per project is:
- For projects whose main purpose is delivery of goods and/or provision of services – up to BGN 60,000;
- The minimum allowable value of a project is BGN 10,000
- The recommended maximum value per project is:
- For projects whose main purpose is delivery of goods and/or provision of services – up to BGN 60,000;
- Duration: Project proposals must contain an indicative start date for project implementation after January 15, 2024 and no later than March 30, 2024 .
Eligible Projects
Project implementation costs must simultaneously meet the following conditions:
- Be lawful and comply with the principles of responsibility, economy, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency;
- To have been carried out against the necessary expense justification documents – invoices or other documents of equivalent evidentiary value;
- To be within the value of the project;
- Not to be financed with funds from another project, program or any other financial scheme originating from the national budget, the EU budget or another donor.
Mandatory activities that must be provided in the project:
- Preparation of an audit report by an independent financial auditor;
- activities to ensure publicity and visibility of the provided financial aid, according to the Guidelines for Publicity and Visibility of Bulgarian Development Aid, worth 3 to 5% of the total value of the project, but not more than 5 thousand BGN.
Examples of activities that can be financed
- Development of new or updating of existing training modules;
- Organizing and conducting trainings for administration employees;
- Organization and holding of seminars, forums, conferences;
- Activities to raise awareness of citizens’ rights;
- Activities to improve dialogue between non-governmental organizations and local, regional and national authorities;
- Delivery of equipment and materials intended for state or municipal property – schools, hospitals, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, etc.;
- Construction works to improve state or municipal property – schools, hospitals, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, etc.;
- Conducting trainings in a national or international format for sharing good practices leading to an increase in personal skills and quality administrative service.
- Social and cultural programs that provide basic opportunities or training to improve the social and cultural development of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia.
- Claimed expenses must not include funding for artistic, musical or sporting events, including tours, visits and participation by professional entertainers or athletes.
- Funding for the provision of books, periodicals, creation or operation of libraries.
Expected results
- Better governance leading to sustainable and inclusive social and economic development;
- Increased awareness of Armenian citizens about their rights and the possibilities provided in Armenian law for their protection;
- Enriched positive image and visibility of Bulgaria in Armenia;
- Strengthened administrative and expert capacity of Armenian public and non-governmental institutions;
- Realized access to modern, quality and inclusive education;
- Increased level of participation of young people and women in socio-economic and political life in Armenia;
- Increasing the quality and scope of health services.
Target groups
- Central and municipal administration, representatives of Armenian institutions;
- Representatives of various social and minority groups, vulnerable categories of persons (children, women, migrants, elderly and disabled);
- Young people, girls and young women; pupils and students;
- Representatives of the civil sector and non-governmental organizations;
- International and local non-governmental organizations;
- Municipalities and their associations;
- Educational, health and social institutions;
- International humanitarian organizations.
Eligibility Criteria
- Primary and secondary budget managers – legal entities in the Republic of Armenia ;
- International and local non-governmental organizations;
- Municipalities and their associations;
- Educational, health and social institutions;
- International humanitarian organizations.
Priority will be considered:
- Beneficiaries whose projects from the previous year were successfully completed within the term of the contract/annex and with final reports accepted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Beneficiaries who have submitted interim reports on projects from previous years within the term of the contract/annex;
- Candidates with a sustainable project history of at least 2 years;
- Candidates with a term of activity registration of no less than 2 years or those whose registration has been deleted and whose activity has been interrupted through no fault of the applicant;
- Current beneficiaries who have not reimbursed due funds from previous projects financed under the Development Cooperation Program will not be admitted;
For more information, visit Republic of Bulgaria.
