Deadline: 16-Oct-2024
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is seeking proposals for Inclusive Just Transition Fund to solicit innovative and impactful project ideas that enhance public knowledge and engagement while clearly demonstrating the benefits of a just and green transition in Pljevlja coal region.
This initiative is aligned with the broader goal of fostering the inclusive renewal of Pljevlja, ensuring that the transition process not only supports local communities but also promotes inclusive growth and contributes to the sustainable development of the region and the country as a whole.
The just transition process offers unique opportunities to reduce inequalities, empower underrepresented and disadvantaged groups, and stimulate innovation. Proposals should highlight how the just transition can mitigate both existing and new inequalities while generating economic, social, and environmental benefits for diverse communities.
This CfP is particularly focused on supporting efforts to build the resilience of groups that are at higher risk or may face increased vulnerability due to the green transition process, including but not limited to at-risk workers, women, youth, rural communities, and the elderly. The aim is to raise awareness about how an innovative and inclusive approach to just transition can benefit both current and future generations in Pljevlja.
Objectives
- The objective of this CfP is to engage and empower a grassroot Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) from Pljevlja to design and implement an innovative demonstration project. This project should tackle one or more pressing local issues in the scope of just transition process, while effectively showcasing its benefits for the local community in a practical and creative manner. The initiative aims to illustrate, in a practical manner, that a just transition is not solely about the phase-out of coal but encompasses a broader spectrum of opportunities for social, economic, and environmental development of the local community and wider Montenegro, with particular focus on key target groups.
- This CfP is part of broader efforts for a just and green transition in Montenegro, as well as in the Western Balkans and Europe. These efforts align with the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the EU Green Deal, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals. They contribute to finding solutions that support Montenegro in achieving its various international commitments and goals.
- In essence, this initiative presents an opportunity to translate broader policy goals into practical, localized demonstration solutions. It aims to strengthen grassroot organizations in implementing innovative strategies while also creating a platform for learning and sharing insights that can be scaled up or replicated in similar contexts.
Scope
- The specific task for the grassroot Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) within this CfP is to develop a small-scale demonstration project in Pljevlja coal region that incorporates two key components:
- Designing and testing an innovative idea (i.e. demonstration project): The project should introduce and test a new, practical, and innovative solution that addresses a specific challenge related to the just transition process. The final aim is to showcase tangible benefits of the inclusive approach to just transition, demonstrating that it provides opportunities for social, economic, and environmental progress rather than being solely a challenge tied to coal phase-out.
- Communicating the benefits of just transition: Beyond simply introducing and testing a new, practical, and innovative solution, the proposal should focus on a plan to communicate the practical benefits of the just transition to the wider community. This involves challenging the perception that just transition is a burden and a challenge and highlighting it as a positive, forward-looking opportunity for growth, development.
- Proposals should focus on addressing a particular challenge relevant to the Pljevlja coal region—such as air and water pollution, talent development, youth empowerment, gender equality, the urban-rural divide, unemployment, promotion of science and innovation, and unlocking cultural heritage. However, it is essential that the project also targets one or more underrepresented or specifically impacted groups, such as at-risk workers, women, youth, rural communities, persons with disabilities, and/or the elderly. These groups of stakeholders frequently encounter obstacles in accessing their rights and opportunities, making a human rights-based approach crucial to ensure they fully benefit from the just transition process.
- In addition, the project should aim to create a model initiative, with solutions and approaches that can be replicated in similar contexts across Montenegro and the broader Western Balkan region.
Target groups
- The target groups and beneficiaries of this initiative include populations currently underrepresented and most vulnerable to the social and economic impacts arising from the just transition process particularly if the process is not conducted in an inclusive and people-centered manner. These groups include, but are not limited to at-risk workers, women, youth, rural communities, the elderly, persons with disabilities.
- The project should incorporate a human rights-based, inclusive and gender-responsive approach to ensure that one or more of these target groups are actively involved and can fully benefit from the opportunities created by the project.
Funding Information
- Through this CfP, one project will be funded, in the total amount of up to 5.000 EUR.
Duration
- Project proposals should include 2-month timeframe, in the period from November to December 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for the assessment of project proposal, the lead applicant has to comply with all of the following criteria, otherwise they will not be considered for funding:
- To be registered as NGO in Pljevlja for at least 3 years.
- To be focused on environmental, social, cultural, innovation and/or science issues.
- To have specialized knowledge, expertise and track record of working in the area of just transition, energy efficiency, sustainable development, youth empowerment, gender equality, social inclusion, cultural heritage, promotion of science and innovation, and other related fields for at least 3 years.
- Their activities, including public announcements and appearances, are fully in accordance with the principles of non-discrimination and full respect for human rights.
- Partner organization must comply with all of the following criteria:
- To be registered in Montenegro for at least 3 years as an entity working on the environmental, social, cultural, innovation and/or science issues.
- To have specialized knowledge, expertise and track record of working in the area of just transition, energy efficiency, sustainable development, youth empowerment, gender equality, social inclusion, cultural heritage, promotion of science and innovation, and other related fields.
- To have previous experience working in Pljevlja.
- Their activities, including public announcements and appearances, are fully in accordance with the principles of non-discrimination and full respect for human rights.
For more information, visit UNDP.